Nemrod...A friend is trying to reach you

[Bryan]

[Nemrod]

There is that blasted beast that haunts my nightmares, my white whale, my Moby Dick, thar she blows. I will get even with that critter yet I used to dream about manatees teasing me from the depths but that has been replaced, indeed, by pitbulls chasing me into the Kansaw wind as the Wicked Witch of the West cackles at me. I am peddling furiously to no avail. I think I prefer manatees.

James

[Bryan]

Florida parks and recreation have a welcoming committee for you at the state line I hear....

[Nemrod]

Yes, the word is out they are after me. I will dress in drag. Hope y'all do not mind.

It is not just manatees, seems cobia have a thing for me also.

Nemette

[Bryan]

[Popeye]

Don't screw with the Manatee's

Manatees are protected under federal law by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which make it illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal.

Manatees are also protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. Anyone convicted of violating this state law faces a possible maximum fine of $500.00 and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days. Conviction on the federal level is punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and/or one year in prison. Feeding manatees, giving them water, or otherwise altering their natural behavior can be considered harassment.

On the positive side, You would be in jail in Florida, But after you tell the hard cases what you are in for... they will ask you "can you squeal like a pig?!"

[Bryan]

It's an old Sand Dog joke.....We have been chased from the springs more than once because a manatee "might" have been sighted in the same county as we were....On one occasion a manatee decided to follow Nemrod and no matter what he did it always seemed to be in his area. One of the park administration folks at Manatee Springs went more than a little overboard with him because he was within 100 yards of it...Total A-hole to all of us and especially Nemrod. 99.9% of it is bullshit anyway. Just drive up the road a few miles and you can pay to be up close and personal with them...I'll stop my rant now. Nemrod, keep fighting the good fight

[Drado]

Dang! When you look at the fines and such, I guess that explains all the comments on this video on Youtube and the lifeguard telling people to get out of the water:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2FIOEKo74Q[/youtube]

Video from last May 2012.

[cloudflint]

[Nemrod]

Don't screw with the Manatee's

Manatees are protected under federal law by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which make it illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal.

Manatees are also protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. Anyone convicted of violating this state law faces a possible maximum fine of $500.00 and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days. Conviction on the federal level is punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and/or one year in prison. Feeding manatees, giving them water, or otherwise altering their natural behavior can be considered harassment.

On the positive side, You would be in jail in Florida, But after you tell the hard cases what you are in for... they will ask you "can you squeal like a pig?!"

Seriously, chill.

Charles Darwin is one of my favorite reads, Origin of the Species, but he missed a few of the finer points in that evolution can apparently produce creatures so perfectly suited for their niche that any change in the ecosystem renders them obsolete. Manatees, pandas and a few other odd critters come to mind, including possibly 99% of the human race.

Oh, and the issue was that the "ranger" could not read because while she insisted the manatee safety distance was 100 yards, I pointed out to her that the sign behind her said 100 feet. At this point she become same so flustered when her ranger 101 manual also agreed it was 100 feet that she simply flailed her arms about in my direction banning me from the park for a year which was fine by me because it is a crappy dive anyways. She is clearly part of the 99% who would be extinct the moment the 1% stops taking care of that 99%.

Nemrod