CALOOSAHATCHEE VISITORS: A dolphin, like this one seen near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River last week, can eat more than 15 pounds of fish a day. Their favorite to dine on is mullet. Photos by ANDREW WEST/news-press.com INCREASING VIEWING CHANCES: The best times to get a view of dolphins, like this one photographed near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River last week, are during the months of May, June and July. A word to the wise is to back off if dolphins start strongly exhaling air from their blow holes or begin to slap their tails on the water, which are signs of agitation. BOTTLENOSE FACTS SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tursiops truncatus MAXIMUM LENGTH: 12 feet FEEDING HABITS: Feed on shrimp, eel, squid, catfish, mullet and other fish. Find prey by echolocation. SWIMMING SPEED: 22 miles an hour REPRODUCTION: Males are sexually mature at 10 to 12 years, females at 5 to 12 years; females bear a single calf every 2 to 3 years; gestation is about 12 months. LIFE SPAN: 30 to 50 years in the wild. BIRTH: About 3 feet long and 25 pounds at birth. The birth of a dolphin is often assisted by other dolphins in a group who push the newborn to the surface for its first breath. Newborn dolphins can swim immediately after birth. Dolphins nurse for more than a year and a half.

Hanging out with dolphins By BETSY CLAYTON bclayton@news-press.com CALOOSAHATCHEE VISITORS: A dolphin, like this one seen near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River last week, can eat more than 15 pounds of fish a day. Their favorite to dine on is mullet. Photos by ANDREW WEST/news-press.com Dolphins — those playful but sly creatures — do it every time. They present photo opportunities like something from Discovery Channel and then as quick as, well, Flipper they snatch the photo ops away. Beach-goers can wade knee-deep to view the creatures frolic. But boaters get an osprey's-eye view. May, June and July are prime dolphin viewing because the animals are mating — and also calving, since their gestation is 12 months. Then there's playing, such as jumping wakes and tossing stingrays like Frisbees. There's also what scientists call socializing, which is when they interact with each other instead of boat wakes, sticks or strands of seagrass. BOTTLENOSE FACTS SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tursiops truncatus MAXIMUM LENGTH: 12 feet FEEDING HABITS: Feed on shrimp, eel, squid, catfish, mullet and other fish. Find prey by echolocation. SWIMMING SPEED: 22 miles an hour REPRODUCTION: Males are sexually mature at 10 to 12 years, females at 5 to 12 years; females bear a single calf every 2 to 3 years; gestation is about 12 months. LIFE SPAN: 30 to 50 years in the wild. BIRTH: About 3 feet long and 25 pounds at birth. The birth of a dolphin is often assisted by other dolphins in a group who push the newborn to the surface for its first breath. Newborn dolphins can swim immediately after birth. Dolphins nurse for more than a year and a half. Don't forget feeding. That's the part that catches lots of attention. Dolphins eat more than 15 pounds of fish a day — mullet is their favorite. They like to wait in passes between barrier islands and catch fish passing through as the tide ebbs or flows. They also capture fish by trapping them against the shore or corralling them with other dolphins up on the flats. Translation: They sometimes go for what anglers also are going for. Some anglers call them pigs. Capt. Ralph Allen puts it another way: "It's our playground, but it's their place of business." Their insatiable appetites mean they do business efficiently. They can quickly stop the fish from biting, like when a school of trout switches from predator mode to survival mode. They also can skillfully catch fish that anglers carefully release. They're animals of several hundred pounds that run down quick 2-pound fish. What are you gonna do? Just take it all in. Like boaters, anglers and beach-goers find themselves doing day in and day out here. "They're certainly incredible creatures to watch," said Allen, who runs fishing and sightseeing tours with Kingfisher Charter Fleet in Punta Gorda. "I think they're like the coolest thing around here." INCREASING VIEWING CHANCES: The best times to get a view of dolphins, like this one photographed near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River last week, are during the months of May, June and July. A word to the wise is to back off if dolphins start strongly exhaling air from their blow holes or begin to slap their tails on the water, which are signs of agitation. They were the coolest thing earlier this month near Little Shell Island on the Caloosahatchee River. Boaters slowed down and watched a dozen or so of the mammals nudge each other, roll, dive, splash and basically do the equivalent of neighborhood kids roughhousing on the front lawn. "They're reaffirming social bonds," said Kim Hull, senior biologist with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory. She studies dolphins frequently in Charlotte and Lee counties. She sees a lot of courteous and respectful boaters in these waters. She also sees some who approach dolphins without understanding them. Sometimes boaters plow into pods, thinking the dolphins want to play, she said. That's a bad idea. They'll find your wake if they want to, she said. Better idea: Slow down your boat off plane and keep space between you and them. Back off if the dolphins start chuffing — strongly exhaling air from their blow holes — or slapping their tails on the water. "Those are signs of agitation," Hull said. "Usually boaters just don't know and think these are signs the dolphins want to play." Watch Playful Bottlenose Dolphins Come and visit Flip Wilson, he likes people! The Lee Island Coast has one of the largest populations of bottlenose dolphins found anywhere in the world. Watching dolphins play is sure to be one of your favorite vacation memories. Bottlenose dolphins sometimes follow motorboats and "surf" the wake but be sure not to get too close to them. You can also spot them in the Lee Island Coast's tranquil bays and estuaries, playfully splashing and chasing one another, gliding just beneath the water's sparkling surface. Since dolphins exhibit the highly social behavior as well as the ability to vocalize to each other, it has been said they possess almost humanlike intelligence. Bottlenose dolphins grow to an average length of nine feet and can weigh 1,500 pounds. Generally, they are all gray with darker highlights, and older females may have spots on their undersides. Playfully slapping the water may give any of them a pink belly. Anatomical adaptations make them ideally suited for life in the water. A dolphin propels itself with powerful up/down stokes of its tail. The enlarged forehead accommodates the "sonar" of the dolphin. This navigation system emits sound waves and translates echoes. It helps them locate prey and navigate murky waters.

WaterFrontFortMyers.com-Pet Friendly-located on the Carolina Ave. canal with boat dock available and solar heated pool (Time Square area of Estero Island) and only 150 yards to the beautiful white sands of Estero Island in the Gulf of Mexico. Be in the Gulf of Mexico within 1 minute from our boat docks. WaterfrontFortMyers.com provides free bikes available upon request, free fishing on our docks, free wireless internet access, and laundry facility. We are located on the Carolina Ave. canal street facing Hooters Restaurant, and 300 yards away from the Beached Whale restaurant in theTime Square area of Fort Myers Beach . Our location is quiet and peaceful.

Estero Island bird watching fun in the sun boating Twins Spring Season manatee tours Indian mounds golf courses Big M casino boat Red Sox Spring Season dolphin tours Caloosahatchee river tours charter boats Key West shuttle Stars and Strips for charter everglade tours Hurricane Charlie '04 snorkeling Salty Sams Marina beach cruises Edison & Ford Estates Fort Myers world famous Tanger outlet stores FMB Time Square prehistoric sharks restaurants Disney World fishing butterflies Lover's Key Shell Factory restaurant reviews History of Estero Island Panoramic view Time Square area attractions Must see Eco-Archaeo Trail

CHECK-IN: Check-in time is after 3:00 P.M EASTERN TIME. During peak season some units may not be ready by 3:00 P.M. Your patience will be appreciated. Arrivals will find the lockbox combination on their front door knob. Please check-in at the Rental Unit you are assigned. If you discover any deficiencies in the inventory or damage to the property upon your arrival, it is your responsibility to immediately inform WaterfrontFortMyers Inc. so you are not held responsible for the cost of repairing and/or replacing same.

OCCUPANCY: WaterfrontFortMyers Inc. is very serious about maintaining a family atmosphere for the quiet enjoyment of all our guests. We will rent to families and RESPONSIBLE ADULTS over the age of 25, proof of age is required. The total number of persons allowed in the unit at any time is restricted to the stated limit for each property. Absolutely no house/pool parties allowed. Any violators will be ejected according to F. S. 509.141 and will be billed for any damages. Augustine suite max 6 people, 8 people with additional $100 fee per person per week, Aquinas suite max 4 people, Reagan suite max 3 people, and Schaeffer suite max 2 people.

FALSIFIED RESERVATION: Any reservation obtained under false pretense will be subject to forfeiture of any rental prepayments. Guests will not be permitted to check-in.

ABSOLUTELY NO PETS are allowed unless you receive permission (those units that do allow pets, which must be specifically requested in advance). The number of pets must be declared and no unit is to exceed one dog or one cat- pet breed must be identified. Exceptions are made on an individual basis for two dogs but this must be requested in advance. Additional refundable pet fee have been waived on those units that do permit pets for one dog. A $100.00 non-refundable pet fee is required before occupancy for those people who have been given permission for two dogs, plus an 11% tax will be added to the cleaning and administrative fees. At all times, pet owners are required to clean up after their pets. If any evidence of a pet (s) is found in your unit or on the premises without prior permission, you will be asked to vacate immediately with no refund of any payments.

UNIT ASSIGNMENTS: We reserve the right to change unit assignments at our sole discretion without prior written notice and without any refund, this clause rarely happening. When you confirm a reservation, a unit will be assigned, however, no request or a specific unit is guaranteed. If a unit change becomes necessary, every attempt will be made to contact you by mail with a new confirmation and/or by a telephone call.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE: All on-line or phone bookings require an initial pre-payment of $300 - $500 via paypal or check. The final payment is due 60 days prior to arrival by paypal, cash, check, traveler's checks or bank money orders. All rates are subject to Florida state and local taxes. Should your personal check be returned for any reason, there will be a $35.00 returned check fee added to your balance.

HOUSEKEEPING: NO DAILY MAID SERVICE! Rates include housekeeping service only upon arrival/departure. Linens and bath towels are provided and are not to be taken from the unit. We suggest you bring beach towels. Housekeeping provides initial set-ups of paper towels, bathroom tissue, bath soap, trash can liners and may include single use dishwashing soap. The property is equipped with coin laundry located in the front of the complex facing Carolina Ave. If you wish to have additional service through your stay, we can accommodate this request for an additional charge.

CHECK-OUT PROCEDURE: CHECK-OUT time is prior to 10:00 A.M. DO NOT LEAVE KEYS IN THE PROPERTY!

All keys must be returned to the Lockbox that is located on your front door knob, there is a $50.00 fee for each unreturned key. We ask that you leave the property neat and orderly. All units are inspected before and after each occupancy.

CLEAN-UP AT CHECK-OUT: Place all debris, garbage and discards outside in proper containers located on the left side of the parking lot if you are facing the complex from Carolina Ave. Soiled dishes must be placed in dishwasher and cleaned. Up to three loads of laundry are o.k. Don't make your bed (.you are on vacation until you get home). Unit must be left in a neat and orderly condition (there is a minimum $50.00 charge if extra cleaning and rearranging of the furniture is required).

All windows/doors must be closed and locked.

PLEASE NOTE: IF EXPENSES ARE INCURRED TO REPAIR DAMAGE, REPLACE MISSING ITEMS, PAY FOR EXTRA CLEANING OR ANY OTHER VIOLATIONS OF THE RENTAL POLICY AS A RESULT OF YOUR STAY, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHARGE YOUR CREDIT CARD TO OFFSET EXPENSES AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.

LOCKOUTS: If you lock yourself out of your property after office hours, you can call our emergency phone number 239-826-6460 . Our emergency service will either allow you back in for a cash fee of $50.00 or contact a local Locksmith to allow you back in the property. You will be responsible for paying any applicable fees directly to the emergency service or the locksmith at the time they come out.

CANCELLATIONS: Reservation prepayments will NOT be refunded unless the unit is re-rented for the same rental payment and time period reserved. If refunded WaterfrontFortMyers Inc. will retain $100.00 plus 11% taxes for a service fee. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance for your protection.

CANCELLATIONS OR EARLY DEPARTURES FOR ANY REASON (EXCLUDING MANDATORY EVACUATION) DO NOT WARRANT ANY REFUND OF PREPAYMENTS OR RENT. Room changes are considered the same as a cancellation since the properties are individually owned.

DAMAGES: Damages must not be the result of willful, wanton or grossly negligent behavior, or damages by a pet. WaterfrontFortMyers Inc. has the final judgment in all instances. You must furnish a credit card to be used as a line of credit in case damages are deemed intentional. PLEASE NOTE: IF EXPENSES ARE INCURRED TO REPAIR DAMAGE, REPLACE MISSING ITEMS, PAY FOR EXTRA CLEANING OR ANY OTHER VIOLATION OF THE RENTAL POLICY AS A RESULT OF YOUR STAY, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHARGE YOUR CREDIT CARD TO OFFSET EXPENSES AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.

INDEMNIFICATION OF DAMAGES: By taking occupancy of the property, you agree to WaterfrontFortMyers Inc. to have an equitable lien on your personal and real property, wherever located, to secure payment of costs relating to damages. Your further agree that WaterfrontFortMyers Inc.. may enforce its claim of lien against you by foreclosing on your real property and/0r obtaining a judgment against you. You acknowledge and agree that WaterfrontFortMyers Inc.. right to enforce such lien is not an unreasonable penalty or forfeiture.

UTILITIES: No compensation will be given for temporary outage of electricity, gas, water, cable or telephone service. Outages should be reported immediately and all efforts will be made to have them restored as soon as possible. The operation and maintenance of these utilities is out of the control of the owner/ WaterfrontFortMyers.

PHONE SERVICE: There is no charge for local calls. All units have a party line and long distance phone calls are blocked, No International calls allowed unless charged to your phone card. The phone number for all units is 239-463-2583 .

ITEMS LEFT IN UNIT: WaterfrontFortMyers Inc. is not responsible for personal items left in a unit. If items are found and you wish them returned, there will be a $ 35.00 service charge plus shipping costs.

FURNISHINGS: Our vacation rentals are individually owned and furnished.

· Please do not rearrange the furniture, take any items outside that are part of the interior décor, move any furnishings or kitchen items to another unit.

· You will be charged if we have to rearrange the furniture after your stay. The unit descriptions were correct at the time of printing, but subsequent owner renovations may have resulted in changes. Although every effort has been made for accuracy, WaterfrontFortMyers is not responsible for errors, for property changes made by the owners, or for any conditions beyond our control upon arrival.

· NOTE: Rental agent represents property to the best of his/her ability and assumes no liability for errors or omissions. Since the premises are privately owned, WaterfrontFortMyers Inc. shall be responsible for any additional furnishings not presently in the property.

· Renter expressly agrees to indemnify owner for any damages or costs to the premises, furnishings, equipment and household items therein, which occur during renter's occupancy excluding normal wear and tear.

· PLEASE NOTE: IF EXPENSES ARE INCURRED TO REPAIR DAMAGE, REPLACE MISSING ITEMS, PAY FOR EXTRA CLEANING OR ANY OTHER VIOLATION OF THE RENTAL POLICY AS A RESULT OF YOUR STAY, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHARGE YOUR CREDIT CARD TO OFFSET EXPENSES AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.

PARKING: Please park in designated areas only. Parking regulations are as follows.

· Augustine unit has 2 parking spots allocated located on the furthest most left side on the parking lot (facing from Carolina Ave. towards the complex. These cars are to be parked back to back to each other.

· Reagan, Aquinas, and Schaeffer units all are allocated 1 parking spot

· No guest cars are ever allowed on our parking lot and will be towed at owner's expense

· $100 fine will be assessed against any guest who violated the parking agreement for guest cars parked in our parking lot.

· R.V.'s, Boats, motor homes, travel trailers, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, etc., are not permitted without prior approval and will be subject to towing. We do not have room in our parking lot for any of these items.

RULES AND REGULATIONS: All guests, as well as Owners, are required to conform to all rules and regulations. Violators are subject to ejection, according to Florida Statute 509.141.

REPAIRS: Our staff is here to make sure your vacation home is in the best condition that it can be. If you should discover otherwise, please report it to us immediately and we will correct it as quickly as possible; however no refunds will be given for appliance failure or other circumstances beyond our control. Please do not wait until you are checking-out to let us know about problems, as we no longer have the opportunity to rectify the situation. At times we must wait for parts or service. Please bear with us during these times.

NON-SMOKING UNITS: Smoking is strictly prohibited inside ALL rental units. You will incur any charges for carpet cleaning and deodorizing if any evidence of smoking is found in your non-smoking unit.

AGENCY DISCLOSURE: WaterfrontFortMyers Inc. is the agent of the property owner and is acting at all times, in and for the best interest of the owners. Agent will not be held responsible for acts of theft or vandalism or damages to the guest's personal property.

Please call for details or to reserve your dates. We are pet friendly, family friendly property. Free bikes provided upon request, two boat docks for fishing right at the property, pool, two boat docks

http://rentalo.com/108760/waterfrontpetfriendly.html

The 21st Century Frontier