Welcome to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
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It's a Record-breaking Season for Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nests at Cape Romain!
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| Loggerhead hatchling. Credit: Keith Fuller |
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Red Wolves are Coming to the Sewee Center !
Two four-year old sibling Red wolves will soon find a home at the Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center. We anticipate their arrival around mid-October. Growing up at the Salisbury Zoological Park, MD, the sisters don't shy away from admiring viewers and are said to have a fondness for howling. With a population of approximately 300, the Red wolf is one of the most endangered animals in the world today. |
| Red wolf sisters. Credit: Salisbury Zoological Park |
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| American Oystercatcher eating an oyster. Credit: Felicia Sanders© |
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Established in 1932 as a migratory bird refuge, Cape Romain NWR encompasses a 22-mile segment of the southeast Atlantic coast. The refuge consists of 66, 287 acres which include a fascinating expanse of barrier islands, salt marshes, intricate coastal waterways, long sandy beaches, fresh and brackish water impoundments, and maritime forest. Points of interest include Bulls Island, Cape Island, and Lighthouse Island where two lighthouses, no longer operational, still stand.
The refuge's original objectives were to preserve in public ownership habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and resident species. In recent years, objectives have expanded to include: managing endangered species, protecting the 29,000 acre Class I Wilderness Area, and preserving the Bulls Island and Cape Island forests and their diverse plant communities. Currently, the refuge is actively working to aid the recovery of the threatened loggerhead sea turtle.
Turtle Hatchling Video
(transcript)
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| Loggerhead hatchling. Credit: Rebecca Gallagher© |
Getting to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
The Refuge Headquarters and Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center, located 20 miles north of Charleston on US Highway 17, and Garris Landing (public boat landing) are the only mainland sites. As Cape Romain is a barrier island refuge, the remainder of the refuge is accessible only by boat. There is a public dock on the leeward side of Bulls Island suitable for craft 12 – 17 feet in length. The dock is first-come, first-serve. Large boats often anchor in Price’s Inlet, an inlet south of Bulls Island that separates Bulls Island and a state-owned island called Capers Island. Access to other refuge islands requires “beaching” of private boats. To provide public accessibility, the refuge contracts with a private company, Coastal Expeditions, Inc. to transport passengers from Garris Landing to Bulls Island (and other refuge islands according to demand).
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| Painted Bunting. Credit: Marc Epstein© |
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| Great Egret. Credit: Steve Hillebrand/USFWS |
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| Red Wolf. Credit: Tricia Lynch/USFWS |
Coastal Expeditions - Ferry Service
Coastal Expeditions, the exclusive concessionaire of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, is a reputable guide service and outfitter in the Charleston area. In addition to providing ferry service to Bulls Island throughout the year, they promote conservation and environmental education through their interpretive talks and programs. Contact Coastal Expeditions for more information on their ferry schedule and other services such as guided kayak outings.
SEWEE Association Friends Group
The South Eastern Wildlife and Environment Education (SEWEE) Association, Inc., is a Friends Group formed in 1996 to support the missions of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and the Francis Marion National Forest. The Association recently partnered with the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin and Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuges. Learn more about the SEWEE Association and how it is helping the South Carolina Lowcountry Refuges Complex.
South Carolina Lowcountry Refuges Complex - News from "Life in the Wild"
The South Carolina Lowcountry Refuges Complex is home to four national wildlife refuges - Cape Romain, Waccamaw, Santee and Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin Refuges. With over 115,240 acres, these unique public lands encompass pristine barrier island beaches, rich salt marsh estuary and riverine ecosystems, and forested freshwater wetlands. Learn about how we manage these special areas for wildlife and people in our Life in the Wild Newsletters. Our latest edition, Volume 5, highlights cultural landmarks and historic artifacts found within the refuges natural landscapes that span a period of more than two hundred years. At Santee, a high earthern mound gives testiment to a native people and a nation's revolution.On Cape Romain's islands, a wind-powered saw mill contributed to our young nation's economy and two lighthouses served as sentinels for sea-going mariners. Amid the wetlands landscape at the ACE Basin, on the island of Jehossee lie the remnants of a rice plantation that thrived during the antebellum period in the lowcountry. Historic artifacts found at Waccamaw's Yauhannah Bluff tell the stories of how those that came before us have shaped our environment today. Our cultural treasures provide windows into the past connecting us with the unique heritage and evolving landscapes of the lowcountry. View the newsletter and earlier editions by clicking on the links below.
CAPE ROMAIN RECEIVES HIGH MARKS IN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SURVEY
An overwhelming percentage of visitors to Cape Romain in 2010 and 2011 were highly impressed with the recreational opportunities, information and educational programming, service provided by employees or volunteers and, the refuge's job of conserving fish, wildlife and their habitats. Some 92 percent of respondents gave consistent high marks to all facets of their refuge experiences. The survey, designed, conducted and analyzed by researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey, evaluated responses from more than 200 adults who visited the refuge between July 2010 and November 2011. Cape Romain was one of 53 national wildlife refuges surveyed. The survey found that 70 percent of visitors to Cape Romain are from South Carolina. Vistors enjoyed a wide variety of activities with wildlife observation (60%), photography (44%), hiking (41%) and bird watching (40%) receiving the highest participation rates.
There were several enthusiastic comments made by survey participants such as this one: "Cape Romain is in and of itself one of the most pristine and beautiful places on earth. The maze of marshland and abundance of habitat coupled with the remnants of history make it truly unique. Add to that, unparalleled fishing of anywhere else in SC and you have a precious gem that is worth preserving at any cost."
Read more about survey findings for both Cape Romain and the National Refuges.
Junior Rangers Wanted at Cape Romain NWRHey Kids! Would you like to get outside and learn about our National Wildlife Refuge? Are you between the ages of 8 and 12? Cape Romain wants you! In March, the refuge will start its new Junior Ranger program. Call the Sewee Center at 843.928.3368 and meet with a Ranger to pick up your Junior Ranger activity booklet. While you're there, look through all the exhibits, see the movie and take a hike down the boardwalk to see the Red Wolves. Activities include a short trip to Garris Landing. Complete all the activities in the booklet and receive your Junior Ranger badge and patch. |
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| Free software can be downloaded to view the turtle video. |
