Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN). LMMN is
a local 501(c)3 organization started in 2017 whose mission is
to protect marine mammals through science, outreach, and
education. Lauren Rust, the executive director of LMMN
states, “We’re a bridge between the hard-core scientists and
the community, trying to create awareness about issues facing
marine mammals.”
Lauren, along with a small staff, has recruited
approximately 20 volunteers to monitor each side of the
Kiawah River at Captain Sams Spit, every day during the
summer months and on weekends and holidays every week
of the rest of the year. Each volunteer takes a few four-hour
shifts a month, checking one side of the river, taking photos
to identify the strand feeders, and collecting data. The
numbers and frequencies of dolphin strandings are recorded
as well as the environmental conditions when this behavior
occurs. Data collected so far indicate that there are about 25
resident dolphins that prefer the Kiawah River on a yearlong
basis. Of those, about a dozen are confirmed strand feeders.
Just like their human watchers, dolphins are less active
under adverse weather conditions, though they indeed do
still feed whether someone is around to view them or not.
Volunteers note the numbers of humans and vessels at the
Spit, as dolphins often do not strand when humans are
nearby. Bird activity is also recorded, as the pelicans and
osprey are excellent indicators of where the fish are, which
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in turn means dolphins are usually close by. Based on other
publicly-sponsored dolphin research that has been conducted
in the Charleston area since the mid-nineties, some
individual animals have been cataloged for most of their
25- to 35-year lifespan.
One of the most critical roles of the monitoring volunteers
is educating the public. David Pumphrey, full-time Kiawah
resident and dolphin-monitoring volunteer elaborates, “I
got involved in this project because of the contribution it
can make to understanding our resident dolphin population
here in Kiawah and to educate residents and visitors on how
they can protect these amazing animals. I’ve found that this
experience has been a great opportunity to meet the people
who come to our beaches, and I’ve been impressed with how
interested they are to learn about our special strand feeding
dolphins as well as their willingness to respect the guidelines
we provide them.” As one of the volunteers myself, I never tire
of watching this amazing behavior. To be able to give back to
the community while I am at it is just an added benefit.
Dolphin strand feeding is a learned behavior, requiring a
great deal of energy and coordination. When the dolphins are
actively feeding on the shore, they are “out of their element,”
and their focus on eating makes them vulnerable. People who
interfere with this feeding process put unnecessary stress
on the dolphins and may dissuade them from feeding at all.
They also may interrupt the key process of younger calves
Naturally Kiawah