An aquatic mammal once common throughout all of North America, the North American River Otter (Lantra Canadensis) can be found from Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest to the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Although harvesting of furs over history has limited their territories, there are still plenty of otters… Read More…

Winter is on its way and so are our migratory waterfowl. Soon our freshwater ponds will be dotted with birds. One of the most attractive is the Hooded Merganser; their white and black hoods are hard to miss. Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) are small diving ducks. Native to North America, dispersed throughout Canada and the… Read More…

With the humidity lowering and the cool breezes of fall blowing in, down South we are ready for oyster season. There is nothing better than sharing an Oyster Roast with friends and family, but in order to keep this Southern tradition alive, oyster populations must be maintained. We can all help out! South Carolina’s coast… Read More…

By Capt. Patte Ranney, SC Master Naturalist, Outside Hilton Head There are basically four naturally occurring components of a salt marsh: The tidal water, the pluff mud, the cordgrass and oysters. Each of these plays a crucial role and each is reliant on the stability of the others for the salt marsh environment to succeed…. Read More…

Some may think it is just a rumor that a Black Bear (ursus Americanus) was spotted on Daufuskie Island this summer. Yet this sighting is much more likely than most would think. With humans encroaching upon black bear’s native territory, it’s no wonder they are branching out into new lands. There are approximately 600,000 American… Read More…

Muscadine grape vines (muscadinia rotundifolia) have been harvested since the 16th century throughout the Southeastern United States. Not only are they a tasty snack to pick up along a hike, they also offer great health benefits. Growing 60-100’ tall in the wild, muscadine grape vines are a woody climbing vine, but may also be seen… Read More…

Ebb and Flow are the newest additions to H2O’s Nature Center; the juvenile diamondback terrapins from Spring Island hatched about two months ago and are already captivating visitors. These turtles all have concentric diamond-shaped markings on the scutes (plates) of their top shells, but they vary greatly in color and pattern among the seven subspecies…. Read More…

Have you ever wondered about the constant buzzing noise on Hilton Head? It lasts all day and all night throughout our summer months. They are Cicadas, an annual insect that emerges throughout the South. Their brilliant acoustics bring our Lowcountry summers to life. The Cicada is an insect in the Hemiptera order, which is the… Read More…

Have you seen the ocean glow at night? Have you possibly been on a boat and seen the wake glow as you pass through? These little creatures that light up the night are improperly identified as Phosphorescents, but they are really Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates, a type of marine plankton. Plankton are free-floating ocean drifters, which can… Read More…

One of the more famous attractions on Hilton Head Island is the American alligator. A relic of Pre-Historic times, on Hilton Head Island he has found a very safe atmosphere where he can prosper. Alligators range along the Coastal Plain north to Virginia, southeast to Florida and west to the eastern coast of Texas. They… Read More…

Have you seen something that looks like a snake, but also a bird, in the lagoons around Hilton Head? Anhinga Anhinga is the scientific name for this diving bird commonly found on Hilton Head Island. It may also be called the Snake Bird, Water Turkey or even the North American Darter. Diversely spread throughout tropical… Read More…

By Capt. Patte Ranney, Master Naturalist, Outside Hilton Head During each and every day of the year, we witness a regular event that constantly transforms the appearance of and life in the salt marsh. Referred to as the “heartbeat” of the Lowcountry, the tide nourishes and revitalizes all the winding, twisting, grassy-edged creeks and rivers… Read More…

Hilton Head Island abounds with wildlife all year-round, making the island a natural wonderland. Listen for bird songs from cardinals and mockingbirds by day and the familiar hoot of the barred owl at night and the bobwhite quail whistle at daybreak. Birders enjoy the diversity of avian creatures on Hilton Head Island, particularly in the… Read More…

The Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, located near the bridge to Hilton Head Island, offers an ideal place to enjoy the natural beauty of the Lowcountry. Once part of the plantation of Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a prominent South Carolina attorney, from 1801 to 1815, this wildlife refuge features 14 miles of trails and… Read More…