Florida Officials Warn To Not Touch Manatees Having Sex Because Apparently Someone Needed A Warning

Curious manatee: A curious manatee trailed an alligator at a Florida state park in a video caught by a wildlife photographer. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

By Ethan

August 15, 2022 at 1:24 pm EDT

File this under #FloridaMan for sure, although I’m sure it wasn’t just guys trying this. Its manatee mating season. And just like gator mating season its a great time to NOT try and touch them! Seriously! Would you want someone trying to pet you while you were mid-mambo? I mean someone you weren’t intentionally mamboing with? Well neither do the manatees, and they’re also protected in Florida so its illegal anyway. So don’t disrupt the ONE thing that can help restore manatee populations, making more manatees.

Catuin: manatee friskyness ahead.

We spotted manatees mating near South Lido Beach Sunday. Folks were trying to touch them. Please don’t. @MoteMarineLab: If you see a manatee mating herd, observe respectfully from a distance. Do NOT touch. If you see a distressed/deceased manatee, call Mote’s hotline 888-345-2335 pic.twitter.com/UI5jMcNzrY
— Sarasota Police Department (@SarasotaPD) August 7, 2022