INDIAN SHORES, Fla. — The conventional wisdom when you spot an endangered manatee is to admire it from a distance.
However, that is not what some beachgoers did in Florida.
Drone video caught people illegally touching and even chasing a group of manatees in Indian Shores.
It is illegal to touch or unjustly interact with endangered animals in Florida.
At one point, the video shows a man nearly run over by a massive manatee, which can weigh more than a thousand pounds.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said people should contact them is they see anyone harassing manatees.
Fines can be up to $100,0000 and you can even go to jail.
FWC data shows at least 800 manatees died last year, and a record 1,100 died in 2021.
Source: WFTV News
