A major portion of HDI's community awareness program is teaching about the dangers of chasing and feeding wild dolphins. Unfortunately many of Panama City's dolphins bear the scars of propellers; as jet skiers and unscrupulous tour operators chase and harass these wild dolphins. The dolphins have been fed spoiled fish, hamburgers, pretzels and even beer. NMFS: Marine Mammal Biologist, Trevor Spradlin says. "Most people understand that feeding wild terrestrial mammals, like bears, is not healthy for the bear or safe for humans. But these same people don't make the connection with dolphins, they think wild dolphins are like Flipper. .... Animals conditioned to seek food from humans may become vulnerable to eating inappropriate or contaminated food materials as their foraging skills become altered." The consensus is that Dolphins are meant to be hunters not beggars. Feeding wild dolphins is a harmful. Its causes dependency, dolphin become injured by human technology and dolphin migratory problems occur. It is the public's desire to connect with dolphins that is the economic catalyst for all these forms human-dolphin interaction. Observing this phenomenon McCullough states, "On one hand these interactions creates more awareness, education and environmental activism .... This education and research influences policy decisions, creates prudent management policies to protect species and habitat. Dolphins have charisma, they can focus peoples attention on the environment. But, wild dolphins are such wonderful creatures maybe we should leave them alone." Some experts say that wild dolphin swims have the "potential" to disrupt behavior patterns. Spradlin of the NMFS states, " For the dolphins sake and for your safety please don't feed or swim with wild dolphins. You are encouraged to observe from at least 50 yards."