The problem stems from people's perception of dolphins and manatees. Think about it. Where do most people first see them? Either on TV or at an aquarium such as Seaworld. And what do they see? Dolphins performing tricks for huge crowds and manatees just being cute. It's natural for people to want to interact with them, we are drawn to that sort of thing. But we can't, not if we want them to survive!

Dolphins, like all wild animals, strive toward a single goal everyday of their life, survival of the species. It is because of this goal that they spend their days eating, sleeping and procreating. Here at Coastal we see dolphins several times a day. No one who works here can remember ever seeing them not doing one of those three things. It is important to the dolphins that people not interfere with these behaviors. This is where the conflict lies.

People are usually so thrilled about seeing dolphins that they allow their curiosity to get the better of them. Too many times we have witnessed people chasing dolphins all over the river, just to get as close as possible. Too many times we have seen people get in the water with them, or through food to them, just because it seems like a fun thing to do. Rarely is the dolphin's well being ever considered.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries has published some materials in regard to people and dolphins; here are some excerpts from a pamphlet entitled, "Protect Dolphins: admire them from a distance".

"Dolphins are hunters, not beggars. But when people offer them food, dolphins, like most animals, take the easy way out. They learn to beg for a living, lose their fear of humans and do dangerous things."

"Dolphins are not water toys or pets. The Flipper myth of a friendly wild dolphin has given us the wrong idea. Flipper was actually a trained, captive dolphin who did not bite the hand that fed him. However, truly wild dolphins will bite when they are angry, frustrated, or afraid. When people try to swim with wild dolphins, the dolphins are disturbed. Dolphins who have become career moochers can get pushy, aggressive and threatening when they don't get the handout they expect."

"Dozens of bites have been reported and people have been pulled under the water. A woman who fed a pair of dolphins and then jumped in the water to swim with them was bitten. 'I literally ripped my left leg out of its mouth,' she said during her week stay in the hospital."

The moral of the story is that when dolphins lose their fear of humans, bad things can happen, and not just to the people that don't use their heads. NOAA Fisheries has photos of dolphins that have been badly maimed because they got too close to boats in search of a handout.

Unfortunately, it doesn't end there. When people interfere with wild dolphins, it alters the dolphin's behavior. For example, if dolphins are prevented from feeding in a food rich area because of human interference, they will stop feeding in that area. That puts more pressure on the dolphins to find an alternate source. The same goes for mating. If the dolphins are interferred with enough during mating, they will not mate. How can this possibly be good for wild dolphins?

How can you help? It's simple. First, do not feed the animals. Do not try to swim with them. Keep your distance when in the company of dolphins and manatees. Try to maintain a distance of at least fifty yards, and by all means, do not chase them around. If a large wild animal was following you through the woods, would you think the animal was just being friendly, or would you feel threatened? You can get some great pictures and sightings with a pair of binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lense. It truly is better for both the people and the animals.

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St. Augustine, FL 32080
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