Welcome to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
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| Bulls Bay Nature Festival - From the Forest to the Sea March 23, 2013 |
| The Bulls Bay community announces the first annual Bulls Bay Nature Festival - From the Forest to the Sea on Saturday, March 23rd with events scheduled from 7am until 8pm. Reaching from Francis Marion's Longleaf pines to Bulls Island's pristine beaches, it's a day to get outside and celebrate nature! Fishing events, family biathlon, auto tours, nature walks, kayak tours, raptor demonstrations, sweetgrass basketry, kid's fishing, crabbing and archery workshops, music and more! The hub for the festival is the Sewee Center. Community elementary and middle schools will present the festival's Wildlife Art Exposition at the Center, with artwork displayed throughout the month of March. Dr. Patrick McMillan, Director of Clemson Museum of Natural Sciences and host of the award-winning ETV nature program Expeditions With Patrick McMillan, closes the festival with his presentation "Nature on the Move" at 6pm at the Sewee Center. More about the festival... |
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Historic Lighthouse Tour, March 17, 2013
Take a tour in time to Lighthouse Island on Sunday, March 17th. The tour begins at 9am at the Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center with guide Tommy Graham, who gives an historical overview of the 1800's lights. Following the presentation, you will travel to McClellanville and board the Coastal Expeditions Island Cat Ferry. The ferry leaves Lighthouse Island at 1pm to return to the mainland. Lighthouse Island is located within Cape Romain's pristine Wilderness Area and there are opportunities to view an abundance of wildlife including Bottlenose dolphins, American oystercatchers and other shorebirds.Boat space is limited and Reservations are required. Contact the Sewee Center at 843.928.3368. More information on the tour... |
Cape Romain Lighthouses. |
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Red Wolves Have Arrived at the Sewee Center !
Two four-year old sibling Red wolves have found a new home at the Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center. Amid much excitement, the sisters arrived at the Center November 1st. 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
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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, the concession promotes conservation and environmental education through 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.
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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 |
BULLS ISLAND WEEKEND ECO-EXPEDITIONS
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For the first time in 43 years, the Dominick House on Cape Romain's Bulls Island is once again receiving overnight guests. Hosted by Coastal Expeditions, refuge concession, the three day/two night weekend ecology trip has a focus on barrier island dynamics, the connections of human and natural history, and invasive species. A myriad of island wildlife and plants will be studied as guests explore the salt marsh, maritime forest and beach. Expeditions will be offered on the third weekend of October through March, with the first trip scheduled for October 19th - 21st. In 1936, Mr. Gayer Dominick of New York conveyed Bulls Island to the Cape Romain NWR. Historically, from 1940 - 1969, the refuge awarded contracts to concessionaires who offered Bulls Island visitors lodging and meals at the Dominick House. During those 29 years, five concessionaires lived on the island with their families, providing quality services for those who came to the island to birdwatch, fish, photograph wildlife, beachcomb and archery hunt. Guests came from across the United States, Canada, and other countries including Finland, England, Germany, France, Sweden and South Africa. For more information and to register for an expedition, contact Coastal Expeditions at 843.884.7684 or visit Coastal Expeditions. |
| Dominick House. Credit: Weatherly Meadors |
1st ANNUAL SANTEE REFUGE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
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The Santee National Wildlife Refuge, Santee Birding and Nature Festival, and the Carolina Nature Photographer's Association (CNPA) have teamed up in an effort to encourage South Carolina residents and visitors to get outside and photograph nature and enter the 1st Annual Santee Refuge Nature Photography contest. Amateur and avid hotographers are encouraged to enter up to four entries into the contest. Categories include: Landscape, Wildlife, Flowers and Plants, and Santee National Wildlife Refuge. Entries can be photographs taken anywhere within South Carolina, except for the Santee NWR category, where photos must be taken on the refuge. See the contest announcement for the complete rules and entry information. Learn more about Santee refuge and the Santee Birding and Nature Festival at Santee NWR. |
| Red-shouldered hawk. Credit: Susan Heisey/USFWS |
SANTEE BIRDING AND NATURE FESTIVAL APRIL 26 - 28, 2013
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The Santee Birding and Nature Festival features an abundant array of wildlife-oriented field trips and workshops running throughout the 3-day event. The festival celebrates the natural beauty of South Carolina by providing wildlife watching and natural history opportunities throughout the midlands of South Carolina and beyond. New this year is the Nature Photography Contest, sponsored by festival organizers and the Carolinas' Nature Photographers Association. Cash prizes will be awarded for winning photographs in addition to being featured in the festival's commemorative poster! The Festival is sponsored by a variety of non-profit groups, community groups, and State and Federal agencies, as well as individual sponsors. With the variety of offerings over the course of the event, the Festival organizers are looking forward to sharing South Carolina's natural wonders with you! Visit the Santee Birding Festival for more information and to register for the event. |
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. |
