"Hot" Sign Owner Makes Good

Trader Todd Hyatt in front of the display featuring his "hot" manatee protection sign. (Photo by Virginia Carstarphen)

Trader Todd Hyatt was feeling guilty.

He and his wife Virginia own a restaurant in Chicago, Trader Todd’s Adventure Bar, which has a Florida theme. Each winter, they tow a trailer down to Florida and comb flea markets, junk shops, and garage sales in search of unique stuff to hang on the walls for their customers’ enjoyment.

At a marine flea market in the Florida Keys last February, they came across a metal sign that read “Caution: Manatee Area.” Thinking it was a great find, they bought it. But as Todd was hanging the sign in the restaurant, the guilt set in. “I realized that it was undoubtedly swiped from a protected manatee area,” he said.

Drafting a letter to Save the Manatee Club, he wrote: “I have great respect for the work you guys are doing and apologize for the part I unwittingly played in the loss of your sign. Please accept my check for $500 to hopefully buy several signs to replace the one which is hanging in my establishment. And when you are in Chicago, stop in and have a drink with me.”

In grateful appreciation, Save the Manatee Club made Trader Todd and Virginia adoptive “parents” of Rosie, a manatee who lives at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa, Florida.

Trader Todd now sleeps better at night. “We have the sign, Todd’s letter and yours, and the picture of ‘Rosie’ our adopted manatee together in a display” wrote Virginia. “We wish you and the manatees all the best.”

Rosie is Trader Todd and Virginia's adopted manatee. She has been at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park since 1980. Because she has an equilibrium problem, Rosie is not a suitable candidate for release. Park staff describe her as gentle and say she often looks after younger manatees at the park.

• Learn more about Rosie and the other manatees
  available for adoption
• Adopt-A-Manatee Online
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Free Public Awareness Signs Available for
Florida Shoreline Property Owners

You don't have to comb marine flea markets to get your own manatee protection sign. If you are a Florida shoreline property owner, Save the Manatee Club offers a free aluminum public awareness waterway sign (24" x 18"). Call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) or send an e-mail to education@savethemanatee.org. Please give us your mailing address and the address where the sign will be posted (if different).