Kiawah Island Wildlife

Kiawah Island, SC is home to many animals which thrive in the rich natural environment. The town of Kiawah Island has funded and supported several research projects and programs, many of which are ongoing, in order to better understand and manage the wildlife species on the island.

Native species that can be found on the island include foxes, river otters, deer, bobcats, raccoons, ospreys and turtles.

The endangered loggerhead turtles choose Kiawah Island, SC as their nesting ground. The town of Kiawah Island has provided funding and logistical support to the Turtle Program, in existence since 1973. Nesting efforts are monitored on Kiawah Island beaches by a group of resident volunteers each year.

Nesting season typically begins in mid-May and will continue into early August. Each nest can contain between 100 and 150 eggs. After two months, the eggs hatch and the little hatchlings will make their way down the beach and into the ocean.

Volunteer Patrols

Volunteers in Kiawah Island patrol the entire beach by truck each morning to locate nests laid the previous night. Nests which are located too low on the beach are moved landward in order to protect them from being washed over by high tides.

As nests begin to hatch, volunteers again patrol sections of beach daily to check for emergence of hatchlings. After hatching, each nest is examined and an inventory is taken of the nest contents. Detailed records are kept of all activities and a report is prepared annually for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.