Dolphins frequent local waters
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| This dolphin seems to be smiling for the camera. Photo by Nadge Watson |
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| These dolphins appear right at home on the Potomac River. Photo by Nadge Watson |
by Audrey Thomasson
Surf’s up on the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers for dolphins. The mammals have been spotted surfing bow waves, leaping through the air and delighting amateur photographers and boaters vacationing in the area.
“It’s not unusual to see them in area rivers,” said Christina Trapani, assistant stranding response coordinator at the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach. Most likely, the mammals are just following the fish, she said.
Trapani explained that dolphins swim in pods or groups, but it is somewhat common to see a dolphin on its own.
While the public likes to watch the mammals frolic, Trapani advises people to keep a safe distance and not to feed or chase them.
“Dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. By law, harassment is defined as changing their behavior,” she said.
Circling dolphins is an indication they are feeding; however, circling that lasts for extended periods could indicate a problem, she said. If a dolphin has strange marks, becomes entangled or attempts to strand on the beach, the aquarium’s stranding response team should be notified. The team can be reached at 757-437-6159.
Team members recently conducted their 18th annual dolphin count. During the event, the team was joined by some 70 volunteers who spread out to 16 observation posts along beaches of the lower Chesapeake Bay and southern Virginia coast to gather information about the dolphins’ coastal habits.
According to public relations manager Joan Barns, there was a “raw count” of 801 dolphins before factoring out double counts, which is less than previous years.
Information gathered from the observations will be used by state and federal agencies that make decisions on projects along the coast, she said.
