Hello, Adventurers! Welcome to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If you love outdoor activities such as hiking, paddling, exploring nature, and learning about wildlife, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the Coastal Expeditions blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. To our return readers, thank you for your support! We commend you for being committed to learning. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Speaking of educational resources, The Outdoor School consists of afterschool programs, weekly camps, school field trips, and more! We offer hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, kayaking, and camping. Basically anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. If you are an educator interested in planning a fun trip for the students at your school, do not hesitate to reach out to us!
Winter, with its short days and frosty temperatures, can be a difficult time of year for some. Our last article explored the causes of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and how spending time in the great outdoors might be able to help combat symptoms. Around 16 million Americans experience seasonal affective disorder and this condition can last for up to 40% of the year. Characterized by feelings of lethargy, lack of motivation, and sadness–seasonal affective disorder is challenging to cope with. In our last article we detailed the role our circadian rhythms play in determining our mood and how sunlight can serve to “reset” our internal clock. We quoted a few scientific studies, as well, to demonstrate the efficacy of spending time outdoors on reducing depression and increasing “life satisfaction.” If you’d like to read about this research in-depth and learn how spending time in nature can help you–or someone you love–be sure to check out our latest blog post!
Today, we’re focusing on our home–the Lowcountry! Or, rather, we’re focusing on the animals which call the Lowcountry home. Our subtropical climate plays habitat to a diverse array of flora and fauna, along with plenty of rare and endangered species. The wildlife here serve to make the Lowcountry one of the most unique, magical places to live on the east coast. (If you’re a birder, we already listed which bird species spend their winter along the South Carolina coast in one of our previous articles!) We hope you’ll never take for granted this wondrous place we live. We also hope you’ll put on your adventurer’s hat to explore this awesome area with us sometime soon! Without further ado, let’s learn about a few cool species!
White-tailed Deer
If you’ve ever seen Disney’s Bambi, then you’ve seen a white-tailed deer, but you needn’t turn on the television to catch a glimpse of this spotted creature. White-tailed deer are a common sight in the neighborhoods of the Lowcountry. Only the young fawns have Bambi’s characteristic spots, while mature deer sport a reddish-brown coat in the spring and a greyish-brown coat in the winter. You’ll be able to spot a white-tailed deer by its (you guessed it) white tail and underside. The males grow antlers each year. What makes white-tailed deer so special? Well, these animals are incredibly adaptable. They thrive just as well in the open prairie as they do the woods or lowlands. White-tailed deer prefer to eat legumes and plants, in addition to fruit and nuts. The white-tailed deer is actually the state mammal of South Carolina! It’s illegal in some states to feed deer, but here in South Carolina it’s only strongly discouraged. (Note: it’s not good for them!) If you want to help the deer in your neighborhood, try growing some of the grasses or fruits they like!
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Crush–the “totally cool” turtle from Finding Nemo–was actually a loggerhead. With the scientific name caretta caretta, loggerhead turtles are an endangered species. These big-headed turtles can weigh anywhere from 155 to 375 pounds. They feed on shellfish such as horseshoe crabs, clams, and mussels, with their strong jaws. Every year, from May to mid-August, loggerheads come to the barrier islands off of the South Carolina coast to make their nests. (To read about barrier island ecosystems, check out this article. To read about how to protect hatchlings during nesting season, check out this article. And, to read about how to help sea turtles thrive, check out this article.) The loggerhead sea turtle is the state reptile of South Carolina. Coastal development threatens the livelihood of these majestic creatures and that’s why it’s essential we do our part to protect them.
Green Anole
The green anole is a petite little lizard most often found on one’s back porch, basking in the sun. With bright, neon-green skin and a cherry-red throat, this guy is pretty hard to miss. With the scientific name of anolis carolinensis, the green anole is known for living in South Carolina (as well as Georgia). It’s only about 5 to 8 inches long. The green anole can be brown, sometimes. The green anole can actually change color, like a chameleon, but not slightly. The next time you find an anole on your back porch, you’re better off leaving it be, as these tiny lizards perform the big task of eating insects like spiders and mosquitoes.
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin
The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is probably responsible, single-handedly, for bringing the most joy to our Adventurers. When we’re out on the ferry, these smart, social mammals make a habit of saying “hello!”. They gain their name from their bottle-like noses, of course, but also commonly have a grey or pink belly. These hunters use their numerous sharp teeth to catch fish, which makes up almost the entirety of their diet. They travel in groups called pods and these pods can include over 1,000 dolphins. You can find pods of bottlenose dolphins in the Beaufort & Charleston waterways.
Blue Crab
We spoke about blue crabs in our article on crabbing season. Blue crabs are a staple of the South Carolina crabbing industry due to their subtly sweet taste and beautiful appearance. The scientific name for blue crabs means “savory, beautiful swimmer” and that’s the perfect way to describe these vivid creatures. While the males sport baby-blue claws and legs, the females sport pumpkin-colored claws. Both males and females possess swimmerettes–a set of paddle-like legs which can propel them through the water faster than you might think. Blue crabs eat fish, oysters, clams, snails, shrimp, worms, and other crabs. Certain restrictions have been put in place to ensure the blue crab population is able to flourish and is not over-harvested. That said, crab season ended at the end of December. At temperatures below 55°F, blue crabs remain dormant and are harder to catch. If you want to catch a blue crab, the best time is during fall!
The Great Blue Heron
Few birds can rival the beauty and majesty of the Great Blue Heron. (What a name, as well!) This long-necked wader prefers a coastal home and therefore the Lowcountry is its dream destination. Its wingspan is what sets this type of heron apart from the rest of its species. Clocking in between 65 and 79 inches (5 ½ and 6 ½ feet), there’s no way you can miss a Great Blue Heron when it’s flying by. It’s also quite tall, standing firm on two spindly legs. With a foreboding, sharp, bright-orange beak and a long, S-shaped neck, the Great Blue Heron is unlike any other bird. It walks slowly through the water, waiting for the opportune moment to strike, lightning-fast. They can be found in the Lowcountry year-round, alongside rivers and creeks or flying by the coast.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the Lowcountry’s wildlife! Animals are endlessly fascinating and we sure do have some great ones! If you want a chance to view each of these animals in their natural habitat, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
Check out our St. Phillips Island & Beaufort tours.
Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards
Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.
Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.
If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.
Check out our Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant tours.