Baby Manatees at the Wakulla River

Mom and Baby Manatee swimming in the Wakulla River. The Wakulla River is in the Panhandle of Fl. near Tallahassee.
The Manatees like to swim and eat the grass that grows in the river.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Manatees
• Wakulla
• River
• Florida
• Baby

[airboyac]

Could you go in and swim with them. If you wanted to?

[stevemissy]

No, it's against the law to swim with Manatees in Florida.

[avideo4u]

It is against the law to chase - pursue, harass a manatee or do anything that would cause the manatee to change their natural behavior. IF they come to you it is not against the law to pet them. Manatees have roamed the earth for thousands of years - today less then 2000 remain in Florida. Sadly, boat props are the cause of over 70% of manatee deaths. Extinction is forever. Please respect these magnificent creatures.

[weathermanfsu]

Before it was against the law to touch manatees, I reached down to pet one in central FL. It was awesome. It acted like a dog and roller over for me to rub under its flippers!

[Tarbtano]

@airboyac

there is a law forbidding it. The one case its allowed is if you were already in the water, were unaware of its presence; and the animal initiated the contact.

[monkeyandkoala]

@stevemissy actually, you could in some places. i know this because i was allowed by a park manager in florida

[alantecontra]

f*ck the governent. manatees are awesome and obviously want to be friends with us!

[jarhead236]

@airboyac yes don't touch them and stay away from them about 15 20 ft a bit if it looks like its getting agitated leave

[jarhead236]

@stevemissy wrong i live less then 5 minutes from the river its against the law to harass and or touch them

[TheManateeOne]

Booo! We want more manatee!  >:3

[Two11two]

Manatees are super cool, even though they remind me of a girl I was set up with once. I didnt know it was against the law to pet a manatee.