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Diamondbacks seem to be most the most common of the three types in the area, but they are very secretive and are rarely seen. Yellow Rat Snake Growing six feet or more, these striped serpents are skilled climbers and will search your yard top to bottom for rodents. I find them to be one of our most docile species. While they do eat rodents, they love to eat other snakes including our venomous pit vipers. The more in your yard, the better. Black Racer These fast, skinny, black snakes with big eyes and a white underside have major attitude when cornered, but are quick to get away from you.
Remember that no snake wants to hurt you, but accidents still happen. Local Guide. Beaufort News. Local Beaches. Historic Downtown. Fripp Island. Hunting Island. Helena Island. Port Royal. Lowcountry Cuisine.
Relocation Guide. Real Estate. Beach Rentals. Beaufort Life. Previous article. Next article. Black bears are excellent climbers and good swimmers and can be found in a variety of habitats. Average Size Male black bears are generally larger than females. An average adult male black bear can weigh between – pounds while the female averages between pounds.
However, when food is plentiful, older bears have been documented at weights above pounds. The largest black bear recorded in South Carolina was pounds.
Life Expectancy The average life expectancy is 18 years in the wild. Black bears reach sexual maturity by 3 years and obtain most of their growth by 5 years. Preferred Habitat Typically, black bears require large expanses of forest dominated by a diversity of mast-producing hardwoods and shrubs intermixed with early successional vegetation such as blackberries, pokeberries, etc. Wetlands such as swamps and bays also provide good habitat. However, black bears are adaptable. As long as they can find adequate food sources and have suitable den sites, black bears can be found in a variety of habitats.
Range Black bears can be found throughout North America. In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain. Home range for bears must include den sites, food, water and cover for adults and young.
Typically male bear home ranges can be 18 to square miles, while home ranges for females are smaller, around square miles. When was the last time you heard of someone being bitten in Beaufort by a great white?
But, did you know that the chances of encountering a shark are rare? And, being attacked or even nipped by any sharks in Beaufort is even rarer? Shark attacks on our local beaches are indeed very rare. In researching for this article, we found that there was a fatal attack off of Parris Island in when a recruit attempted to swim from the island. Since records started being kept as early as , our local area has seen only a few shark bites including two on Fripp Island, one on Hunting Island and two off of St Helena Island.
There was a shark attack just two days ago on Hilton Head. Out of over different species of sharks found in all of our oceans, only around 30 of them have been reported to have ever attacked a human being. Of these, only about 10 or 12 should be considered particularly dangerous when encountered. Of the most concern in our coastal waters are great whites, tigers, and bull sharks.
Bulls, especially, are known to hang out just offshore in shallow waters. However, all sharks large and small are predators and could be capable of inflicting wounds if provoked. They should all be treated with respect when encountered. The chances of being attacked by a shark are very small compared to other animal attacks, natural disasters or beach-side dangers.
More people drown in the ocean every year than are bitten by sharks, by a large margin. Worldwide there is an average of shark attacks every year. The same goes for sharks in Beaufort, and everywhere. To decrease your already small chance of becoming a victim of a shark bite, observe the following rules, as advised by the Florida Museum of Natural History.
bears from stopping most common human-bear conflicts involve u
Things To Do Discover Attractions. Calendar Of Events. New in Town. Now that spring is here, you can enjoy nature in your own backyard… flowers blossoming, birds singing, and snakes slithering. South Carolina is home to 38 species of snakes, and most of them live in our area. Before you pack your bags and move to the North Pole, can you even count five different kinds you have seen in the wild here?
Our snakes are extremely diverse, from the 12 inch rough earth snake that lives underground and eats earthworms to the 6 foot yellow rat snake that climbs trees to eat squirrels and bird eggs. Their differences mean that few will find your backyard a great place to live, and only a handful are likely to be spotted by you.
Luckily those species are normally harmless and are actually really helpful. Snakes keep a low profile, opting to live under logs, leaf litter, and in dense foliage as they hunt for their small prey. They often have incredible camouflage and will go undetected as you walk by.
When wondering where a particular snake might be, consider its prey. Black racers are high-energy snakes with excellent eyesight, so they are often spotted in gardens and yards where their favorite prey, lizards, hunt for insects. Bug-loving rough green snakes weave though the trees, their bright green scales blending with vines.
Cottonmouths are dark like the wetlands they swim though as they hunt for frogs and fish. Once you understand preferred habitats and prey, you can attract or deter snakes more easily from your yard.
When I was growing up, my dad had a big garden. Bugs, lizards, and hiding places abounded, and I would frequently watch black racers chase skinks and flip logs to find eastern king snakes. Nowadays, whenever Roscoe the resident rat snake comes around, my parents send a picture.
Creating a backyard reptile haven can be fun, but if my childhood backyard makes your skin crawl, keep your yard clear of leaf litter, debris piles, and thick foliage. Eliminating prey sources like insects and rodents might require a call to the exterminator, and you might even want to clean up your birdfeeder. Even our biggest snakes are small compared to us, and they see people as one of their many predators.
When they first become aware of a human, snakes will either flee or coil up defensively, ready to strike. So, if you see a snake, let it get away. Most bites happen when someone tries handling or killing a snake.
When hiking through vegetation or doing yard work, keep an eye out for snakes and consider protective clothing. No snake wants to hurt people, and all snakes benefit us in some way. There is no need for you to learn to identify every single snake in the area, but here are the seven you kids included should try to get familiar with so you can react accordingly if you spot one. Start with our venomous snakes, then learn to ID our three most commonly encountered non-venomous snakes!
Copperhead You gotta admit, they are pretty! Their light tan-orange back is broken up by brown hourglass shapes. Cottonmouth Water Moccasin Dark all around with faint bands, these wetland-loving swimming snakes will open their mouth wide to show you a big white warning sign to leave them alone. Rattlesnakes — Diamondback, Canebrake, and Pygmy Obviously these pit vipers are known for the rattle on their tail!
Diamondbacks seem to be most the most common of the three types in the area, but they are very secretive and are rarely seen. Yellow Rat Snake Growing six feet or more, these striped serpents are skilled climbers and will search your yard top to bottom for rodents. I find them to be one of our most docile species. While they do eat rodents, they love to eat other snakes including our venomous pit vipers. The more in your yard, the better. Black Racer These fast, skinny, black snakes with big eyes and a white underside have major attitude when cornered, but are quick to get away from you.
Remember that no snake wants to hurt you, but accidents still happen. Local Guide. Beaufort News. Local Beaches. Historic Downtown. Fripp Island. Hunting Island. Helena Island. Port Royal. Lowcountry Cuisine. Relocation Guide.
Real Estate. Beach Rentals. Beaufort Life. Previous article. Next article. Price tables. Cancel Insert Shortcode. Accordion Settings. List Features Settings. Remember me? Lost your password. Sign In. Don't have an account? Sign Up. Already have an account? Reset Password.
– Black Bear Sightings Are On The Rise In Coastal South Carolina
The mere presence of a black bear does not necessarily represent a problem. Most bears are just passing through, but if there is an easy meal to be found, they will take advantage of it. The key to dealing with wandering bears is not giving them a reason to hang around. Removing any food source that would attract bears will significantly reduce any bear issues in residential areas.
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Search Facebook. The S. Department of Natural Resources SCDNR wants to remind South Carolinians to secure food attractants such as garbage, bird feeders, and pet food to prevent bears from stopping by. The most common human-bear conflicts involve unsecured food attractants. SCDNR offers these suggestions to better coexist with bears: Birdfeed and feeders: If a bear starts getting into your bird feeders, take the feeders down and put them away for a while; the bear will move on quickly.
No garbage: Keep garbage in tightly shut or bear-proof trash cans. Garbage left in the open, in an open dumpster, or in the back of a truck is an open invitation for a bear. Pet food storage: Store pet food properly if kept outside.
Clean grills: Keep charcoal and gas grills covered and clean to keep food odors from attracting bears. No feeding: A bear that becomes accustomed to having food provided is an accident waiting to happen.
Feeding bears promote nuisance behavior. Keep wildlife wild. NEVER approach a bear for any reason, especially for a photo. Bears can defend themselves. Give bears their space and they will move on. If you are camping in bear territory, follow these guidelines: Keep a clean camp at all times. Keep tents and sleeping bags free of food. Hang all food, trash, and other odorous items well away from camp and at least 10 feet above ground and 4 feet from any vertical support, or store in a bear-proof container.
Treat livestock feed the same as human food. While people may be excited about seeing a bear, we want you to remember that bears are wild animals and should be respected. These animals are usually shy, evasive, and non-aggressive toward people. People and black bears can live in the same area with little conflict by following basic rules. If you see a black bear, you can report it. For black bear emergencies, please call or Each year Southern Living releases a…. Our Publications.
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