Up to several hundred animals have been observed traveling in one herd. Dolphins are active predators and eat a wide variety of fishes, squids, and crustaceans such as shrimps . The foods available to a dolphin vary with its geographical location. Bottlenose dolphins are protected in U.S. waters by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Fun Facts 1.
Dolphins frequently ride the bow wake or the stern wake of boats.
Both young and old dolphins chase one another, carry objects around, toss seaweed to one another, and use objects to invite each other to interact. Such activity may be practice for catching food. Bottlenose dolphins often cooperate when hunting and catching fish. In open waters, a dolphin pod sometimes encircles a large school of fish and herds them into a tight ball for easy feeding. Then the dolphins take turns charging through the school to feed.