Mini Me Moves to the Beach: Dolphin Behaviour, Turtles & Hedgehog Pets

Dr Ann Weaver; Tampa Bay Times photo

Tuesday night a free talk by a local marine researcher, Dr Ann Weaver was offered: "Dolphin Behavior at Johns Pass." As we live within the 6 mile zone around Johns Pass that the Dr is studying, we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to hear what she has learnt.

The 10+ year study was initiated to explore how the rebuilding of the Johns Pass Bridge impacted the local dolphin population. In conclusion, badly with primarily the female dolphins disappearing/moving away.

There are circa 300 dolphins Dr Weaver has identified in and around the pass - ie out our window. Dolphin behaviour appears sophisticated with each dolphin having a whistle name, able to recognise, preen and observe itself in a mirror, and 'self-
decorating.' The self-decoration is done with seaweed, whelk cases and even placing a lost sunglass

Photo by Ann Weaver

lens over its eye (scooping it up from the sea floor) apparently imitating humans! Identifying their gender is another matter - hard to do when they are in the water; The title of the Beach Beacon column in which this picture appeared is "Seaside fig leaves can thwart scientists while at sea" (5 March 2015).

OK, OK, first to an airport and then to
a library for lunch - what is Mini Me
thinking you wonder? . . . well this
IS FLORIDA!!

The Dr. says the dolphins are at some level interested in us and she raises the question of whether they recognise not only the boat, but individual people. They often have scars on their dorsal fin -- frequently it seems from encounters with sharks -- which greatly aids in identifying them.

For more info/video click here.

Other evening entertainment has included a trip to the Largo Regal Cinema to see The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, where for the first time we sat in recliners! Must confess between these recliners and all the mobile scooters about, I feel as if America has turned into the Wall-E future depicted in that movie with everyone flying around in personal vehicles, but without the strength to get anywhere under their own steam!

Mini Me wanted to see turtles so we took a detour first to the Largo Library to have lunch at the Bookmark Cafe and then on to the Turtle Sanctuary (officially named George C McCGough Nature Park in Largo). We didn't see any gopher tortoises (land animal that sinks in water), but did see a lot of turtles -- snapping, red-eared, soft-shelled and Florida box turtles, along with a screech owl and a hedgehog.

Apparently domesticated African hedgehogs (smaller than wild European hedgehogs) are common pets! Not sure why one wants a round nocturnal pet, but hey (picture from www.hedgehogaspects.com).

Rounded a corner in the park and saw . . .
flying boats (on racks at local marina behind the trees)

Now why a turtle park - well according to the Tampa Bay Times (30 September 2007):

Tammy Peterson, who oversees the city's nature parks, said the city has never stocked the pond. Many of the original turtles were released by their owners . ..

Over time, the turtle pond grew in popularity and people started bringing in reptiles from all over the county.

Now a sign warns people not to use it as a dumping ground for unwanted turtles.

Peterson says she once had to stop an uninformed do-gooder from putting a gopher tortoise into the pond. Gopher tortoises live on land and can sink under their own weight in water.

Another kind soul risked a mean bite to bring in a snapping turtle found by the side of the road.

"They mean well," Peterson said.

Kind of like the people who would feed the turtles their favorite snacks.

"People were feeding them Doritos, M&Ms, everything," Peterson said.

To manage that problem, the city started offering turtle food.