Seasons in the Ocean: What Animals Migrate to Florida in the Winter?
Why Do Animals Migrate to Florida?
Most animals don’t remain in the same place all year. The reason for their seasonal migration is often to find food, and in the winter many animals migrate to avoid cold weather. Some animals migrate for reproduction purposes, such as finding a mate or raising their young. This is true even for animals in the ocean, such as Humpback whales who travel to warm waters in the winter to raise their calves and cooler waters during the summer months in order to find food. While the reason for animal migrations are clear, it remains unclear how they know when and where to travel. Some theories suggest that animals use sunlight, the Earth’s magnetic field, or chemical cues to move across land, air, and sea.
November Migration in Florida
Florida’s wildlife is affected by the changes in seasons. Throughout November and December, birds, mammals, and amphibians migrate to Florida to avoid cold temperatures. Three of Florida’s travelers include spotted sea trout, striped bass, and manatees.
Image courtesy of Florida Museum of Natural History
Spotted sea trout have long bodies that are silver in color, dotted with irregular black spots. Their usual habitat is seagrass and shallow, sandy areas near the bottom of the ocean. Around Thanksgiving, these fish enter brackish tidal creeks known as estuaries and freshwater rivers. Spotted sea trout are often hunted for recreational and commercial fishing throughout Florida, but during the cooler months they move to deeper pockets of water.
Image courtesy of NOAA Fisheries
Recognized by their quick movements, silver bodies, and white bellies, Florida striped bass are generally found in the Saint Johns River and its tributaries, as well as some rivers in the Panhandle. These fish prefer waters under 75 degrees, so they become less active during the summer months and search for cool waters. In November, the striped bass can be found near the jetties on the south end of Lake George, a brackish lake along the Saint Johns River.
Florida manatees are usually found in shallow rivers, bays, estuaries, and coastal waters that are about 10 to 16 feet deep. These mammals are highly susceptible to the cold, so they travel to find the warmest water. In the summer, manatees can be found in the waters of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Around November, manatees concentrate in Florida where they can seek waters above 70 degrees. They typically remain concentrated in Florida until the weather becomes warmer in March.
December Migration in Florida
In December, Florida welcomes right whales. These whales, which can grow up to 70 tons and 55 feet long, spend the summer off New England and Nova Scotia. The whales begin their migration in November, and by December about 100 to 150 right whales make Florida their home for the winter. These whales can usually be spotted along Florida’s Atlantic coast between Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral, but by March they head back to Northern waters. Some of the female right whales migrate to Florida in order to birth and nurse their calves. However, adult males and young right whales also join them in their travels.
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