HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, Fla. – State and federal wildlife officials are investigating reports of a manatee found with “Trump” drawn on its back in a Florida river.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say the aquatic mammal was spotted over the weekend in the Homosassa River in Citrus County.
Recommended Videos
Wildlife officials are looking for any information regarding the animal’s harassment.
A nonprofit group that protects endangered animals is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.
Harassing a manatee is a federal crime, and is punishable by a $50,000 fine and up to one year in prison under the Endangered Species Act.
“The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is investigating the harassment of a manatee...reported to federal authorities over the weekend discovered w/ words "Trump" scraped in its back ...discovered in Blue Hole on the Homosassa River” (via @CitrusChronicle )
— 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 (@exavierpope) January 11, 2021
-
Insurrectioning wildlife? pic.twitter.com/PvzI3pZ5Xn