The nation saw a Florida law that makes it illegal to injure, harm, harass, capture or attempt to capture a manatee in action in November when a woman was arrested and faced up to 60 days in jail for a photo showing her riding the sea creature.
Now another Floridian seems to be in the same boat after he took pictures of he and his two small children playing with a manatee calf and posted them on Facebook.
Ryan Waterman posing with the manatee calf. (Photo: FWC via WPTV)
Ryan Waterman, 21, was arrested Sunday and released on $2,500 for violating the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The commission was alerted to the photos, which were taken Taylor Creek in St. Lucie County last month, by a tipster. The pictures show Waterman pulling the calf partially out of the water, letting his children pet it and even sit on it.
(Photo: FWC via WPTV)
(Photo: FWC via WPTV)
“This was a young manatee which was likely still dependent on its mother for food and protection,” FWC manatee biologist Dr. Thomas Reinert said in a statement. “Separating the two could have severe consequences for the calf.
“The calf also appeared to be experiencing manatee cold-stress syndrome, a condition that can lead to death in extreme cases,” said Reinert. “Taking the calf out of the water may have worsened its situation.”
Waterman was charged with one count of violating the manatee protection law. If he is convicted, the Palm Beach Post reported FWC spokeswoman Katie Purcell saying, he could face a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
Watch this report about the incident:
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Comments (77)
John.Galt
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:02pmI guess were not top of the food chain any more.
We can murder unborn HUMAN BABIES, RIP THEM OUT OF THE WOMB WITH THEIR HEARTS STILL BEATING… BUT JUST TOUCHING A SEA CREATURE WILL GET YOU FINED AND JAIL TIME!
INSANITY REIGNS IN AMERIKA! NEXT STOP… HELL!
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702TruthSeeker
Feb. 21, 2013 at 3:23pmhitler was a vegetarian socialist, the Nazis pushed animal rights as they killed millions. America is no better than the Nazis, our tax funded abortion establishments have ended more human lives than were ended by the holocaust. there is no bigger terrorist than the federal government, they’re the ones who trained bin laden in the 80s and are now using drones to kill American citizens. The only reason we’re at war with the towelheads now is because the feds don’t like competition. This is the freedom we’re trying to spread worldwide? The freedom to have poison put in your food and water? The freedom FROM religion and God? The freedom of free money for the elite (bailouts)? The freedom of EPA,FDA,CIA,FBI,DHS,TSA? what a joke!
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3monkeysmomma
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:29pm“I murdered four people. What are you in for?”
“I hugged a manatee”
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AmericaMustBeFree
Feb. 22, 2013 at 1:38pm“Evil are those who call evil good and good evil”!
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jhrusky
Feb. 22, 2013 at 3:11pmBad behavior on one item does not justify bad behavior on another, John.Galt.
While I will agree with you that our nation is ludicrous in allowing the killing of unborn babies, I also believe that people need to follow laws and if there is a law to not play with manatees, then people should suffer the consequences when they break that law.
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Blazen420
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:01amNah, we’re closer on this than I previouisly thought. I don’t think the guy picked the manatee up to harm it, but rather I think he probably didn’t know any better. With all discovery channel/animal plantet programs that show people picking up every animal they come across, certainly doesn’t help. People who live in metropolitan areas and don’t know nature could simply believe that this is OK because they see it on TV all the time. I don’t feel sorry for the guy…but I don’t think he should have been arrested. If I were the DNR officer, I would have educated the guy and give him knowledge to share instead stealing his wallet.
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KevINtampa
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:46pmBut then how do you fund the bloated pension requirements?
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Rowgue
Feb. 21, 2013 at 3:37pmThe harrassment part of the law is ridiculous. Having laws that prohibit the hunting or intentionally harming of endagered animals are reasonable. Having part of a law that makes criminals out of anybody deeming to have “harrassed” an animal using some mysterious undefined criteria isn’t reasonable. It’s also not reasonable to make no distinction between somebody intending to kill or do harm to the animal and somebody doing something benign that they had no reason to believe was causing any harm to the animal or putting it in any sort of jeopardy.
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rja444
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:58amBut yet murders and terrorist get the benefit of doubt. Something wrong with this picture.
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Keatonc333
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:08amnot if there are pictures of them committing the crime.
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Silvertruth
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:30amSometimes even if there is photo evidence the criminal gets away with it. This guy should’ve known better but sometimes it’s a better idea to give a warning to the man than punish. He’s likely a law-abiding person but the way things are going, we’re all going to be criminals soon so hey, I guess he got what he deserved?
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happ77
Feb. 21, 2013 at 4:31pmI’m surprised the Ecolibs didn’t arrest the kids too.
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SgtB
Feb. 21, 2013 at 7:00pmJust think, if you were a man going about your own business and enjoying a day with your young children and not harming anyone, and then the next minute you are being held on bail for your actions…
Would your attitude toward society then be
A) Other people and the government are great! I want to do more for them and do something with my life.
B) Screw it. You can’t even have a nice day with your kids without some gov’t nutjob sticking his fist up your hind end and grabbing all the cash he can while he’s up there. So screw it, I don’t care if another cop dies or a if the nation flounders in debt up to its eyeballs. I’m gonna sit back and collect welfare and do work on the side so I won’t pay any taxes and everyone will pay me back for the crap they’ve put me through!
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seanscythe
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:54amI’m sorry if I had been arrested for something like this, there would be a sudden raise in dead sea cows. It’s not the animals fault but to tarnish someones name over something that stupid is insane. It’s the same thing with suspending 6 year olds for pointing their fingers like a gun. It’s to shame them and humiliate them.
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Keatonc333
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:18amHow dare we make laws and then actually follow up on them!
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3monkeysmomma
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:31pmI think the answer is “Don’t make dumb laws”
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GuruMeditation
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:34amLame.
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Dustoff
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:46pmLeave to Keaton to make a fool of himself again.
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Blazen420
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:49amTrolltrainer: Do you ever go fishing? Do you pull the fish out of the water when you catch it? Does it live when you throw it back into the water? Does the hook hurt the fish? What about if it is a really big fish and it flops around on the boat violently, does it injure itself? Are you then the one to blame?
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trolltrainer
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:01amWhat does fishing have to do with an “endangered” species (though I too would argue that they really are not as endangered as we are led to believe.)
I appreciate what you are trying to say, but it is not relevant. You could make the case that catching and releasing does stress the fish but it is hardly the same thing. Likewise, I am not too worried about catching a possom for a possom drop on New Years Eve. But I was brought up to respect nature. I am an avid hunter and fisher and also a hiker and camper. I do as little to stress the environment I am in as possible. I try to always leave the trail better than I found it and I always carry a garbage bag on hikes to pack out other people’s trash.
Bottom line, this guy needlessly stressed a manatee. Would I lock him up? Lord no. But I hold no sympathy for him either. It most certainly is not the way to raise your children. This is my opinion. If yours differs than I can respect that.
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SgtB
Feb. 21, 2013 at 7:03pm@Trolltrainer, So your answer to this situation is to hold him criminally liable and make him forfeit his hard earned pay that will put food in his children’s stomachs instead of just educating him and his children on the consequences of their actions and being a decent damn human being? Should we all treat each other the way that you are suggesting?
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trolltrainer
Feb. 22, 2013 at 9:28amSGTB, did I say that? Or are you just trolling?
Maybe you should work on your reading comprehension?
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do_in_it_2
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:48amMaybe this Manatee should go and tell the other Manatees that humans don’t play fair and that they should ban humans not boats for causing the catastrophe amongst there family.
Ban guns from law abiding citizens because of criminals who have and use guns illegally. Ban people from playing with Manatees because of boats using props as a weapon of mass Manatee destruction.
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Keatonc333
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:21amagain.. its not about banning guns… but let me propose this.. If in your mind some modest gun laws such as universal background checks, registry, etc etc can lead to a complete confiscation.. then I believe that letting this guy go and not charging him will lead to bald eagle hunting, which will lead to Tiger hunting, which will lead to people hunting! thats right if we don’t charge him the next thing you know hunting people will be legal! doesn’t the slippery slope argument look ridiculous when heard from the other side?
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KevINtampa
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:55pmTell Canadians registration doesn’t lead to confiscation. Tell Australians registration doesn’t lead to confiscation. Tell the Brits registration doesn’t lead to confiscation. Tell the Germans registration doesn’t lead to confiscation. Tell the French registration doesn’t lead to confiscation.
In every one of these societies with in 10 years of mandated firearm registrations they had mandated firearm confiscations. Name me one society in human history where registration DIDN’T eventually lead to confiscation of some kind.
You, sir, are either ignorant, a shill, a troll, or most likely all three. Yes I just inferred you are an ignorant shill with nothing better to do than troll. Now go ask your Big Brother if you can have a soda.
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Blazen420
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:44amLook, the dad made a mistake. But to be arrested for it and I’m sure the fine is going to be hefty, is authoritarian BS. Wildlife law enforcement is a good thing, to an extent. But this is over-reaching.
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OldSurfRat
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:53amAlthough it was stupid arrest is a bit much unless he intentionally killed the calf.
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Wilma
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:59amI agree. The man is an idiot. The calf was certainly is some distress. My guess is the arrest is just to scare him and send a message. The charges will probably be dropped. Will The Blaze follow up? Probably not.
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progressiveslayer
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:40amI’m concerned with the plight of the spotted owl being ‘endangered’ and decimating the logging industry in Oregon or the plight of some worm that’s keeping the oil and gas companies from drilling out west.If nut job ‘environmentalists had their way all animals would be deemed ‘endangered’ to eliminate all exploitation of our natural resources.
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stopprintn
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:55amThey seem to have no problem w/bird wacking windmills.
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thegreatcarnac
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:40amManatee and bald eagle are great when cooked with asparagus and a baked potato.
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CulperGang
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:52amYou wouldn’t think you are being funny, if out of the void some creature decided that humans taste good with spider plants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Serve_Man_(The_Twilight_Zone) = as in how to cook and eat.
great show!
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txannie
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:35amI just don’t get it. Why must people ‘interact’ with wildlife? Why can’t you just point it out to the kids and tell them how wonderful and lucky they are to be able to still see it and just watch it? Why can’t you just sit quietly and enjoy the beauty of them? For cripes sake, leave them alone. How would daddy like it if a bear decided to pull one of his kids out to play with and let his cubs sit on it? Didn’t hurt the kids, just wanted to get a good look at the baby…. ok, bears are not people and wouldn’t even think about ‘interacting’ with humans just for fun….Think about it for just a little while, just quit messing with the wildlife and everyone will be happy. No rabid animal lovers spazzing out about what daddy did and no young animal harmed accidentally. I guess it’s just too simple of a concept.
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FiscalBill
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:31amBARBARA MANATEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE……You’re the one for meeeeeeeeee
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Firefight
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:44amLOL And now that song is stuck in my head….
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98Bravo
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:31amThe manatee should be removed from the endangered species list, according to the numbers it no longer qualifies but the Fed govt has refused to remove it. If I were that guy I would sue whoever was needed to clear my name and make the fed/state govt remove them from the endangered species list. If the fed govt followed it’s own guidelines it would have been removed in the early 2000′s. Instead once a species is on the list, they are rarely removed, it’s like they belong to the union now and can’t be de-listed.
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OldSurfRat
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:48amStill i no excuse for his use of the calf as a play toy for his kid.
Ignorance? Possibly but you gotta be tuff if your gonna be stupid.
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Keatonc333
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:27amMight want to do some research before claiming they should be removed… They are endangered because of continuous loss of habitat do to coast line construction, runoff, increased boat trafficking, and water control structures.. all of which are not slowing down.. so why would you remove a species from the Endangered species list.. when their habitat is continuously being Endangered?
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98Bravo
Feb. 21, 2013 at 5:01pm@Keaton, the manatee has rebounded to record high numbers… the highest every recorded… http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2009/2009-01-29-091.asp if they are at record high numbers they are no longer endangered.. at a certain point the habitat cannot support more numbers.. we see it all the time with the white tail deer here in PA.. they starve to death over the winter. They were placed on the ESL 30 yrs ago based on low numbers, so when they numbers rebound, they should be removed from the list and downgraded..
I agree still no reason to have your kind sit on it like a bench, maybe they could have fed it some lettuce instead..
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hpyagl
Feb. 21, 2013 at 7:06pmKeaton
1. “due” not “do in your context
2. What is “boat trafficking”?
3. Why capitalize endangered?
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OldSurfRat
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:28amAnything for a picture.
I have spent quite a bit of time around manatees from the time I was a kid.
They are wonderful slow moving creatures that don’t seem to mind interacting with humans and sometimes even come to you to interact. I used to let my daughters swim with them but we had a stricked NO touch rule.
However this guy really could have or maybe did hurt the calf.
They are water creatures so they normally don’t feel their full weight due to being in the water. By taking this calf out of the water he put stress on the animals organs etc. Not to mention letting his kids sit on it like a toy.
Maybe next time he should try this with a gator.
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The-Monk
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:22amI’ve swam with Manatee’s many times at Crystal River.
Never grabbed a pup and dragged it up on shore and sat on it.
Were these people tourists? Oh well… less damage than boat prop. : (
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walnutportconservative
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:30amLooks Russian!
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OldSurfRat
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:41amThis you must know
The other night I gut punked by a fake THEMONK.
With my head he did screw until I was saved by BARBER2.
So from now on I will watch for trash and remember to look for theall important dash.
It is so
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theninthplanet
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:21amLiberals bent on teaching Darwinism can’t stand letting a species go extinct, fighting nature all the way (wasn’t it something about survival of the fittest?).
Would make a joke at the expense of the manatee, but I’m afraid of getting arrested because of some hippie without a sense of humor, “Stop Molesting the Manatees!”
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JQuentinEvermann
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:27amI would require the state to prove the pictures aren’t photoshopped. To me, these look fake, and I’m sure there are thousands of people online who could reproduce the same images within just a few hours.
Who is a witness to this “crime?”
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jman-6
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:18amThe end result of worshiping the creation over the CREATOR! When animals get a right to life over man & babies in the womb and you can arrest someone…..that’s the true definition of INSANITY!
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GetRight
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:41amAgreed! What is the obsession with animal rights! Big deal! So he let his small children see and touch a manatee. So what. He wasn’t cruel to the animal. We have gone nuts, we can murder babies in the womb but go to jail for touching and picking up a manatee! Good grief!
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pagraywolf
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:17amWhat a moron. I hope they fine the heck out of him.
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DZ-015
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:11amPosting pictures of your children sitting on a manatee has got to be insanity.
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chips1
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:11amDid the Manatee blow a whistle? Did it pee on the rapist? Was it in a safe zone? Let’s just eliminate the manatee police and put them in our government schools.
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RJJinGadsden
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:09amBet the bastard even picks up eagle feathers during the off season.
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The-Monk
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:28amMorning RJJ,
The 2 OWS guys left in a hurry after I arrived… LMAO
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RJJinGadsden
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:14amHi MONK, Damn, I was so looking forward to another good story!
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huey6367
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:59amA woman was just recently arrested and prosecuted for “riding’ a manatee in the surf. Apparently he doesn’t read or watch the news (low information voter). These are endangered animals. You can’t do that!!! Same thing as throwing rocks at a bald eagle because it killed your Chihuahua. That’s a no no and there are consequences.
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Gonzo
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:57amLet’s just hope he’s not planning to take his kids to Yellowstone to see the bears.
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RJJinGadsden
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:07amand have open pic-a-nic baskets
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biohazard23
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:10amHang on a second, can we rethink that one? LOL!
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progressiveslayer
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:11amOr the south side of Chicago to see their citizens.
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hempstead1944
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:56amStupid, low information voter…..should have known better. Great teaching moment for the kids…..NOT !
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SocialistSlayer
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:55amWhen I lived in Florida I know from my own experience the Manatees will often seek you out. They are very gentle, and social creatures and seem to love interacting with people. This law is nonsense and can be compared to making it unlawful to pet a dog or play fetch with it. These bureaucrats are a bunch of idiots !
Give me Liberty or give me Death ! I’m tired of living under Tyranny !
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huey6367
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:00amThese are endangered animals. That means YOU DON’T SCREW WITH THEM!!! Has nothing to do with tyrrany. Get a grip.
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progressiveslayer
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:07amHaven’t you heard the government has laws that protect us from everything,gun bans in Chicago have produced a high murder rate,the EPA forces the oil companies to make several different blends of gas to artificially raise the cost of gas and Florida has a law to protect the manatee from a man and two little girls petting.
If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there’d be a shortage of sand.
Milton Friedman
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RedheadTexan
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:11amThere is a big difference between interacting with an animal and dragging a baby out of the water and letting your child sit on it. If a friendly dog comes up to you, do you sit on it?
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chips1
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:14amAmericans are an endangered species and the government harasses them. Where is that law?
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mrja
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:14amAs someone who lives in FL and spends much time on the water. These animals are not as rare or endangered as is claimed, i see them all the time. That being said, this clown is a moron. Waterways are clearly posted, everyone knows not to screw with them.
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SocialistSlayer
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:21am“”"”These are endangered animals. That means YOU DON’T SCREW WITH THEM!!! Has nothing to do with tyrrany. Get a grip.”"”"”"”
@ Baby Huey – You get a grip you spineless Communist ! If you can’t see the Tyranny in the governments countless laws and regulations you are a complete Idiot ! Yes, he shouldn’t have let his children sit on them – Manatees are endangered because of being run over with boat propellers not because people play with them you moronic idiot ! Go screw yourself you Communist Liberal !
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trolltrainer
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:26amWe used to go to Homasassa Springs all the time to wash off in fresh water after scalloping. As said, the manatees wont leave humans alone! They insist on swimming up to people and will nudge and want to play. Great! I had wonderful moments with them and I have heard of no one getting into trouble for this.
What this idiot did was nuts! You don’t pull a manatee out of the water! You certainly don’t hold it in any way i n which it is pinned or forced or corralled into a position or situation. And you most CERTAINLY do not teach young children to “ride” wild animals let alone approach one with anything but extreme caution.
I feel no sympathy for this guy. He is not malicious, just a moron. Maybe he will learn something here. It will surly cost him.
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booger71
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:56amThey should have been taken off the list years ago. Nature will run its course in spite the “help” of man.
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