Living with Wildlife Rodents Rodents are a group of mammals that include mice, rats, and squirrels. There are many species native to the region and they play an important role in ecosystem dynamics as prey for larger predators such as bobcats, raptors, and foxes. They also disperse seeds of native plants. Mice and rats, particularly non-natives – such as the house mouse, black rat, and Norway rat – may be unwanted pests in and around the home. They can chew on electrical wires, damage gardens, and property, and occasionally carry diseases. It is important to know that some rodent control...

Living with Wildlife Snakes You may also be interested in our Snake Research Snakes can be found in almost every habitat and are an important part of the biodiversity of Spring Island. They are valuable members of the food chain, serving as both predators and prey. They can also serve as indicators of habitat quality. Most of our species on Spring Island are nonvenomous and are harmless to people and pets. In South Carolina, of the 38 total species of snakes, only 6 are venomous. Killing snakes is strongly discouraged. Snake bites are very...

Living with Wildlife Rookeries and Roosts You may also be interested in our Wood Stork Research Rookeries are relatively small areas in which large numbers of water birds congregate to nest. They are typically located in a place where it is difficult for predators to reach, such as an island or a group of trees located over water. A healthy heron-egret rookery in the lowcountry usually has a healthy alligator population present, which deters other predators. During the severe drought of 1998-2003 herons and egrets abandoned rookeries in the...

Living with Wildlife Raccoons Most adult raccoons weigh 10-20 pounds but some individuals can reach almost 30 pounds! They are true omnivores, feeding on a variety of berries and plants as well as insects, fish, frogs, crayfish and small mammals. Many of our coastal raccoons are marsh specialists that feed on a variety of crabs and fish. Their nimble fingers and monkey-like hands help them capture anything small enough to eat. Raccoons do not actually wash their food like the species name Procyon lotor (“a washer”) implies. They do, however, dip prey...

Living with Wildlife Otters Otters are mustelids, a feisty group of mammals that includes weasels, ferrets and wolverines. They are sizeable mammals that range in weight from 15 -30 pounds and in length from 4-5′ long (including the tail). Males are usually much bigger than females. Their streamlined bodies and powerful limbs make them spectacular swimmers and agile hunters. They feed primarily on fish but also enjoy crayfish, crabs, frogs and snakes. They live in family groups of 5-12, hunting, playing and denning together. Otter families have sizable...

Living with Wildlife Fox Squirrels You may also be interested in our Fox Squirrel Research Fox squirrels are a very charismatic species and Spring Island is fortunate to have a large, healthy population. The species was once widely distributed across the eastern US but fox squirrels are less common now due to habitat loss in many places. Size alone is all that is needed to differentiate between an adult fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) and the common gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Fox squirrels can weigh more than three pounds. They exhibit...