Wild bottlenose dolphin behavior and interactions with humans in the nearshore waters of northwest Florida

With greater frequency, humans seek opportunities globally to interact with wild dolphins. There is scientific concern that human attempts to interact and actual interactions with wild dolphins might adversely affect the dolphins. This three-year study examined the behavior of wild bottlenose dolphin populations and interactions with humans in the St. Andrew Bay system near Panama City, FL., St. Joseph Bay, Choctawhatchee Bay, and nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The study also surveyed tourists seeking to interact with wild dolphins, assessing their demographics, attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge about wild dolphins. Twelve of 98 dolphins identified interacted with humans consistently (habituated dolphins). The majority of the wild dolphins were unhabituated to, and generally avoided, contact with humans (unhabituated dolphins); they exhibited only natural behaviors. Habituated dolphins engaged in both habituated and natural behaviors/activities. Juveniles interacted with humans most frequently. Results suggest these interactions are a socializing activity for the dolphins. An activity budget revealed significant differences in the duration and frequency of natural behaviors/activities between unhabituated and habituated dolphins. Within each of the respective dolphin groups, the relative durations of natural and habituated behaviors/activities exhibited were different when humans were absent compared to when humans were interacting, or attempting to interact, with the dolphins. It was estimated that very little of habituated dolphins' total daily food intake was met by human provisioning. Tourists' education, income, age, and knowledge of various environmental issues were significant predictors for tourists' attitudes and perceptions about dolphins. The higher the education, age, and income, the more likely respondents were to perceive dolphins as wild animals and to disapprove of feeding them. Men were more likely than women to perceive dolphins with a sense of awe. Income was the only significant predictor for the respondents' knowledge of environmental issues; knowledge was positively correlated with income. Wild dolphin behavior is significantly altered at the individual level, however, there is no evidence suggesting the current levels of human interactions and provisioning impact the dolphins at a population level. Results suggest wild dolphin and human swim-with and provisioning interactions do not occur unless the dolphins choose to participate.