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Manatees Have A Cow Over Losing Endangered Species Classification
The Stiletto ^ | April 11, 2007 | The Stiletto

Posted on 04/11/2007 12:44:21 PM PDT by theothercheek

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering whether to reclassify the FL manatee as a “threatened” species instead of an “endangered” species, though more of the sea cows were killed in 2006 than in the previous 30 years. The Washington Post reports that of a total population of roughly 3,200, 416 of the marine mammals were killed last year - many in collisions with boat propellers. The planned reclassification would ease restrictions on how fast boats can go (no-wake zones), as well as on waterfront development in manatee habitats. Lobbyists for boaters and developers argue that the manatee population has stabilized and is large enough. The Fearless Leader of the Manatees is preparing a PowerPoint Presentation to make the case for his constituents remaining on the Endangered Species List.

NOTE: In case I did not put the links in correctly, this is the second item in a feature called The Daily Blade," and follows an item titled, "How Resilient Is Rudy?"


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: algore; algoreisfat; endangeredspecies; environmentalism; manatees; thestiletto; thestilettoblog
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1 posted on 04/11/2007 12:44:23 PM PDT by theothercheek
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To: theothercheek

I thought they were busy writing for Family Guy???


2 posted on 04/11/2007 12:45:22 PM PDT by flashbunny (<--- Free Anti-Rino graphics! See Rudy the Rino get exposed as a liberal with his own words!)
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To: theothercheek

Have to admit it was pretty cool a number of years back when I visited my brother in FL and was able to feed and pet some manatees in the wild.


3 posted on 04/11/2007 12:46:22 PM PDT by the_devils_advocate_666
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To: theothercheek
Seriously, manatess are cool animals. They look like they'd be fun to have a beer with, as long as they don't try to hit on your sister.

Can't any genius out there invent something that scares those fat dopes away from boats?

4 posted on 04/11/2007 12:46:49 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: theothercheek
It's shure looking like the liebrals and wackos have the male hormones to stand up for their principles.

The wackos are making a good move here so kudos.

5 posted on 04/11/2007 12:49:18 PM PDT by 100-Fold_Return (Starting' to catch on the conspiracy is no "theory??")
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To: theothercheek

What is really sad is that prop slicing deaths of Manatees is entirely preventable. A simple cage around the prop does not adversely effect the speed of the boat while causing the boat to ride over the back of the Manatee without slicing them up.


6 posted on 04/11/2007 12:49:30 PM PDT by Ben Mugged (Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.)
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To: theothercheek

What do you bet there are more manatees today than there were one hundred years ago?


7 posted on 04/11/2007 12:55:00 PM PDT by RexBeach ("Broad-minded is just another way of saying a fellow is too lazy to form an opinion." Will Rogers)
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To: Ben Mugged

I like manatees, too. But click on the links towards the end of the post - it’s amazing how much Al Gore looks like a manatee. The way Burgess Meredith looked like a penguin.


8 posted on 04/11/2007 12:57:49 PM PDT by theothercheek ("Unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything." - U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall)
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To: theothercheek

I’m a third generation Floridian. I swam with Manatees in the Manatee river in the early 1950’s. Gentle creatures they were once mistaken for Mermaids (just shows how undiscerning a drunken sailor can be).


9 posted on 04/11/2007 1:06:21 PM PDT by Ben Mugged (Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.)
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To: Ben Mugged

In Lee County, the politicians have figured some way to pin the blame on Manatee deaths to boat docks. If you don’t want them around your boat don’t feed them. We had one come up alongside our boat and pop his head out of the water in an apparent attempt to beg for food. The tourists throw lettuce in the water to feed them. We usually have our hands full with porpoises. Catch a fish and they’re right there looking at you, waiting for you to turn it loose. We found there is an exception to that rule. Hook a pompano, and they’ll take it before you reel it in.


10 posted on 04/11/2007 1:08:39 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Worry not about the Presidential candidates , worry about the people they appoint to run things.)
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To: theothercheek
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
11 posted on 04/11/2007 1:09:47 PM PDT by digger48
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To: digger48

12 posted on 04/11/2007 1:21:42 PM PDT by MrEdd (Always look on the bright side of life.)
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To: Bringbackthedraft
These are readily available and relatively low cost ($100-$200).


13 posted on 04/11/2007 1:27:49 PM PDT by Ben Mugged (Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.)
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To: digger48

Amazing ...


14 posted on 04/11/2007 2:13:00 PM PDT by theothercheek ("Unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything." - U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall)
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To: Ben Mugged

So why don;t they just require them instead of trying to limit where boaters can go.


15 posted on 04/11/2007 2:13:56 PM PDT by theothercheek ("Unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything." - U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall)
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To: theothercheek
Good question. One I've been asking since the 1960's. Would have saved a few arms and legs in that time as well.....

Know any Florida politicians willing to sponsor a bill?

16 posted on 04/11/2007 2:18:32 PM PDT by Ben Mugged (Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.)
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To: Ben Mugged

Sandbars and mangroves, I would think, could be a real “snag” for those


17 posted on 04/11/2007 2:19:16 PM PDT by digger48
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To: digger48
Sandbars are no problem although sucking in sand through the impeller will destroy the water pump and eventually seize the engine (been there). Mangrove roots are also not a problem. Sea grass is a problem as it tends to collect on the cage and over time will severely reduce the effectiveness of the prop. This is also a problem with an uncovered prop but not quite as severe. Just means that instead of stopping every hour to clean the cage you stop every 90 minutes to clean the prop.
18 posted on 04/11/2007 2:25:36 PM PDT by Ben Mugged (Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.)
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To: digger48

Shouldn’t a boater be trying to avoid both those things anyway?


19 posted on 04/11/2007 2:25:52 PM PDT by theothercheek ("Unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything." - U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall)
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To: theothercheek

Boaters try to avoid submerged manatees, too.

not always successfully.


20 posted on 04/11/2007 2:43:09 PM PDT by digger48
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