If you were over taking a wide-eyed look at those manatees beached by the Courtney Campbell Causeway on Thursday evening, you should know they weren't beached... they were mating.

According to The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Clearwater Police Department, the manatees viewers called to report being beached were in fact doing just fine -- fantastic really -- and suggested they be left alone.

And FWC Biologist and State Manatee Rescue Coordinator Andy Garrett said there weren't just two manatees in the water, but an estimated 13 males and one female. Callers said traffic backed up on the bridge as drivers got out and went down to the beach to look at what they thought were struggling beached manatees.

As you can likely guess, the males focused on the female who is likely in heat and releasing pheromones that excites the males, Garrett said. The male manatees can get aggressive as they clamor and posture the chance to mate with the female.

The males may want to mate, but she probably doesn't: "The female is likely trying to get away from the males."

According to Garrett, the manatees are in shallow water as the female tries to get away, but it is a natural part of the process. It grabs the attention of people watching because lots of water is kicked up in the process causing "white water." Biologists won't usually step in when such situations arise. "We try to leave them alone. It's a normal process. We want the mating to occur and allow the population to expand."

They sometimes get concerned that the male manatees focus too much on mating and forget the tide going out, get stranded and can't get back to deeper water. They step into help when that happens.

Garrett said though humorous, the interaction is an educational opportunity for all those who live in the Bay area and often see manatees. "We ask the general public to stay back and watch from a safe distance. It's an interesting natural experience."

Sometimes people will think of the docile animals as harmless -- and they usually are -- but they are still thousand-pound creatures rolling around in shallow water. "The males are so focused on the females, you can walk right up to the animals. We've had instances where people put their kids near them and took pictures."

Clearwater Police officials said officers used crime scene tape to block off the water line so onlookers wouldn't get too close to the manatees afrer a large crowd gathered to watch the mating.

According to MyFWC.com, manatees are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. It is illegal to feed, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, annoy or molest manatees.

Anyone convicted of violating state law faces maximum fines of $500 and/or imprisonment of up to 60 days. Conviction for violating federal protection laws is punishable by fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison.

So, tell a friend and give these kids some privacy.