ORANGE CITY -- Blue Spring State Park has a unique species bubbling to the surface and attracting hundreds of tourists. We're talking about manatees.
The sea cows are flourishing at the springs in Orange City as the temperature drops in Central Florida.
Wednesday Lauren Cooper go her first real life glimpse of a manatee after years serving as one of their adoptive mothers.
"(Manatees) have always been my favorite animals," Cooper told News 13.
The Buffalo native is an eight-year member of the Save The Manatee Club. Cooper has adopted 20 manatees by financially supporting the care of the social, but slow-moving animals.
"They're basically helpless. If no one helps them, then they get hit by the boats. They've got the scars. Their flippers get chunks taken out of them, so it's sad," Cooper said.
Blue Spring offers an important winter refuge for the endangered mammal. Almost 120 manatees showed up over the last week to enjoy the springs' 72-degree temperature and escape the cold ocean waters. They were actually lining up underwater like a fleet of submarines.
"(They) get lots of attraction because they do look really cool," said Steven Foster, 8.
Foster, and his brother Joseph pointed out a calf that was swimming next to its mother.
"Every now and then they'll come up to the top for a breath. It's like they are a big gray spot in the water," said Joseph Foster.
They both agreed the appeal is the fact that manatees are an exotic and rare species.
"There's some left -- barely any," Joseph Foster said.
"It's awesome -- just phenomenal," said Pat Picket, a visitor from Texas.
This was Picket's first time seeing the gentle giants and she had with her a stuffed manatee toy.
But Picket said she would be taking home more than just a stuffed animal. She said she will be taking back a better appreciation for the giant and peaceful manatees.
Workers at Blue Spring State Park said the manatee population there is improving. There have been 17 manatees born there since spring, compared to only five new births last year.
Blue Spring State Park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown every day of the year. The best time to view the manatees is early in the morning on a cold winter day.
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