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Do's and Don'ts!

by Scarlet Colley - August 1999

"Can we feed them?"
"Can we pet them?"
"Can we swim with them?"

These are the most common questions we get from our new dolphin enthusiasts. All of these responses are quite natural considering we have grown up watching movies like "Flipper" and enjoying shows at Sea World.

These dolphins are "Real world" dolphins. We have federal laws protecting them. In Mexico, where they are not protected, dolphins are vulnerable to shark fisherman who use them as bait. We are very fortunate to have laws protecting our dolphins and ensuring they remain safe, healthy and wild.

There is nothing more satisfying than observing dolphins in their natural habitat. We can watch them feed, play and teach their young to be good parents and able feeders.

"Can we feed them?"

We do not feed the dolphins for several reasons. The dolphins have no trouble feeding themselves. They know exactly what they like and what they need to stay healthy. George and I are part of the Mammal Stranding Network, and we know that we only lose five to ten of the Laguna Madre Dolphins each year. We contribute this healthy population mainly to the "No feeding" law. They do not get sick on the wrong kinds of food.

Any kind of wild mammal is happier and healthier feeding in their natural habitat, as long as the habitat is kept safe and healthy for them. Which brings up another point. The Laguna Madre Bay area needs to be kept clean. All too often we see trash floating in the water, not to mention the trash we can’t see that has already sunk to the bottom of the Bay. We never make a trip out on the water when we don’t pick up some type of plastic floating. We like to tell the school children that dolphins don’t need cans or plastic bottles to drink out of, so please use the trash cans.

"Can we pet them?"

It is against the law to touch the dolphins. Wild animals do not understand the human hand. A dolphin raised in captivity, or ones that are fed in the wild, come to learn about the hands that feed them. Here it would spell death to many of our dolphins if they became used to humans. Mexico does not protect them and their waters. Since Mexican waters are only seven miles south of here, they would be more easily captured and used as bait.

The dolphins have adapted to humans zooming around on jet skies, motor boats, and wave runners. As the world becomes more populated, many creatures have to learn to share their habitat with us. We need to assure a safe future for them to raise their families.

Dolphins are curious about us too. They don’t have to bring their eyes out of the water to breathe, so when they do, they are looking around, probably at you. Its a wonderful feeling when the dolphins interact with us.

"Can we swim with them?"

Swimming with dolphins is also against the law. Federal agents will fine anyone seen attempting to do so. The fines are high. Again this is to protect the dolphins from being harassed as they feed in the bay or offshore

George and I have come to know the dolphins in the Bay. We feel a sense of relief that our dolphins are protected from the things that could ruin the wonderfully free and healthy society they have created here.

As we continue our encounters with the dolphins we are learning the family groups. We have named them and photographed them. We feel the most important thing we can do is to share our love for these magnificent creatures and teach others to respect them in the wild. The simple common sense laws we have keep the dolphins safe. We know if dolphins like Skimmer, Nipper, and the all the others we know could communicate with us, they would send out a big thank you.

Join us next month as we introduce you to Can Opener and Nipper. bay shrimpers. This food source seemed to be enough to sustain him without his mother to nurse him. He was constantly cut up and we worried about infection. One day, in June, he lost half of his dorsal. This deep wound eventually healed and in August, we saw Baby again, this time leaping excitedly, he had been adopted by Twister and Jasmine’s pod.

Baby left the Bay in March, but just a couple of weeks ago, we spotted him again, this time playing with Bubbles and Skip, two other young dolphins. We were relieved to see Baby back home safe and sound. We worry about the dolphins when we don’t see them for several weeks. With only seven miles to the Mexican borders, where dolphins are not protected, it is unsafe for them to travel too far.

Next month we will bring you more information about our very special family of bottle-nosed dolphins.

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