Manatees Need Our Help In Many Ways

Manatees Need Our Help In Many Ways
By Katie Tripp, Ph.D., Director of Science and Conservation
J
ust in time for Labor Day, we announced a new free iphone App that notifies
Florida boaters when they are entering a manatee zone. The App also provides
manatee info and allows citizens to make a donation to Save the Manatee Club
(SMC). It was developed by a Delray Beach company called Conserve.IO,
in conjunction with
SMC. The free App
can be downloaded
at bit.ly/15EYen6.
We are currently
­researching fund­
raising initiatives
to raise the $35,000
needed to make this
technology available
on Android devices
so we can reach
more boaters.
Please contact
ktripp@savethe
manatee.org if
you would like to
­contribute to this
­worthwhile endeavor.
In September the
Algae coat the vascular plant life at many of Florida’s
Club was represented
impaired springs, including Alexander Springs,
where this photo was taken in August. Photo by Katie Tripp.
continued on page 7
It’s Manatee
Awareness
Month!
By Janice Nearing,
Director of Public Relations
The Official Newsletter of
Save the Manatee® Club
500 N. Maitland Ave.
Maitland, FL 32751
Artwork by Nancy Blauers
November, Volume 32
Issue #4 of 2013
Published four times a year
in March, June, September
and November.
Adorable manatee mugs for the ­camera at
Blue Spring State Park. Such a ­beautiful sight
can serve as a reminder that it’s Manatee ­
Awareness Month! Photo © Patrick M. Rose.
November is traditionally
dedicated to the endangered
Florida manatee, the state’s
­official marine mammal.
­During Manatee Awareness
Month and the winter months
that follow, Save the Manatee
Club encourages the public
to watch manatees in their
natural habitat on the Club’s
­webcams at Blue Spring State
Park. This is an amazing edu­
cational opportunity for people
around the world to see live
continued on page 5
Mommas And Newborns Stop By – And Other Park News
By Wayne Hartley, Manatee Specialist – Blue Spring Adoption Update
S
trange things happen when my back is
turned. As I went through the pictures taken
by the USGS Sirenia Project researchers
the past season, I saw manatees I had never
seen in person. As a result, the total seen at the Park has
reached 486, and the number staying the winter went to
325. Elaine is one of those staying the winter that I was
not aware of. She was photographed on March 4th.
With all the calves last season, we still had many
pregnant manatees. The parade of newborns has started
already. On August 4th Una brought in a calf. The next
On behalf of the Club, Executive Director Patrick Rose
(right) presents a special conservation award to
Robert Rundle for his many years of service helping
manatees at the Park. Photo by Terry Nearing.
day Dix brought a calf to the swim dock. Dix is probably
four years old and was discovered to be a pregnant
female at the end of last season. On August 16th an
unknown female was around in the morning, and at about
2 p.m. she gave birth in the lower end of the run. On
August 18th she was joined by Phyllis and her new calf!
Finally, Alice, a member of one of our largest matriar­
chies and a descendant of the departed Dana, brought
in a calf on August 21st. I expect more to come.
On August 27th the FWC East Coast Recovery
Team got a report of a ditch full of manatees behind the
Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Florida.
They wanted to find out what was going on and make
sure the manatees could get out. All was okay, and they
did finally leave and return to Lake Monroe. It appears
ten males pursued a young lovely named Pine into the
ditch. I’ve seen pictures and ID’d Brutus, Philip, Paddy
Doyle, Howie, Turtle, Homer II, and Jethro in addition
to Pine. Pine was released at the Spring a few years ago
with ­Forest (they were named after a school). Forest took
off, but Pine was tracked in the Lake Monroe area and
became a Blue Spring regular.
Editor’s Note: Blue Spring State Park Manager
­Robert Rundle retired from the Florida Park Service
on October 1st after 35 years of distinguished service,
including the last eight at the Park. He demonstrated
a great caring spirit for the manatees who came
into the warm-water refuge of the Park’s spring
­waters, and he will be missed. At the same time,
we congratulate Jerry Garrett for being selected
as the new Park Manager!
Go Greener
Sign up to receive your paperless copy of this newsletter. Four times a year, we will email you a link to an online
version. You reduce our annual postage and printing costs, you are saving trees, and you’ll have a little less
snail mail in your mailbox. Send us an email at zone@savethemanatee.org, and many thanks for your help.
Zewie And Bama Not Spotted Yet
By Dr. Ruth Carmichael and Elizabeth Hieb – Alabama Adoption Update
2
As summer turned to fall, Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s
Manatee Sighting Network (MSN) continued to monitor
manatees in Alabama waters. This season, Alabama’s
tagged manatees have generally remained eastward.
Serge and Aven made brief trips to Alabama in July,
but other tagged manatees, Wilson and Brodie, have
not migrated west of the Florida panhandle. While
our currently tagged manatees have stayed east, MSN
has received an unprecedented number of publicly
reported manatee sightings (nearly 220) this summer.
Previously tagged manatees, Zewie and Bama, Save the
Manatee Club adoptees, have not been seen yet since
leaving their warm-water refuges in February. Alabama
residents, however, have frequently spotted another
previously tagged manatee, Ellie, known from Crystal
River, Florida, among a likely breeding group in Dog
River, Alabama. Ellie was seen several times from
June through August along with TB294, an adventurous
manatee who traveled nearly 100 miles north of Mobile
Bay in 2012.
As manatee sighting reports continue to increase
in Alabama, MSN will hold a first public seminar and
volunteer training event this fall to educate local resi­
dents on safe viewing of manatees in our area and how
to help MSN continue its research. We hope for a great
turnout to report in the next newsletter!
Internationally, Manatees
Young And Old Continue To Need Us
O
ur friends at Wildtracks
now have 3 manatees in
their care – Duke, Rame­
ses, and Khaleesi. We are
raising funds to upgrade Wildtracks’
manatee kitchen so they have the
facilities needed to prep and store
meals for these youngsters. We’re
hoping the sale of handcrafted
bracelets from Sarteneja in our gift
catalog will bring in some of the
needed proceeds, but additional
funds will be required. Manatees
in Belize are already threatened
by high speed boat traffic gener­
ated from cruise ship passengers in
Belize City. We previously designed
and helped pay for Slow Speed
signage to protect manatees in these
waters. This is an important reminder
that manatees can be negatively
­impacted by tourism, and we must
all do our due diligence to help ensure
that our travel choices are not threat­
ening these gentle creatures.
Unfortunately, we have some
sad news from Puerto Rico, where
Maya, a young rescued orphan,
has died. Young orphaned calves
sometimes have illnesses or birth
defects that prevent their survival
despite the quality care they receive
By Katie Tripp, Ph.D., Director
of Science and Conservation
Paul Walker of Wildtracks bottle feeds baby Khaleesi.
Photo by Tony Rath Photography, tonyrath.com.
after rescue. Thankfully, many other
calves thrive with a lot of TLC. We
were recently contacted to assist
with funding for the rehabilitation
of two orphaned calves in Mexico.
There is no shortage of manatees
who need us – and you!
Just as youth education is key
to protecting Florida’s manatees,
children in all countries where
manatees are found must learn
to value them in order to become
f­ uture stewards. We continue
­working with our partners to
support the distribution of educa­
tional resources in various countries.
With the help of colleagues in Brazil
and Mexico we are investigating
the publication of a children’s book
that contains manatee biology and
conservation information in all four
of the main languages spoken where
manatees are found: English, Span­
ish, French, and Portuguese.
Winter Season Fast Approaching
By Susan Lowe – Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Adoption Update
Ariel, Lorelei, Electra, and Rosie
are getting excited as November
15th is fast approaching for the
gates to be lifted to allow wild
manatees into the main spring.
Our Park captive manatees easily
go into their comfortable winter
quarters for a few months to allow
their wild cousins an expanded
warm-water sanctuary of our main
spring, which is the headwaters of
the Homosassa River.
It is wonderful to see the female
manatees enter the spring run during
the season with their young calves in
tow. We take lots of photos of them,
and their calves, to assist researchers
on the lives of these wild manatees.
We have had some females that have
been returning to the Homosassa
River for over 20 years. One who
was identified had traveled as far
as Alabama!
Our Underwater Observatory can
be surrounded by many wild mana­
tees during this time, so please make
sure you take a peek daily at all the
activity by going to our manatee
cam at manateecam.org.
Please come and visit Ariel,
Lorelei, Electra, and Rosie! They
would love to see their adoptive
fan club members and show off
their beautiful home at Ellie Schiller
­Homosassa Springs Wildlife State
Park, open 365 days a year!
Editor’s Note: We congratulate
Park Manager Art Yerian for his
promotion to Assistant Bureau
Chief for District 5 in Southeast
Florida, and we thank him for
his many years of service helping ­manatees at the Park. And
our hearty congratulations to
­Kimberlee ­Tennille, who will be
taking over as new Park Manager!
Susan Lowe has been the Park’s
Wildlife Care Supervisor since
2004, responsible for managing a
department that contains eight staff,
30 plus volunteers, and over 300
wildlife residents, including several
Florida manatees.
3
Volunteers Wanted – Please Step In And Help Out
By Janice Nearing, Director of Public Relations
I
f you are a current volunteer for Save the
Manatee Club, we can’t thank you enough. If
you are considering becoming one (hurray!),
there are many essential opportunities where
volunteers can get involved and put all that care for
manatees into action.
Here’s one important way. We like to have a presence
at events around Florida and outside the state whenever
possible. So we set up information tables or booths at
community festivals and nature-themed fairs or conven­
tions; sometimes at schools, libraries, and environmental
centers. The Club relies on our esteemed team of vol­
unteers to staff these throughout the year and provide
­information about manatees and the Club’s conservation
work to the public. However, we’re often met with a
­barrage of event requests at certain times of the year,
such as two-day winter festivals and multiple events
­during Earth Day month (April), mostly in Florida. We
strive to participate in all of them, but the question that
pops up all too frequently is, do we have enough volun­
teer help? Here’s where we hope you eagerly chime in
with, “Oh, I can set aside a few Saturdays and spare
some time to volunteer!”
Our volunteers make up a vibrant cross section of
the community, from college students to retirees. Many
are looking for a chance to ‘give something back’ while
making new friends along the way.
Through the combined efforts of our engaging,
­passionate volunteers, the Club’s outreach and education
efforts continue to improve the lives of manatees and
the waterways they call home. Join the Club’s Volunteer
Team today online at savethemanatee.org/vol.htm. ­
Discover the value of volunteering for a cause you
believe in.
Mark your calendar for these big two-day Florida
manatee festivals coming up in 2014. The Club sets
up education booths at each of them, and we’d gratefully welcome extra volunteer help. Thousands of
­visitors attend and enjoy the festivities, especially
those special moments that are spent observing and
­admiring the manatees.
Club volunteers pose with “Hope” the giant ­inflatable
manatee during the 2013 Blue Spring Manatee
­Festival. Photo by Terry Nearing.
Florida Manatee Festival
January 18 & 19, 2014
Crystal River, Citrus County, FL
Contact Citrus County Chamber of Commerce
at 352-795-3149
or visit citruscountychamber.com
Blue Spring Manatee Festival
January 25 & 26, 2014
Orange City, Volusia County, FL
Contact 386-775-9224
or visit themanateefestival.com
Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts
March 8 & 9, 2014
Apollo Beach, Hillsborough County, FL
Contact 813-645-1366
or visit apollobeachchamber.com
Tampa Bay Manatees Soon To Seek Warmer Waters
By Kelsey Jennings, Staff Biologist
4
There have been no sightings of the Tampa Bay
a­ doptees since the last update in September. This is
not uncommon during the warmer months, when
­manatees are able to disperse far and wide along the
Gulf Coast. As fall continues to progress, keep your
eyes open for manatees at warm-water locations such
as the TECO power plant located in Tampa. The migra­
tion of m
­ anatees when the weather turns colder ­usually
begins in October, so make sure to remain on the look­
out for manatees if out on the water. ­Seasonal speed
zones usually begin in early November, so take the
time to read any posted signs indicating speed zones
throughout Florida. Cold weather months are a great
time to see manatees, as they often congregate in certain
locations, ­particularly around power plants and natural
springs. It is important to let manatees rest, especially
­during the cold months, as they need to conserve their
energy. Please remember to call the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) to report
any manatees you are concerned about, including any
injured, dead, orphaned, or harassed manatees.
Cool Manatee Stuff!
Learn about manatees, and have fun doing it! Watch a video, listen to manatee sounds,
and much more. Go to savethemanatee.org/coolstuff. There, you will also find links
to our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.
It’s Manatee Awareness Month!
manatees in real time. Enjoy
the interactions between ­mothers
and their precious young, the
amusing antics of juveniles at play,
and other special ‘day-in-the-life’
­moments of wild manatees who
seek the warmth of the spring run
continued from page 1
when the weather starts cooling
down. You can also watch archived
manatee videos from the Blue
Spring webcams and read the latest
manatee reports from Wayne Hart­
ley, the Club’s Manatee Specialist
and ­former Park Ranger at Blue
Kayak Tours Offer Viewing
Without Disrupting Natural Behavior
Spring State Park.
Go to manatv.org and be
­prepared to spend some quality
time mesmerized by manatees and
other wondrous Florida wildlife.
It’s quite the view!
By Nancy Sadusky, Director
of Online Communications
H
ave you ever wanted to
see manatees in the wild?
Now is your chance to do
it, and in a way that does
not disrupt their natural behavior.
Kayak tours to see manatees ­begin
in October and run through April
2014. The ecotours are offered by
Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company
in Crystal River and provide a less
invasive alternative to swimming or
diving with manatees. In addition,
10 percent of each tour booked by
a Save the Manatee Club (SMC)
member goes toward the Club’s
manatee conservation efforts.
Aardvark’s manatee kayak tours
are led by owners Matt and Sue
Clemons. Matt is a wildlife biolo­
gist with several years of experience
conducting manatee research, and
Sue is a former park ranger. Matt
is also a member of SMC’s Board
of Directors. “Our manatee tours
are conducted with a hands-off
­approach,” says Matt. “We believe
that wild animals need to stay wild,
and the true ecotourist looks but
does not touch.”
Each ecotour starts with a brief
education session on manatees as
well as basic kayaking tips. Then
it’s time to begin paddling. Along
A manatee rises and provides a thrilling sight during a kayak ecotour!
Photo courtesy Matt Clemons, Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company.
the way, you’ll get a chance to view
manatees in the wild and learn
about the local flora and fauna. The
cost of each tour is $45 per person
and includes an experienced guide,
kayak, paddle, and life jacket. Each
tour typically runs about three hours.
Kayaking experience is not required,
and beginners are welcome.
Please book your tour through
Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company
by calling 352-795-5650 or email
info@FloridaKayakCompany.com
for more information. Those par­
ticipants who identify themselves as
SMC members will receive a free
manatee sticker, a 20% discount
coupon for SMC’s gift catalog or
for SMC T-shirts sold in Aardvark’s
store, and a 20% off discount coupon
to see manatees at the nearby Ellie
Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife
State Park.
Tour participants are responsible
for all travel, hotel, meals, and other
expenses. Once you sign up, Matt
and Sue will provide a list of area
hotels. Reservations are required,
so book your tour today and be sure
to say you are an SMC member!
Sign up to receive our Action Alerts, E-Newsletter, or Manatee Gift notices at bit.ly/smc-signup.
5
Renew Early
Please renew your annual membership early. The
­expiration date appears on the mailing label on your
newsletter (see example to the right). Also please
consider our Recurring Gift Plan. This saves printing
and postage costs. Your contribution can be scheduled
monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. By
signing up you will eliminate annual renewal notices
because we will automatically renew your Club
membership. Just print and mail us your Authorization
Form. Find it at bit.ly/auth-form. Thanks so much!
Meet Our Members
Miami resident Lynda Green has a passion for manatees and travel. Last year she visited Mongolia
to learn about the Reindeer People and to teach them about manatees. Read more at bit.ly/meet-mbrs.
Lithgow’s Manatee Book Continues To Charm
By Janice Nearing, Director of Public Relations
John Lithgow, reading from one of his children’s
books with great dramatic energy to hundreds
of admiring fans at his book release of
“I’m a Manatee.” Photo by Terry Nearing.
A
decade ago, actor, musician, and best-selling
children’s book author, John Lithgow, wrote
a popular book for kids called I’m a Manatee.
The imaginative, quirky story of a little boy
who dreams of becoming a manatee remains a favorite
today and is enjoyed equally by children and grownups. Creatively illustrated, the book also comes with a
fun, musically accompanied CD. One listen and just try
­getting that catchy tune out of your head! The Club’s
online gift catalog carries John Lithgow’s paperback
book along with many other wonderful manatee gifts
for the holidays at shopsavethemanatee.org.
A blast from the Club’s past: In conjunction with
­Lithgow’s manatee book release in 2003, Save the
Manatee Club co-hosted a special event at Ellie Schiller
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, where the actor
performed for an enthralled audience, signed his books
for happy fans, and saw his adopted manatee, Rosie, at
the park’s underwater observatory. The Club presented
Lithgow with the honorary manatee adoption.
Help Manatees For Tomorrow
6
Remember Save the Manatee® Club in your will or living trust, name the Club a beneficiary in your life insurance policy
or retirement plan, and give gifts of real estate and stock. Please consult your attorney about a legacy gift or contact
Patrick Rose, the Club’s Executive Director, for further information at 1-800-432-5646. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization. Our federal tax identification number is 59-3131709. Thank you for caring!
Sell your items on eBay’s “Giving Works” and help the Club in its conservation mission
to protect manatees and their habitat! Find out more at savethemanatee.org/ebay.
Manatees Need Our Help In Many Ways
as a founding member of SOS-NOW (Save Our
Springs – Nature’s Original Wealth) at a Department
of Environmental P
­ rotection (DEP) hearing at the South­
west Florida Water Management District’s Brooksville
headquarters. The hearing resulted from a petition filed
to DEP by SOS-NOW in response to Minimum Flows
and Levels (MFLs) set for the Homosassa and Chassa­
howitzka Rivers in 2012. Both rivers contain springs
that serve as winter habitat for manatees, and both are
Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) – a designation
that is supposed to protect them from degradation. The
established MFLs for both of these systems would
­allow a 3% reduction in flow – a reduction our coalition
believes is in violation of the state OFW as well as the
anti-degradation provisions of the federal Clean Water
Act. Sadly, we don’t expect DEP will honor our state’s
water policy or federal water law, and we are preparing
to take our case to the Environmental Protection Agency.
If you would like to contribute to our legal case, please
designate “SOS NOW” on your donation to SMC.
In 2007–2009 Miami-Dade County undertook a
review of its Manatee Protection Plan, motivated by
marine development interests, particularly with regard
to the downtown area of Miami. This is an area inap­
propriate for many forms of additional water access due
to ongoing threats to manatees from existing human use.
Most of the committee’s recommendations would reduce
protections for manatees, despite sound biological data
that indicate areas historically important to manatees
in the county continue to be of crucial significance and
in need of protection. As we went to press, the recom­
mendations for the boat facility siting element of the
continued from page 1
MPP were scheduled for an early November ­hearing
before the Board of County Commissioners. Please
stay tuned for future updates on this issue.
Sadly, 2013 will bring a new mortality record for
Florida’s manatees, beating the 2010 record of 766
deaths. The worst red tide on the books, coupled with
the unusual mortality event in the Indian River Lagoon,
along with all the other “regular” threats manatees face
means that they need us, and you, now more than ever
to safeguard them and their threatened habitat from
those who wish to see protections stripped away.
You can request a hi-res jpeg of this ad for your company
newsletters. E-mail: jnearing@savethemanatee.org
Bring Peace to Their World
This Holiday Season, Adopt-A-Manatee ®
Help Protect Them
www.savethemanatee.org
Call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646)
Photo © David Schrichte
More Ways You Can Help
Have you ever thought about becoming a Club volunteer? Or joining our Manatee Sighting Network? Or contacting
decision-makers? Find out more about all the ways you can help. Go to savethemanatee.org/moreways
to find out how. Thank you so much! You make a big difference in the lives of manatees!
Unwanted Vehicle or Boat?
Donate it to Save the Manatee Club and get a tax deduction! Help us protect manatees and their habitat.
Call 1-877-999-8322 or go online to savethemanatee.org/otherways
and click on the
7
Holiday Gift Catalog
Find these items and more at shopsavethemanatee.org.
Holiday Ornament
Meet Candy Cane, the newest
­Holiday Ornament. Buy this cute
duo for yourself, and several as gifts
to add to your Holiday Ornament
­collection. You are sure to fall
in love with them. Candy Cane
is approximately 2-1/20 H 3 20 W.
Hand-made from polymer clay.
Made in the USA!
Item #91026 Price $13.95
Squishable
Toy/Pillow
A must have for all ages.
Can be used as a huggable
pillow. So ­cuddly – a great
gift for children of all
ages. Fifteen inches of
spherical sea cow! Filled
with ­polyester fiber.
Item #90097 Price $36.95
2014 Wall
Calendar
A fantastic wall
­calendar with a
­beautiful underwater
manatee photo for
­every month of
the year. Measures
120 3 240 when
open. Special
­message from our
Executive Director,
Patrick Rose, inside. Made in the USA!
Item #91014 Price $13.99
Holiday Cards
Another fabulous design by
renowned artist Nancy Blauers.
Inside message reads “Wishing
you a Happy Holiday Season
filled with peace and joy.” Get
12 cards/envelopes on recycled
paper. Cards measure 50 3 70.
Order early while supplies last.
Printed in the USA!
Item #99014 Price $14.95
Slap and Wrap Koozie
This Slap and Wrap Koozie is versatile and
fits various beverage containers and will ­always
retain its shape. (Two metal strips with total
memory run end-to-end inside the 1/40
­textured neoprene). You can roll this Koozie
up and stick it in your pocket, or ­flatten it
out and place it above your car visor or in
the glove box. Total size is 3.50 W 3 90 L.
Filbert
The Plush Toy
Meet Filbert! He’s an endearing
plush in a two-color design with
very soft fur. Machine-washable,
and for ages 18 months and up.
Measures 50 H 3 200 L. Makes a
great gift and a wonderful addition
to your manatee collection.
Item #90099 Price $19.95
Item #1255 Price $6.95
8
Visit shopsavethemanatee.org or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) to order today.
Stocking Stuffers:
Necklace
Sterling silver manatee with cloisonné enamel overlay and
blue Swarovski crystals hangs from an adjustable sterling
chain (160–200). Makes a wonderful gift!
Item #90415 Price $32.95
Dangle Earrings
Sterling silver manatees with
a cloisonné enamel overlay
and French wire backings.
Each earring is 1-5/80
in length. Beautiful for
any occasion!
Item #90404 Price $32.95
Post Earrings
Hand crafted of sterling silver
and fired cloisonné enamels. They come in a bamboo
gift box. Post style and measure 5/80 W 3 3/80 H.
Item #90345 Price $19.95
Manatee And
Friends Brass
­Sculpture
This superb sculpture is 130 in
height, and is attached to a solid
marble base. Beautifully crafted
and colored, it includes tropical
fish, a sea turtle, and manta
ray. Made of brass, and colored
using a special process to create
patina finishes that will not rub
off or fade.
Item #90735 Price $155.95
Ying And Yang
­Manatees
Two charming manatees made
of sand and bound together
representing Ying and Yang!
Approximately 3-1/20 L 3 20 W.
They would make a great display
in your home, office, or home
­office. Another great value!
Add to your collection of sand
sculptures. Made in the USA!
Item #90730 Price $13.95
310 Plush
Manatee
This lovely plush manatee
is oh-so squeezably soft and
adorably plump. They are
­perfect buddies for all the
manatee l­overs on your gift
list! He is 310 in length and
has such an adorable face
that boasts black bright eyes.
Item #90082 Price $45.95
Baby Brass
Sculpture
It measures 80 H 3 40 W 3 40 D
and is attached to a solid marble
base. Made of brass, and colored
­using a special process to create
patina finishes that will not rub
off or fade. You’ll love this one!
Item #90705 Price $44.95
Belize
Bracelets
These handcrafted bracelets
are made by talented c­ rafters
in Sarteneja, Belize. A portion
of the proceeds goes back to
supporting Wildtracks, Belize’s
only ­manatee ­rehabilitation
facility. Please note that colors
may vary, as each bracelet is
a unique, h
­ andmade,
hand-painted item. Select
blue or brown bracelet.
Item #90409 Price $20.95
Roly Poly ­
Manatee Pin
This whimsical pin captures the
manatee’s wonderful “roly poly”
essence. Made from recycled leadsafe pewter, and satin finished by
hand. Measures 20 H 3 1.250 W.
Made in the USA!
Item #90362 Price $12.95
Visit shopsavethemanatee.org or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) to order today.
9
Manatee
Change Purse
Night Shirt
This very elegant change purse
is great for coins or any other
small items, from contact lenses to
headphones. They make a great
gift for kids too. The water-resistant
microfiber feels so soft and silky. The images (on both sides)
are taken from oil paintings and pop with amazing detail and
color. The perfect accessory to keep your purse organized.
Measures 12 3 9.5 3 1 cm.
Item #80082 Price $19.95
This nightshirt is really
sweet, especially with its
“double-meaning” ­message
“No Wake Zone!” It’s 100%
cotton and comes in Adult
sizes Small/Medium and
Large/X-Large. This is sure
to make you smile!
Item #91178 Price $9.95
Manatee Pouch
With Detachable
Velvet Strap
This adorable Manatee Pouch
can do just about everything!
It will hold most tablets, and will
fit in your laptop bag for h
­ olding accessories. If you don’t want
to carry a whole purse, remove the detachable strap, and you
will have an easy-to-carry pouch that will hold all your essentials.
It’s large enough to carry brushes and any makeup, so it’s
great for travel or for being put into a purse for organi­zation.
And parents, what a great way to keep your children’s snacks,
­crayons, and the like all close at hand. It features a ­zippered
­closure and is made of an ultra-sturdy waterproof microfiber –
feels so soft and silky. The image is on both sides.
Item #91180 Price $19.95
Acrylic Note
Pad Holder
Keep your workspace b
­ eautifully
organized with this gorgeous
sculptured acrylic note holder
featuring manatees on
three sides. ­Includes three
100-sheet pads to match.
Made in the USA!
Item #90180 Price $13.95
A Manatee
Christmas Book
A memorable story about a
young manatee’s Christmas
wish come true, by Tim Thomas.
Beautifully illustrated, this ­picture
book is written to the ­cadence of
the poem that ­begins, ‘Twas the
night before Christmas…’
Hard cover, 32 pages, full color.
Item #1005 Price $15.95
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The Florida ­Manatee
By Roger L. Reep (a member of our
Board of Directors) and Robert K.
Bonde, manatee researchers with
­decades of e­ xperience. The book ­
covers the manatee’s evolutionary
­history, popu­lation dynamics, threats
posed by people, and more. With
superb illustrations and photos. Hard
or soft cover, 189 pages. For adult
readers. The authors donate all their
­proceeds from the sale of this book to
young investigators doing manatee research.
Item #1012 (hard cover) Price $34.95
Item #1004 (soft cover) Price $24.95
Manny The
Talking Manatee
Wow! A talking manatee plush
toy that educates while it enter­
tains. What a great idea! We
love this, and you will too! Buy
one for yourself, and then buy
some for the kids in your life.
This one is really, ­really cute!
Measures 190 in length.
Item #90080 Price $19.95
Hand Blown
Glass Pendant
Hand blown, this beautiful borosolicate
glass manatee is made from cobalt blue
glass. The pendant comes on an 180
black satin cord with barrel clasp.
The manatee measures approximately
1-1/20 in length, but sizes and colors
may vary slightly because each is hand
made. Each is unique with no two
­pendants exactly alike. Comes in a
gift box. Made in the USA!
Item #90355 Price $25.95
Visit shopsavethemanatee.org or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) to order today.
Hand Blown
Glass Earrings
These hand-sculpted borosilicate glass
earrings are made from cobalt blue
glass. They measure approximately
10 in length and are on French hooks.
Gorgeous! They make a stunning gift,
accompanied by our glass necklace,
for that special manatee lover.
Made in the USA!
Gentle Giant
Plush Toy
This exceptional stuffed toy
measures an incredible 600 in
length! This gentle giant is
so soft and cuddly in a silver
plush, making a wonderful gift
for any manatee lover! Be sure
to order this item early.
Item #90089 Price $250.00
Item #90455 Price $25.95
Puzzle
You’ll have hours of fun
working on this 550-piece
puzzle with a beautiful
­manatee image by marine
wildlife artist William Bock.
Finished size is 180 H 3
240 W, and it’s suitable for
framing. Not for children
under 3 years of age.
Made in the USA!
Item #99018 Price $17.95
Small Manatee
Spoon Rest
This cute manatee spoon
rest is made from stoneware
and is extremely strong and
­durable. It is dishwasher,
oven, and food safe.
Contains NO LEAD.
Made in the USA!
Item #98006 Price $21.95
I’m A Manatee
Book
Written by actor John
Lithgow. An enchanting story
about a little boy who dreams
he is a manatee. This story will
make a believer out of readers
of all ages! Accompanying CD
has John Lithgow singing the
words to the book in a catchy
“sing along” tune. This book
and CD set is certifiably fun!
Paperback, 32 pages.
Item #1015 Price $12.95
Wine Bottle Holder
Hand-painted poly resin d
­ esign
features excellent detail and realism.
Holds a wine bottle or your ­favorite
bottle of soda, whiskey, beer, etc. A
great conversation piece, they look
fantastic with any decor. Measures
80 H 3 110 L. Comes boxed.
Item #98010 Price $30.95
Boxer Shorts
And Tank Top
The next step in our “pajama line,”
this comfy tank top and boxer shorts
are 100% cotton. Great for lounging
and for sleeping, you’ll love them!
Available in adult sizes
S, M, L, and XL.
Boxer Shorts Only:
Item #50010 Price $14.95
Tank Top Only:
Item #60010 Price $14.95
How to Order:
•O
rder online at shopsavethemanatee.org where
you can also view more merchandise for sale.
• Order by phone. Call toll-free 1-800-432-JOIN (5646)
in the United States and Canada. For International
­Orders, call 407-539-0990. Our office hours are
­Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.
• Should you wish to pay by check, please call
us toll-free for your shipping costs at
1-800-432-JOIN (5646).
• All orders shipped to a Florida address will be
charged a 6.5% sales tax.
Visit shopsavethemanatee.org or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) to order today.
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Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
Save the Manatee® Club
500 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751
U.S.A.
Electronic Service Requested
PAID
Orlando, Florida
Permit No. 51022
Printed on recycled paper
If you see an injured manatee, call 1-888-404-FWCC, #FWC or *FWC, or use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio.
Please Donate Now:
Save the
Manatee® Club, Inc.
To read about the highlights of the Club’s impressive accomplishments, go
to savethemanatee.org/smcinfo. Our work is only possible with your help.
Please continue your generous support at savethemanatee.org/donation,
or call us at 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) to help us continue our ongoing
efforts to protect manatees and their aquatic habitat. Thank you!
Board of Directors Co-Chairs
Jimmy Buffett and Helen Spivey
Executive Director – Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist
Newsletter Editor – Terry Nearing
Staff
Star Gazing
Follow Nature’s Celebrities at
Blue Spring State Park, Florida
Membership Services Representatives:
Judy Bower, Barbara Logan and Carla Wilson
Director of Finance & Planned Giving. . . . . . . . Ray Barr
Director of Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juliet Fletcher
Director of Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connie Graham
Manatee Specialist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne Hartley
Staff Biologist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelsey Jennings
Catalog/Mailroom Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . Melody Lang
Director of Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . Janice Nearing
Bookkeeper/Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . Paula Roberts
Administrative Assistant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Rogers
Director of Online Communications . . . Nancy Sadusky
Director of Science & Conservation. . . . Dr. Katie Tripp
SMC receives 100% of each charitable contribution. SC-03550.
All rights reserved.
Live Manatee Webcams at
www.savethemanatee.org/livecams
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Photo © Patrick M. Rose
savethemanatee.org
1-800-432-JOIN (5646)