Re: [Paddlewise] Manatee

"Robert J. Matter" wrote:
> At Chasshowitzka (sp?) Springs County Park, visitors there told me it was legal to 
> feed them their natural foods plucked from the surrounding environment, but you were 
> not supposed to bring things like iceberg lettuce from the supermarket. 

That sounds like quite a reach to me. "Feeding manatees" is prohibited
by law (see below). I can't see how it would matter what you're feeding
them, you're still altering their behavior. Even if you got away with
it, I think it's a bad idea to feed any wildlife. Yosemite bears always
come to mind - a fed bear ends up a dead bear.

I felt bad enough letting the manatee continue to scratch himself on my
boat. I probably should have paddled away so I wouldn't reinforce that
kind of behavior. 

It is interesting trying to decide where to draw the line concerning our
impact on wildlife. Sometimes when paddling Elkhorn Slough near
Monterey, California, there are hauled-out seals on one side, and
resting sea otters on the other, not to mention all the birds
everywhere. At times there is so much wildlife that it seems there is no
way to keep from disturbing them and I should just put the boat back on
the car. Of course that's usually when I notice a couple of people in
rental kayaks running over the otters I just went out of my way not to
disturb. Then, as I cringe and look away I spot the rest of their party
spooking the seals into the water on the other side. 


One of the Web sites I put on the manatee photo page has what looks like
a pretty good list of the rules. 
http://www.homesafe.com/manatee/rules-of-the-road.html
Here is an excerpt:

>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.
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