Animal of ThingsFeeding, Touching, and Swimming With Dolphins: What’s Legal and What’s Not
Every year, thousands of beachgoers, boaters, and tourists encounter wild dolphins along U.S. coastlines — and many don't realize that a friendly gesture like tossing a fish or reaching out to touch one could result in a federal fine. Dolphins are among the most charismatic animals in the ocean, but that magnetism has made them one of the most legally protected as well. Federal law draws a firm line between admiring these animals and interfering with them, and the consequences for crossing […]