Dave: 'Arm the sea cows for self defense'

According to NPR, the Beat's beloved Manatees could soon have to fend for themselves in Florida:

Wildlife officials in Florida want to "downlist" the manatee, moving its status from "endangered" to "threatened."

Supporters of the move say it's a sign of the Florida manatee's comeback. Environmental groups say it has more to do with the influence of developers.

As gentle vegetarians that spend most of their time foraging in rivers and bays for sea grass, manatees have no natural predators. But they do face significant danger — mostly from power boats and their propellers.