ST. MARY'S, Ga. (FCN) -- What would you do if you see a manatee above water? Turns out what you should do is...nothing.
Joseph Strover was out fishing on his boat in Saint Mary's on Monday. He was just driving along when he thought he saw a dead manatee. However, it turns out that the manatee was alive. Strover thought it was in distress.
"I thought it was pretty much out of the water," said Strover. "I thought that I was doing the right thing and helping it out and I would do it again," said Strover.
Strover says his concern was not for himself, but instead of the manatee.
"When I saw the manatee was alive, I called the Georgia DNR. I don't know if we are allowed to mess with these things or with any endangered animals," said Strover.
While Strover was waiting on the phone for a game warden he became nervous by the manatee's behavior.
"The manatee stuck his head into the mud. I know that manatees breath air and I thought he would suffocate," said Strover.
Turns out, what Strover did is against the law, according to Chuck Underwood from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"It is illegal to harm or harass a manatee. Harass could be exactly what he did is push, prod, push it and make it change it's behavior. Again, here it's clear the intention was very good," said Underwood.
According to biologists, it seems the manatee was sunbathing on the warm December day. Now, Strover is using this video to serve as a lesson about wildlife.
GALLERY: Florida Manatees
"You should call your wildlife officials. They are looking for these animals...is it in distress or is it just making it's migration. If it is in distress, there is a whole team of people who can help," said Underwood.
All parties agree that Strover's intentions to save the animal were clear and no one is pressing charges.
To report a sick, injured or in possible distress manatee call your state wildlife agency:
FL wildlife hotline: 1-888-404-FWC
Do's and Don'ts:
DO: Report sightings to your local wildlife officials or marine law enforcement office.
DO: Observe manatees from the surface of the water and from a distance.
DO: Avoid excessive noise and splashing that could disturb bottom-resting manatees.
DO: Use snorkel gear if you are in the water and maintain your distance when watching manatees.
DO: Operate boats at idle and slow speeds in area where manatees have been reported.
DO NOT: Do not feed manatees or give them water.
DO NOT: Attempt to rescue a distressed manatee; report the sighting to wildlife officials.
DO NOT: Ride, chase or poke.
DO NOT: Separate a mother and calf or an individual from a group.
