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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
A man was arrested after posting photos on Facebook that showed him picking up a manatee.
By LiveScience staff
A man has been arrested in Florida after posting pictures on Facebook that showed him harassing a baby manatee, authorities announced this week.
The incriminating images show Ryan William Waterman, 21, and his two children petting a manatee calf at Taylor Creek in Fort Pierce last month, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). In one shot, Waterman is holding the calf partially out of the shallow water, and in another image, one of his young children is sitting on top of the animal as if riding it.
While the family's actions might look playful, biologists said such contact could be deadly for a manatee calf.
"This was a young manatee, which was likely still dependent on its mother for food and protection. Separating the two could have severe consequences for the calf," FWC manatee biologist Thomas Reinert said in a statement. [Photos: World's Cutest Baby Wild Animals]
"The calf also appeared to be experiencing manatee cold-stress syndrome, a condition that can lead to death in extreme cases," Reinert added. "Taking the calf out of the water may have worsened its situation."
Waterman faces charges under the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, which makes it illegal to molest, harass or disturb manatees, classified as an endangered species in the state. His offense also violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which makes it illegal to hunt or get up close to manatees as well as all other marine mammals, such as whales, seals and walruses.
These laws, however, have not prevented some recent close encounters in Florida, perhaps due to a lack of awareness. (Waterman, in fact, told local television station WPEC-TV that he meant no harm and didn't know it was illegal to touch a manatee.)
In December, a woman snapped pictures at Pompano Beach, on Florida's Atlantic coast, of swimmers who might have been trying to ride a sickly sperm whale. The 35-foot-long creature was reported to be flapping its tail at the time of the incident and eventually washed ashore dead.
And last October, a woman turned herself in after photos surfaced showing her riding a manatee at Florida's Fort DeSoto Park near Tampa. At the time, reports suggested she could have faced up to 60 days in jail and a possible fine of $500 for her crime.
There are estimated to be just 3,800 manatees in Florida, and each year, about 87 are killed by humans, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, most of them dying in boat collisions. Coastal development, which has altered and destroyed manatee habitat, also threatens the species.
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Well well. Another narcissistic a-hole posting pictures of himself doing things that disrupt the natural order of things. What a surprise. Now that we live in the era of "LOOK AT ME" there's sure to be many more instances of this, regardless of how many irreplaceable creatures "ME" destroys. Good for you, nitwit.
Not to say it wasnt stupid and ignorant what he did, but throwing the book at him is a little too harsh cosidering he has kids...
Politicians in Washington do far worse things to animals (humans) and they still get off scotch free...do you know how many times your local area politician has sat on you, lied to you, nearly chocked you with lies, taken pictures with you during elections; just to get your vote...
If this dude violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which makes it illegal to hunt or get up close to manatees as well as all other marine mammals, such as whales, seals and walruses; what about the "Voter mammal protection Act of 1776", which makes it illegal to lie to voters or get up close to a voter so as to score some poiltical points and a vote?
Sheesh...talk about favoritism
Hey Doc? Are you inventing your own language?
Hey Waterman, with your close encounter with the wild let me put you on some 13 foot gators you can hug. That is illegal too, but who cares when ignorance is involved.
Daily show did a segment on this last night.
GeneralE.....man, did you absoutely nail it.
LOOK AT ME.....LOOK AT ME.....EVERYONE MUST LOOK AT ME!!!
to this guy and the huge masses of people just like him.......@!$%# off. THINK for a change.
So he's 21, already produced kids and is too stupid to have learned that Manatees are protected, and too stupid to know you never grab wild baby critters and play with them like toys. He put his kid on the manatee to ride it ! Fine the crap out of him !
GeneralEclectic ....(love the handle, by the way).. Why people think it's okay to screw with wildlife is beyond me. How stupid can you be (dumb as a box of rocks) to take photos of yourself messing with the young of an endangered species, and then post them on Facebook? Bet $10.00 he pleads 'not guilty'...lol
I had a friend shoot and kill 3 deer this year. They were delicious, but this guy... what an Ahole!
'Look at me!'
No crap! That's what our present world is all about- get famous for doing nothing. AND, get paid handsomely for it in some cases.
This guy can start his own reality show- maybe have Snookie and the Kardashians on it. They'll make millions abusing manatees!
6 months County Jail time as this is way out there. What an idiot, he can press his hands against the jail glass to hug his little "calfs"........
DocHolliday, will you ever learn??? These nonsensical, hostile ramblings are what got you fired from 2 Orlando radio stations. I understand that the comment section of news stories are the only platform you have left to spew your right wing paranoia these days; however this story is about the disgusting abuse of a baby manatee. This type of opportunism on your part not only makes you a terrible Floridian, it makes you a horrible person.
Why don't you just stick to calling those Preds games because it's the only thing that comes out of your mouth that makes any sense.
What an @sshole.
General - couldn't agree more.
The biggest failing of the human race is this unbelievable arrogance and self importance.
We are but one of many amazing creatures. How about having respect for all life?
Of course - we don't have respect for our own lives so why would we respect anything else?
What an a-hole! Why do humans feel we can destroy our cohabitants and eat them, or worse just bother them to death?
Throw the book at him and his wife. Floridians are touched in the head. Why would they bother God's creations when they have their children to harass?
he let his children RIDE the manatee?
That's disgusting. Imagine what kind of bacteria and other things they could have picked up from that? Yuck!
Well, we don't shoot -or torture-baby deer, do we? The only things we were legally allowed to torture in recent years was fellow human beings.
I hope they throw the book at him. As I learned growing up, ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Humans---you can't fix stupid. How have we come this far and still have the preponderance of the population with Medieval mentality? I don't even want to know what they're NOT teaching in schools. There seems to be a Stupid Epidemic of adult humans raising children.
Annie-322924 ....A Stupid Epidemic.... sad but true. But what's truly criminal is that this 'genius' is passing on his poor decision-making skills to his children.
Natures biggest menace, DUMB people.
Manatees are so dumb, they can't figure out boats 100 times their size are dangerous. Or that a human one forth the size could be avoided by a mere flip of the tail.
To claim there are only 3,200 is absurd. I'll admit they are hard to count since they spend most of their time sleeping, or twiddling their fins, on the bottom.
Manatees are an invasive species with no redeeming qualities.
Bad bob, manatees are a NATIVE SPECIES, not an invasive one. An invasive species is one which MAN has brought to the country from another place and introduced to the detriment of the native species. For example: Africanized honey bees, kudzu and a variety of reptiles that have been released in the Everglades that are now taking over.
Actually, bad bob, WE are the invasive species.
Manatee's are a native Florida species. Try again.
As a Florida native, I think if they declared dumbass humans to be an invasive species, it would go a long way to bringing back the Florida I knew growing up.
And 'Bad Bob' - please learn to spell. its FOURTH, not FORTH. Perhaps my suggested law above might apply to you?
Bad Bob is an example of that all too invasive species: internet troll. Sadly, they are in no way endangered, and apparently breed like rats.
I'm totally with you, Mark!
Perhaps Florida should spend some money on some educational commercials and a publicity campaign to educate the public. For the animals sake, and to save some money not having to prosecute morons. Might be a good idea to require write ups about some of this stuff, in tourism literature and whatnot as well.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse. But it does lead to more infractions if too many people are ignorant.
It wouldn't matter. We live in an age where any information you want is seconds and a search away. Anyone who is ignorant these days is ignorant by choice, and content to be so.
If these manatees would get out of the way of boats they wouldn't be so endangered.
What a dumb thing to say, UDunnoBro. The manatees are now made responsible for their destruction because they "don't get out of the way", in water often too shallow for them to do so? In their own habit? From an invading species: man? Wow..you need to educate yourself on this issue, "Bro"!
People like Udunno also call them "Natures Speedbumps" and try to catch them with Lettus. That's why it is great to catch one like the calf hugger and throw the book at them.......
You sound like a bright one.
I believe the guy when he says he meant no harm. Unfortunately we're all ignorant about one thing or another at some point in time.
His punishment should be a small fine & community service time speaking to groups of kids about why what he did was wrong.
Nope. Ignorance of the law does not provide a defense. Ignorance in general does not provide a defense, either.
Of course it does. How can you hold someone culpable for an infraction they don't even know exists?
culheath, you really have no idea how the law works, do you? Ignorance of the law is NOT a defense. That's in all 50 states and at the Federal level.
culheath - If you were right, there would be a whole lot more defendants in courts using "but I didn't know it was illegal to kill somebody" as a defense. DUHHHHHH!!!
You have to be a moron if you live in Florida and you do not know it's illegal to touch a manatee! I lived there for years. If you go to an area that has them, there are signs and posters warning you of that. Plus, everytime the news shows a herd swimming they say don't touch them. It's only been a law for over 3 decades.
think about it: EXACTLY. Hell, I live in the midwest and know that it's illegal to do what he did. The only thing good that came out of this is he was able to serve as a bad example to his kids. Hopefully THEY will learn something from his lack of brains.
LOL Randoo, I agree. I live in the midwest as well and I know better than to do what this guy did !
I've never even seen one in real life and as a Floridian, I grew up learning that it was protected by law and you can be prosecuted for harming or even touching them. There's really no excuse.
What do they taste like? I'm sure somebody will be along shortly and explain why it's a republican or democrat problem....
I love how this is categorized under "Science."
Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, which makes it illegal to molest, harass or disturb manatees,
I wonder if they have a big problem in Florida of people molesting Manatees?
Relax YSREBOB, I don't think anyone is having sex with Manatees! Why are you interested in that?
Put the S.O.B. in jail for the MAX! This moron doesn't seem to grasp that what he and his offspring did was WRONG! And since the kids are too young, then put their Daddy in jail, and also make him pay the fine, as well as do some community service! What a D-Bag!
mouth breather!
Apparently the Tea Party of Florida is on the case, and they view Manatee riding as a fundamental right of a free society. I am not joking.
I live in Maine far from Florida and I don't believe Ive ever seen a manatee in person but I even know you don't touch them. Do these people live under a rock?
Unfortunately, many people do.
I don't understand why parents and people in general just know how to do the right. First of all he looks like a d-bag, but can't he just teach his children look but don't touch and appreciate nature and animals. Nope, can't do it because he's got the facebook sickness. It leads me to wonder what goes on in the house. Sad to that he's only 21, looks like having kids at 16 is back. God bless the manatees.
Yep, I'm gonna do something stOOpid ... and then post it on FACEBOOK for everyone to see!
He's a moron on both counts. I feel sorry for his kids. What a role model.
Hopefully the mother has more common sense than this guy.
If she married this guy and had 2 kids with him - - not sure about her having more common sense.....
First you want to make manatees a tourist attraction, now your complaining because people are playing with the manatees. Good luck on having your cake and eating it too.
Well that's one of the stupider comments I've heard in a long time...I guess you don't understand that you can look at something and appreciate it without "playing" with it. Don't go to a lot of art galleries, I take it?
Oh, you're one of those.
why are they not charging the kids with the crime they touched it too!!! this is why i hate USA
This guy probably figured if you're allowed to pet dolphins at Sea World, why not a manatee? It's humans thinking they can exploit other creatures that leads to this type of BS. Get informed about the dolphin slaughter/capture in Japan and protest to your congressman. And don't add to the problem by visiting dolphin petting zoos.
This guy was lucky that the mother manatee was not around. He would have been the one looking all awkward as she handed him his butt.
Oh, and this guy looks to be more like 31, I think there is a possibility that 21 was a typo.
As a Florida native, it's a bit amusing and scary how many dumbeffs there are in this state. You can say that there are those kind of people no matter where you live, but really, no matter if you're living in a metropolitan area or in bumeff central/north Florida, there's an overwhelming number of them. How hard is it to leave wild animals alone, really? Is snapping a picture of it without touching it not enough? Clearly it's a person with natural ignorance and stupidity or the product of a broken educational system (which it is, by the way), because I was taught in elementary school that these animals, along with plenty of others, are a protected specie.
Let's see, he's a whole 21 years young and already has two toddlers. Hope he didn't pass on his brain defects to them. What an idjit. I pray the little manatee will be OK.
What an idiot!