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A Reminder that Wild Dolphins in Charleston Are Still Wild

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Mary Alice Monroe
Mary Alice Monroe

Picture yourself at the beach. Toes in the sand, book in one hand, a beverage in the other. Your eyes gaze upon the Atlantic horizon lazily watching the rolling waves when suddenly a dorsal fin briefly arching above the water catches your attention. You set your gaze on where you think it will pop up next. It does. The sight makes you sit up straighter and fills you with a child-like spirit of excitement. Spotting a wild dolphin feels like a gift.

I live on a barrier island outside of Charleston, S.C., so I get to see the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins more often than most folks. That, and being fortunate to do research with them. I never tire of seeing them. They are uplifting, even inspiring. This self-aware, high intelligent and curious species has been revered for centuries. And if you have ever had the experience of being up close to that beguiling face from a dock or a boat, then you know the allure.

It doesn’t matter if you live seaside or are landlocked or mountain high, we all think we know dolphins from what’s been portrayed on television and in the movies. And we want that “Flipper” experience. But remember, Flipper was one of several trained dolphins in a human care facility. This is very different from a wild dolphin.

dolphins_two togetherHere’s the truth about this magnificent species and why I passionately urge you to not feed or lure wild dolphins to a boat or dock.

First, wild dolphins are just that – wild. They are powerful animals, protective of their young and able to cause injury with a swipe from their tail or a bite. That smile can be deceptive. Dolphins can get irritated, even angry, when you pester them or get too close.

Second, luring a dolphin to your boat or dock can cause them harm. You might want to toss food to a nearby dolphin. It’s only this one small bite, what harm can it do, you wonder? The answer is—a lot. Multiply that one bite of food times the thousands of people who think the same thing. Feeding encourages dolphins to beg. This simple act of so-called kindness is creating a generation of beggars.

Instead of foraging and hunting, dolphins are seeking out human handouts and this leads to physical injuries from boat strikes and fishing lines, not to mention poor nutrition. If you want the up-close and personal experience, go to the many facilities with dolphins trained to interact with humans, willingly and importantly, safely.

Finally, nearly half of the dolphins residing year round in Charleston’s estuarine waters are sick. Shocking, but true, according to ongoing research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Further study seeks to answer the questions of what the contaminants are and where the source is. But the bottom line is we are becoming their greatest threat.

So what can we do to help our beloved dolphins? Let wild be wild. It is what’s best for them and what’s best for us. This way we can all continue to enjoy that exuberant feeling dolphins elicit from us for many, many seaside visits to come!

And here’s a little secret that all naturalists around here know. The next time you’re out on the water boating, paddle boarding, kayaking…the best way to get animals to play with you is to remain still and quiet. Because of a dolphin’s curious nature, they’ll likely come close or ride the wake of your boat. Enjoy the moment without feeling the need to touch or feed. I assure you the experience will be one of awe and wonder—one you’ll cherish forever.

Mary Alice Monroe is a New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and a devoted conservationist. Her latest bestseller, “The Summer Girls,” is in stores now. Visit her at www.maryalicemonroe.com.

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

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