Florida sheriff's office issues hilarious heads-up to folks wanting to call 911 over ocean creatures 'in distress' near beach: 'They are more than fine'

A Florida sheriff's office recently issued quite the rib-ticking Facebook message, complete with video, to those inclined to call 911 over manatees they believe are "in distress" near the beach.

What are the details?

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office noted over the weekend that it gets "calls all the time from citizens ... believing the manatees [bunched together and climbing over each other] are in distress. We can assure you they are more than fine."

The sheriff's office went on to explain that the manatees "actually mate in herds like these, and often they are near the shore. They mate all throughout the year, but generally mating herds like these are seen in the summer months. So if you see this, there’s no need to call, they are a-okay. And remember, touching or disturbing manatees is not only illegal but also can be very dangerous."

Pinellas County is west of Tampa on the state's Gulf Coast.

The Miami Herald, citing officials, noted that anyone attempting to push the manatees into deeper water will be charged with manatee harassment, as they have special protections as a federally threatened species.

Save the Manatees explained that “in shallower waters, the effect (of their mating) can be quite dramatic with churning waters and flailing flukes and flippers,” according to the Herald, adding that the group noted "the activity can attract onlookers who are either curious about the commotion or concerned that the manatees in the estrous herd are injured, stranded, or in distress. ... Any disturbances to the mating herd may disrupt this natural behavior and jeopardize the reproductive cycle."

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said manatees can grow to more than 13 feet in length and 3,500 pounds — and prove quite dangerous if they roll on top of people standing too close, the paper said.

Here's another clip showing ocean bathers bothering manatees:

Tourists caught harassing manatees in Florida l GMAyoutu.be

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