Wildlife officials to review manatee status change

MIAMI (AP) — Federal wildlife officials are moving forward with a status review of the manatee following a petition from a libertarian legal group representing some north Florida business owners.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that it will begin a more detailed status review and analysis. It’s a step in changing the status of the West Indian manatee — including its subspecies, the Florida manatee and Antillean manatee — from endangered to threatened.