BRANFORD, Fla. — Wildlife officials in Florida are looking for the people responsible for carving the word "Trump" on the back of a protected manatee.
According to the Citrus County Chronicle, the manatee was found Sunday in waters inside Ichetucknee Springs State Park in North-Central Florida.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the harassment of a manatee. The animal was reported to federal authorities over the weekend when it was discovered with the words "Trump" scraped in its back. https://t.co/tZl1ZV9Ham
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 11, 2021
Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would not comment on the investigation as it is currently ongoing, the report says. The Miami Herald says the agency would provide more information on the case later Monday.
Because manatees are protected by the Endangered Species Act, it is a federal offense to harass the animal with fines up to $50,000 and/or one-year in prison.
“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
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Insurrectioning wildlife? pic.twitter.com/PvzI3pZ5Xn
No information was given on the health of the manatee and whether the "Trump" word will remain on its back.
