Manatee found in Florida river with Trump scrawled on its back: One hundred percent disturbing
Andrea Salcedo, The Washington Post
Jan. 12, 2021
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The manatee lay still, floating in the shallow waters of a Florida river over the weekend when a woman on a boat noticed something odd. As she moved closer and filmed with her phone, Hailey Warrington found aone-word message scrawled on the marine mammal s back: TRUMP. This is just disturbing. One hundred percent disturbing, Warrington, who discovered the defaced manatee in the Homosassa River, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Now federal and local authorities are investigating who is responsible for etching the president s name on the threatened animal s back. Harassment of a manatee is a criminal offense punishable by a $50,000 fine and up to a year in prison.
Manatee spotted in Florida river with Trump etched into its back
Hearst Television
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Boat Capt. Hailey Warrington shared information about the case Monday with sister station WESH in Orlando.
She said she took photos and videos of the manatee on Sunday around 12 p.m. during a manatee swim tour in Homosassa Springs.
Warrington said she took photos and videos and immediately reported it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said the manatee does not appear to be seriously injured as it seems that the word was written in algae on the animal s back.
Lester Graham
The federal government will no longer prosecute companies and landowners who unintentionally kill migratory birds.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed part of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which has protected birds for more than 100 years.
“So what this means, in essence, is that companies and farms and a lot of other instances will no longer be under the threat of criminal prosecution for killing large mass numbers of migratory birds,” Sean Hammond with the Michigan Envrionmental Council said.
Starting next month, industry and landowners won t be held responsible for any unintentional or accidental bird deaths.