A manatee was found in Florida on Sunday with the letters "Trump" scraped into its back.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the incident as a crime in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
The perpetrator could face a $50,000 fine or a year in federal prison, according to an investigator.
A manatee with the letters "Trump" scraped into its back was discovered in a Florida river on Sunday, prompting an investigation by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Authorities are seeking information on who might have harassed the West Indian manatee, also known as a Florida manatee. The species concentrates in the warmer waters of the Citrus County area, on the coast northwest of Orlando, during the winter months.