The Town of Kiawah Island takes a very active role in managing the natural resources on the island. From the wooded uplands to the beaches, animals thrive in the rich natural environment. Deer, bobcats, gray foxes, raccoons, river otters, and ospreys are just a few of the many animals that can be found on Kiawah Island.

Wildlife management on Kiawah is handled by a full-time wildlife biologist and wildlife research assistant in cooperation with the Town's Environmental Committee, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and other island entities, such as the Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy (KINHC), Resort Nature Center and Community Association. The Town and KINHC have funded and supported several research projects and programs, many of which are ongoing, in order to better understand and manage the wildlife species on the island.  Please click on the links to the right for additional information on these projects as well as some of the birds and animals that call Kiawah Island home.

For questions or comments concerning any of the Town's wildlife rules and regulations, research, and management practices, please contact Jim Jordan or Eric Rice at (843) 768-9166.

CURRENT WILDLIFE NEWS The Town of Kiawah Island, in partnership with the Kiawah Island Habitat Conservancy, is conducting a study of fine-scale habitat use by bobcats (Felis rufus) on Kiawah Island using global positioning system (GPS) tracking collars. Bobcats play a very important role in the Kiawah Island ecosystem by helping to control small mammal and white-tailed deer populations. A healthy bobcat population is necessary to maintain the balance of wildlife communities currently present on Kiawah Island. Four bobcats were fitted with collars during March and tracked extensively for approximately one month.  All 4 of the GPS collars have dropped off of the animals and the data has been downloaded.  Each GPS collar  contained approximately 2,400 individual locations for each bobcat.  These data will allow researchers to very accurately determine preferred habitat types, travel corridors, and other areas of importance to bobcats on Kiawah Island. The findings from this study, and future GPS studies, will aid in making future land management and conservation decisions. Check back soon for maps of bobcat locations.

 

View Bobcat GPS Project Video Below