Wildlife
Loggerhead Sea Turtles
Cape Romain is the most significant Loggerhead nesting site north of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Nest Recovery Project began in 1980 under supervision of Department of Natural Resources. Refuge staff and volunteers monitor and protect nests on the beaches within Cape Romain, counting eggs and hatchling numbers, relocating endangered nests and constructing predator-proof cages. More information can be found at Cape Island Nest Turtle Project. - If you would like to help support this program, sea turtle nests are available for adoption. Nests become available in May. The first nest was laid on May 4, 2011 and we've adopted it! We'll be keeping up with the updated status of the nest until they hatch-- it's exciting.
- Loggerhead Apparel is a local clothing company that supports Loggerhead Sea Turtles in South Carolina. Ten percent of sales goes back into conservation efforts for this beautiful and threatened species!
American OystercatchersWildlife biologists called American oystercatchers an "indicator species" because they can only thrive in estuaries where the water is very clean. As a species, their numbers have been diminishing because their food source,oysters, have been over-harvested and their habitats have been affected.
If you have a healthy population of oystercatchers, you have oysters. And if you have oysters, you have clean water. We're happy to say that Cape Romain supports the largest population of overwintering American oystercatchers in the world.
Look for flocks of birds huddled on exposed oyster banks with bright orange beaks on your way to-and-from Bulls Island.
Bottlenose DolphinsThere is a local dolphin population that uses the clean water of Cape Romain NWR as their home. Each day, they take advantage of the '24-hour all-you-can-eat buffet' that this fertile estuary provides and you can often see them strand-feeding along the banks at low tides.
They know our ferry boat- the Island Cat- and they love to ride in the bow wake, leading us to Bulls Island. During the 30-minute boat ride to-and-from the island, there are many opportunities to see Bottlenose Dolphins up close. You'll find them to be gregarious and charming!
Bulls Island Ferry
Photo Credit: USFWS
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge is managed for the protection of federally endangered or threatened species including Piping Plover, American Alligator, Least Tern, Wood Stork and Sea Beach Amaranth.
This wildlife refuge is only 10 percent of South Carolina's beautiful coast, yet it is home to majority of seabirds, shore birds and sea turtles in the state. As part of the Atlantic Flyway, Cape Romain is a crucial habitat for Red Knot, Marbled Godwit and other threatened bird species.
Coastal Expeditions has adopted the Loggerhead Sea Turtle as its mascot to bring awareness to the importance of this refuge so it can thrive. If you would like to make a donation or adopt a nest, please call us and we will direct your funds to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.
In addition, the proceeds from our sea turtle hats and t-shirts will go to sea turtle projects in Cape Romain. Look for them on the Bulls Island Ferry and at our flagship store on Shem Creek.
