INDIAN SHORES, Fla. — The conventional wisdom when you spot an endangered manatee is to admire it from a distance.
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However, that is not what some beachgoers did in Florida.
Drone video caught people illegally touching and even chasing a group of manatees in Indian Shores.
Watch: Stranded manatee rescued from Ponce Inlet beach
It is illegal to touch or unjustly interact with endangered animals in Florida.
At one point, the video shows a man nearly run over by a massive manatee, which can weigh more than a thousand pounds.
Watch: Manatee deaths in Florida decline but starvation concerns remain high
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said people should contact them is they see anyone harassing manatees.
Fines can be up to $100,0000 and you can even go to jail.
Read: 9 tips to keep manatees safe this spring
FWC data shows at least 800 manatees died last year, and a record 1,100 died in 2021.
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