Carolyn and Andrew Krentz and their Brutus adoption. (Photo courtesy of Carolyn Krentz.)

By Janice Nearing, Director of Public Relations

Carolyn Krentz and her husband Andrew have created their own special tradition on Valentine’s Day. For the past few years, the Krentzes, from Fort Myers, Florida, have adopted a playful 1,800-pound manatee by the name of Brutus from Save the Manatee Club’s Blue Spring adoption program.

“Flowers and chocolates just can’t compare to a big, loveable manatee,” said Carolyn. “My husband and I agree that we don’t need a special day of the year to celebrate our love, as every day is Valentine’s Day for us. Instead, we’d rather spend our money showing the manatees how much we love them!”

An adoption from one of the three programs offered at the Club is $25, and it includes an adoption certificate, photo of a real manatee, biography, membership handbook, a subscription to the Club’s quarterly newsletter, The Manatee Zone, and the bi-monthly e-newsletter, Paddle Tales. Or for $35, each new member who joins the Adopt-A-Manatee program online will also receive a special plush manatee. As an added personal touch, each adoption comes with a Valentine’s Day gift card and message.

“We plan on adopting Brutus every year on February 14th,” adds Carolyn. “We’re so glad that Save the Manatee Club is taking the necessary steps to save these beautiful marine mammals by getting the word out about the many problems they face, and by giving a voice to the manatees.” 

There are 31 manatees to choose from in the Club’s three Florida adoption programs at Blue Spring State Park near Orange City, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa, and in the Tampa Bay area.

Kristen and Tom Ort on their wedding day. (Photo courtesy of Kristen Ort.)

Tom Ort and his Jemp adoption. (Photo courtesy of Kristen Ort.)

Since love blooms year-round and not just on Valentine’s Day, manatee adoptions are wonderful to give for every heartfelt occasion. Kristen Ort from Asheville, North Carolina, decided to adopt the curious, journey-bound Jemp from the Club’s Tampa Bay program for her husband, Tom. 

Kristen, who volunteers at a no-kill shelter and is a registered small mammal rehabilitator, looked high and low for a one-year wedding anniversary gift. Because they both care about animals, she adopted a manatee for Tom. “When I gave him Jemp’s adoption packet, he was very excited,” said Kristen. “Turns out that for our anniversary, he had planned a trip to Florida so that I could see manatees! Jemp’s adoption made me realize that we had more in common than I thought.”

Manatees are listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  A little more than 3,000 of them live in Florida’s busy waterways, where boat strikes continue to be the leading known cause of manatee injuries and deaths. Save the Manatee Club has been working to protect manatees and their habitat for over 25 years. Funds from the Club’s adoption programs go toward education and conservation efforts.

“We stand behind the Club’s work completely,” said Kristen. “Manatees can really use all the help they can get!”

		Brutus is the manatee adopted by Carolyn Krentz and her husband Andrew. Brutus lives in the wild and visits the warm waters of Blue Spring State Park each winter. One of largest manatees at the park, Brutus has been a "regular" since 1970. He's pretty social, too. When he arrives for the winter and departs for the spring, he is usually one of the crowd. .
		Jemp is the manatee adopted by Kristen Ort for her husband Tom. Rescued in 1995 after being exposed to red tide, Jemp lives in the wild and travels in a wide range along Florida's west coast. Last year, after a four-year dearth of sightings, researchers were excited to spot Jemp in a mating herd in Roberts Bay in Sarasota County.

• Learn more about Brutus, Jemp,
  and the other manatees available for adoption
  
  
• Adopt-A-Manatee Online
  
  
• Print an Order Form