Junk Removal in Seabrook Island, SC

The more than 20,000 square foot facility will be located at 1884 Seabrook Island Road, near Bohicket Marina. The Sea Islands community is expected to undergo significant population growth over the next few years, especially those residents 65 and older. The Sea Islands are also geographically isolated, situated more than 20 miles from the nearest hospital. The area also accommodates a large seasonal population of tourists, many of whom have trouble navigating local health care services.

“It can take up to 45 minutes to get to the nearest hospital from the Sea Islands. That’s too long for an emergency situation such as a stroke, where every minute counts. As the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, we are committed to delivering the best possible care, closest to home,” said David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, MUSC president. “This new medical pavilion will provide rapid access to outstanding care for the entire Sea Islands community.”

As part of the MUSC Health system’s overarching strategy, the MUSC Health Charleston Division has worked to provide better community access and local care in the greater Tri-County region, as well as coastal communities to the north and south of Charleston. This enables better capacity at the flagship facilities, which offer specialized and complex care downtown while enhancing overall accessibility and continuity of care for patients and families, especially in underserved communities. Since 2019, four new multispecialty ambulatory care platforms have opened in West Ashley, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

In addition to 24/7 emergency care, the facility will offer two trauma rooms, a rooftop helicopter pad, and a medical office building that will provide primary and specialty care, including imaging and lab services, cardiology and physical therapy. A telemedicine network will connect the entire facility to some of the nation’s top providers at MUSC Health in downtown Charleston. The Town of Kiawah Island donated $1 million to create a healing, restful green space and garden adjacent to the new facility.

“Accessibility to the wonderful health system and hospitals we have here has been a concern, so it was exciting to hear about this project,” said Town of Kiawah Mayor John Labriola. “My hat’s off to the MUSC Board of Trustees and the institution’s leadership, because getting a certificate of need is not easy… personally, I look forward to the ribbon cutting and seeing our garden that will be named for the Town of Kiawah.”

The project was made possible in part by Kiawah Partners, which was acquired by South Street Partners in 2013, who donated 6 acres of land to the Medical University Hospital Authority (MUSC Health), valued at $4.85 million.

"This project was initiated to meet the huge need for medical services on Kiawah Island, Seabrook, and Johns Island. With no convenient emergency healthcare options currently available, we have been working for seven-plus years to figure out a way to bring accessible healthcare to the Sea Islands,” said Chris Randolph, South Street Partners. “Thanks to MUSC, we will soon have a world-class medical facility that provides so much more than what we had originally envisioned. We couldn’t be more pleased to have been able to donate the land for this project and feel very grateful to partner with such an excellent health care system.”

Of the estimated $30 million needed to fund the project, MUSC is committed to raising $17 million in private support. To date, it has received more than $9.5 million in confirmed gifts, with many coming from local residents.

“Private support is critical to the long-term success of the MUSC Health Sea Islands Medical Pavilion because of the many financial challenges that come with operating a medical facility in this community,” said Kate Azizi, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “One challenge is the low population density of the Sea Islands. While this is an aging population that needs timely access to medical care – there aren’t enough people living in these communities full time to sustain our operations. Philanthropic support helps fill those gaps, allowing us to deliver the best care possible where and when it’s needed.”

Donors Chris and DeeDee Gibson are giving $2 million to the project. In recognition of their generosity, the physical therapy space will be named in their honor. “My family has been coming to Kiawah for close to 40 years,” Chris Gibson said. “When my wife DeeDee and I built a home here, she had one request: that there was a hospital nearby in case of an emergency. All these years later, we are excited to contribute to the new MUSC Health Sea Islands Medical Pavilion and to help make these vital medical services available to our neighbors on Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns islands.”

“The construction of a full-fledged medical facility with emergency services is a dream come true for all Johns, Kiawah and Seabrook Islands,” said local resident Pam Harrington, who donated $2 million and will name the emergency department after the Harrington family. “As our population continues to grow and more folks are retiring to our area, the demand for medical services grows with it! Being a Kiawah/Cassique resident for many years, the addition of a medical pavilion fills a real need that has existed over several decades. Prior to my 40-plus years in real estate on the islands I was a practicing ICU nurse. This medical center is near and dear to my heart! As a thank you and show of appreciation to all who have been so supportive of my success, here, on the Sea Islands, it seems befitting to take this opportunity to give back in a meaningful way.”

Construction is expected to conclude in late 2023.

Quote bank:

Seabrook Mayor John Gregg – “It is indeed my pleasure to welcome MUSC to Seabrook Island, as our local community will be well served by the capabilities of this facility and the practitioners who will staff it. We look forward to having better availability of care, ranging from emergency room treatment, to advanced diagnostics for the ailments, bumps, pains, scrapes, stings, and strains that come with having an active and diverse population.”

MUSC Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Charles Schulze – “On behalf of the board, I want to acknowledge, commend, and deeply, deeply thank you for your dedication hard work and the public private collaboration that is taking place to get us to where we are today. As an air force veteran of the Vietnam war, I know the importance and necessity of teamwork. When you have a complex mission ahead of you in those situations, your unity as a team is your biggest strength… And it didn't matter where you live, where you were from or what your background was in our military. You learned that persistence, perseverance, collaboration, and expertise are critical to the success of a mission. And it's been no different in this case. When the board began to discuss the feasibility of this project, we knew it wasn't going to happen without teamwork and vision. Not only from everybody at MUSC, but also from the community here in the sea islands.”

MUSC Health System CEO and Executive Vice President of Health Affairs Dr. Pat Cawley – “What makes this project challenging is that it doesn’t fit into normal health constructs. We spent a lot of time with the community, trying to gauge what was needed and it was clear that there was tremendous community support for this project and it was the engagement with the concept of neighbors caring for neighbors and the work of the community to reach out to state officials and regulators that helped make this project a reality. MUSC Health is proud to be a part of this community and its health care provider of choice, and we are humbled by the level of support we are receiving to bring this shared vision to reality.”

###

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,000 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 850 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $327.6 million in research funds in fiscal year 2021, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding, with more than $220 million. For information on academic programs, visit web.musc.edu

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 14 hospitals with approximately 2,500 beds and five additional hospital locations in development; more than 350 telehealth sites, with connectivity to patients’ homes; and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2022, for the eighth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets totaling $5.1 billion. The nearly 25,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver and support groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. You can learn more about that process here.

You’ve already been charmed by Charleston, maybe even made the trip to some of South Carolina’s best small towns like Bluffton, Georgetown? and Mount Pleasant. But there’s a lot more awesomeness waiting to be discovered in the Palmetto State…or, shall we say, just off the coast. South Carolina has some really incredible isles that are perfect for vacation, whether you’re intrigued by pirate lore, love exploring salt marshes, fancy a birdwatching holiday or just need a stress-free escape where wild horses run free. Here, the best South Carolina islands and where to stay on each one.

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1. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

One of South Carolina’s most popular tourist destinations for a plethora of reasons, Hilton Head Island offers an incredible mix of natural wonder, upscale delights and outdoor activities. You can book whale watching and dolphin spotting boat charters, hit the links, go cycling, hiking and kayaking, play tennis and polo, do some shopping, snap pics in front of the red-and-white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse and, of course, catch some rays on the beach.

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2. Daufuskie Island, South Carolina

No doubt you’ve heard of Hilton Head Island and Savannah in the neighboring state of Georgia. Sitting just off the coast between these well-known vacation destinations is a tiny hidden gem called Daufuskie Island with a population of just 500 residents. There aren’t hotels or big-name attractions. Instead, it's a place of peace, quiet and magical natural wonders—bottlenose dolphins bob in the waters and loggerhead turtles nest on the shore.

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3. Kiawah Island, South Carolina

In terms of true vacation destinations, Kiawah Island is a hole-in-one. It has a huge gated luxury beach and golf resort with loads of swish accommodation and amenities like world-class fairways. You don’t need to be a guest to explore the island, which is open to the public. Daytrippers from Charleston often drive over to enjoy the sandy beaches, hiking and biking trails, tours at Heron Park Nature Center and Marsh Island Park.

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4. Capers Island, South Carolina

A pretty, undeveloped barrier island oasis, Capers Island is the perfect spot for a family vacation. Beaches, maritime uplands and salt marshes provide the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventure. It’s excellent for birdwatching and wildlife peeping. Be sure to bring your camera to the eye-catching “boneyard beach” where old tree stumps dot the sandy expanse. Bonus: accessibility from Charleston means no long travel days with the kiddos.

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5. Deveaux Bank, South Carolina

By now you’ve likely gathered that birding is a big deal in South Carolina. Deveaux Bank, a horseshoe-shaped spit of sand at the mouth of the North Edisto River estuary, takes it to the next level as the island actually encompasses a 215-acre sanctuary that’s a protected nesting habitat for many sea and shorebirds. If you’re keen to see eastern brown pelicans and black skimmers, hightail it over to Deveaux Bank.

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6. Seabrook Island, South Carolina

Seabrook Island is a downright dreamy place to live or visit. A lot of people choose to reside in this private, oceanfront community. That’s because it’s pretty as a picture with natural beauty galore, nationally recognized birdwatching, two award-winning golf courses, near-empty beaches, a racquet club, an equestrian center and stunning houses we’d happily call home. And the fact that it’s just a few miles from downtown Charleston yet retains a sense of seclusion definitely helps, too.

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7. Bear Island, South Carolina

A nature lover’s dream, Bear Island feels rugged and remote despite sitting just an hour outside Charleston. This undeveloped and pristinely beautiful 12,021-acre Sea Island is part of the ACE Basin estuarine reserve area and managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. That translates to ample opportunities for bird watching (it’s among the top-ranked spots for twitchers in the entire state) and wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking and biking.

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8. Edisto Island, South Carolina

For a fantastic family-friendly holiday, consider Edisto Island. A laid-back Lowcountry Sea Island not far from Charleston (some people even call it home and commute into the Holy City, just to give you a sense of proximity) that’s approximately 68 square miles and has loads of low-key appeal in the form of sandy beaches and outdoor activities for all ages, including hiking and camping in Edisto Beach State Park.

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9. Fripp Island, South Carolina

Fripp Island doesn’t scream "Shiver me timbers" in that really obvious sort of way. But its treasure hunting past is really interesting and the legends live on. Though, these days, the most seaward of the barrier islands feels a lot less pirate and more residential vacation resort with sandy beaches, tennis courts and golf courses. It’s also a designated wildlife sanctuary. Visitors and residents frequently see great blue herons, wood storks and dolphins.

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10. Port Royal Island, South Carolina

If you’ve spent some time in South Carolina or are generally familiar with the Palmetto State, Beaufort probably rings a bell. Port Royal Island is the island where the aforementioned seaside city resides. There are beautiful beaches, scenic walking trails, boat tours and tons of opportunities for birdwatching. It's also a popular pick for foodies, specifically seafood lovers who come from far and wide to sample fresh-caught Lowcountry fare.

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11. Callawassie Island, South Carolina

Callawassie Island may be one of the hundreds of barrier and sea islands, but this 880-acre private slice of paradise just 17 miles from Beaufort sets itself apart from the rest with its coastline, tidal creeks, lagoons, salt marshes and moss-draped trees. There’s also a butterfly garden and a golf course. Callawassie Island is accessible via the half-mile-long causeway that connects it to the mainland as well as by boat.

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12. Johns Island, South Carolina

Sure, bigger isn’t always better. But, then again, sometimes size ups the appeals of a place. Sprawling 738 acres, Johns Island, the largest island in South Carolina and famously a filming location for The Notebook is enchantingly beautiful with miles of wooded trails, farms and lakes. Back to the whole size thing…its most famous feature, the massive ancient Angel Oak stands a whopping 65-feet tall and shades an area of 17,000 square feet.

SEABROOK ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - An ongoing battle over short-term rentals is brewing on Seabrook Island, where homeowners say uncontrolled growth of properties is affecting their quality of life.

Homeowners Ted Flerlage and Paul McLaughlin said although they do not want to end short-term rentals on the island, the effects of recent growth have prompted them to call for a cap on short-term rentals.

“If you come here in July, around July Fourth, as a resident walking out boardwalk one, let’s say, to north beach, there’s no space, and that is a rental issue,” Flerlage, who has lived on the island since March 2020, said. “That is a noise issue. It is a parking issue because every spot on the limited parking area is taken.”

The two homeowners have spearheaded the Preserve Seabrook effort. A letter sent to residents as part of the effort says concerns “center on the uncontrolled growth of short-term rentals, especially on streets where there are many full-time and private residential properties.”

“We aim to retain a reasonable offering of properties that can be rented by guests who love to visit and vacation on our beautiful island, while ensuring Seabrook does not gradually morph into a resort community,” the letter states. “We believe adding a cap on the number of resort properties on Seabrook would protect the unique qualities of our island while allowing revenue generated through rental properties to continue to flow back to the town through state and county accommodation taxes that the renters pay.”

Over 300 residents have signed a petition to cap the number of short-term rentals on the island, according to McLaughlin.

The petition seeks a single question on the Nov. 2, 2021 ballot that asks if voters support:

“Seabrook, when I bought here in 2002 and built our house here in 2009, it was more like ‘Cheers,’” McLaughlin said. “Everybody knew your name. Now, with the influx of 500 rental properties and growing, it’s changed a lot, and the quality of life on the island has changed a lot.”

Seabrook Island Mayor John Gregg said a petition from those calling for a cap has been sent to a committee, which will conduct a factual inquiry and then report to town council with recommendations.

“The object for the ad hoc committee was to identify inquiries of factual matters that could inform council as it considers whether or not it is warranted to do further regulation,” Gregg said.

The mayor added that to operate a short-term rental on the island, homeowners need to have a business license and a permit from the town.

McLaughlin and Flerlage said they welcome the data-driven effort but want more communication from the town and to work with them on a solution.

“Our question to them: What is the tipping point? If 500 isn’t the tipping point, is it 600? Is it 700? Is it 800? So, in the meantime, we need to figure it out,” McLaughlin said. “We need to halt what’s going on. Everybody keeps what they currently have, and we study the problem, and we figure out what the solution would be. We don’t make the problem worse while continuing to study it.”

“These are people who live in South Carolina and vote in South Carolina who live on the island and vote on the island,” Flerlage said. “These are the people who are their direct constituents – the people who vote for the mayor and the town council. It’s more than 300 of those people who signed up, which is nearly as many as who voted for them in the last election on Nov. 2, and in our opinion, there has been no communication and we’ve been getting fairly short-tripped on the issue.”

Copyright 2021 WCSC. All rights reserved.

South Carolina is home to some of the richest people in America including billionaires Anita Zucker and Robert Faith. Here is a list of the 8 richest towns in South Carolina. The information presented in this article is based on data from the US Census American Community Survey and Forbes. The rankings are based on median household income.

1. Kiawah Island, SC

Kiawah Island is the wealthiest town in South Carolina. Kiawah Island is a luxury beach town in South Carolina where residents enjoy resort living and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. It is located in South Carolina’s Charleston county, just 25 miles from downtown Charleston. Kiawah Island residents are wealthy with a median household income of $216,750. The poverty rate of Kiawah Island is very low at 3.3% (compare this to the 14.6% poverty rate in the state of South Carolina).

Home values in Kiawah Island are high with a median home value of $1,442,000. Most of the homes in Kiawah Island are primarily owner-occupied with only 1.4% rentals and 98.6% owner-occupied.

Kiawah Island has a population of 2,013. Its affluent residents are well educated with 87.4% of residents graduating with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Over half of Kiawah Island residents are senior citizens over 65 years old (58%). The average commute to work for Kiawah Island’s residents is 33.5 minutes.

2. Sullivan’s Island, SC

Sullivan’s Island is one of the wealthiest towns in South Carolina. Sullivan’s Island is an affluent beach town where residents enjoy stunning sunsets and the conveniences of being a few miles from downtown Charleston. It is located in South Carolina’s Charleston county. Sullivan’s Island residents are wealthy with a median household income of $157,743.

Buying property in Sullivan’s Island is really expensive with an average median home value of $3,937,500 for homes sold in 2022 (source: Redfin). Most of the homes in Sullivan’s Island are primarily owner-occupied with only 17.3% rentals and 82.7% owner-occupied.

Sullivan’s Island has a small population of 1,891. Its affluent residents are well educated with 84.% of residents graduating with a bachelor’s degree or higher. The average commute to work for Sullivan’s Island’s residents is 19.9 minutes.

3. Briarcliffe Acres, SC

Briarcliffe Acres is one of the wealthiest towns in South Carolina. It is an exclusive enclave with a private beach that is near the shops and restaurants of Myrtle Beach. It is located in South Carolina’s Horry county. Briarcliffe Acres residents are wealthy with a median household income of $137,750. The poverty rate of Briarcliffe Acres is 8.6%.

The median home value in Briarcliffe Acres is $659,700. Most of the homes in Briarcliffe Acres are primarily owner-occupied with only 6.5% rentals and 93.5% owner-occupied.

Briarcliffe Acres is a small residential community with a population of only 479. Its affluent residents are well educated with 59.9% of residents graduating with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Almost half of the residents at Briarcliffe Acres are senior citizens over 65 years old (41%). The average commute to work for Briarcliffe Acres’s residents is 23.6 minutes.

4. Isle of Palms, SC

Isle of Palms is one of the wealthiest towns in South Carolina. Isles of Palms is an affluent beach town in South Carolina where residents enjoy a resort lifestyle while still within minutes of downtown Charleston. It is located in South Carolina’s Charleston county. Isle of Palms residents are wealthy with a median household income of $134,917. The poverty rate of Isle of Palms is low at 2.5%.

Home values in Isle of Palms are high with a median home value of $883,200. Most of the homes in Isle of Palms are primarily owner-occupied with 12.4% rentals and 87.6% owner-occupied.

Isle of Palms has a population of 4,347. Its affluent residents are well educated with 74.2% of residents graduating with a bachelor’s degree or higher. The average commute to work for Isle of Palms’s residents is 27.9 minutes.

5. Tega Cay, SC

Tega Cay is one of the wealthiest towns in South Carolina. Tega Cay is an affluent residential community located in South Carolina’s York county. Tega Cay residents enjoy lakeside living and the conveniences of being just a few minutes away from downtown Charlotte. South Carolina residents are well-to-do with a median household income of $130,571. The poverty rate of Tega Cay is very low at 0.5%.

The median home value in Tega Cay is $394,500. Most of the homes in Tega Cay are primarily owner-occupied with only 15.2% rentals and 84.8% owner-occupied.

Tega Cay has a population of 12,832. Its affluent residents are well educated with 65.9% of residents graduating with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Lots of families with children live in Tega Cay with 27% of Tega Cay residents under 18 years old. The average commute to work for Tega Cay residents is 31.2 minutes.

6. Fort Mill, SC

Fort Mill is one of the wealthiest towns in South Carolina. Fort Mill is a suburb of Charlotte, SC with top-rated schools, a vibrant main street, and beautiful parks. It is located in South Carolina’s York county. Fort Mill town, South Carolina residents are affluent with a median household income of $120,665. The poverty rate of Fort Mill is low at 3.6%.

The median home value in Fort Mill is $340,500. Most of the homes in Fort Mill are primarily owner-occupied with only 14.8% rentals and 85.2% owner-occupied.

Fort Mill has a population of 24,521. Its affluent residents are well educated with 54.8% of residents graduating with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Lots of families with children live in Fort Mill with 31% of Fort Mill residents under 18 years old. The average commute to work for Fort Mill residents is 26.9 minutes.

7. Seabrook Island, SC

Seabrook Island is one of the wealthiest towns in South Carolina. Seabrook Island is an affluent beach town in South Carolina where residents live a resort lifestyle while still within 30 minutes of downtown Charleston. It is located in South Carolina’s Charleston county. Seabrook Island residents are well-off with a median household income of $106,875. The poverty rate of Seabrook Island is only 6.5%.

The median home value on Seabrook Island is $660,900. Most of the homes on Seabrook Island are primarily owner-occupied with only 6.3% rentals and 93.7% owner-occupied.

Seabrook Island has a population of 2,050. Its affluent residents are well educated with 80% of residents graduating with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Most of the residents at Seabrook Island are senior citizens aged 65 years old and older (59%). The average commute to work for Seabrook Island’s residents is 26.8 minutes.

8. Mount Pleasant, SC

Mount Pleasant is one of the wealthiest towns in South Carolina. Mount Pleasant is an affluent suburb of Charleston with a charming downtown, waterfront lifestyle, a vibrant food scene and is within minutes of downtown Charleston (in fact you can walk or bike the 2.5-mile pedestrian bridge to Charleston!) It is located in South Carolina’s Charleston county. Mount Pleasant town, South Carolina residents are well-to-do with a median household income of $106,216. The poverty rate in Mount Pleasant is 5.6%.

The median home value in Mount Pleasant is $499,600. Most of the homes in Mount Pleasant are primarily owner-occupied with only 27.7% rentals and 72.3% owner-occupied.

Mount Pleasant has a population of 90,801. Its affluent residents are well educated with 65.3% of residents graduating with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Lots of families with children live in Mount Pleasant with 23% of Mount Pleasant residents under 18 years old. The average commute to work for Mount Pleasant residents is 24.6 minutes.

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Suburbs 101 is an insider’s guide to suburban living. Get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to live in the suburbs through our interviews with local suburbanites and features on Food, Fashion, Home, Garden, Travel, Pets, Real Estate and Local Events. Be sure to Follow Us on Instagram, Like Us on Facebook, Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter.

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — This week it’s all about the bobcats on Kiawah Island. It’s a chance to celebrate the species by holding several educational events open to the public, with plenty to celebrate as there have been recent positive trends for the bobcat population.

A 100% survival rate this year and catching bobcats more easily are pros for the Bobcat Guardian Program on Kiawah Island.

It began two years ago when town biologists discovered that rodenticides being used on the island negatively affected the animals.

“We came up with a strategy to address that issue, and that was to have folks voluntarily stop using these products on the island,” said Jim Jordan, wildlife biologist on Kiawah Island.

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“They were fairly widespread used all across the island, so that first save Kiawah Island bobcats week kicked off our guardian program. Which was just a voluntary pledge that residents, businesses, entities...everyone on the island could take not to use these second-generation products.”

These products, known as anticoagulant rodenticides, control rat and mouse populations and are likely to move up the food chain.

More than half of the companies pledged to switch to other products since they have a large footprint on the island. Jordan said it made a huge difference overnight and among more than just the bobcats.

“We test raccoons, possums, alligators, birds of preyany animals we get our hands on, we take a sample and send that off,” said Jordan. “In those animals, pretty much across the board, we are seeing lower concentrations of SGAs, which is obviously a positive trend.”

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But Jordan realizes that the SGA issue isn’t just on Kiawah. The bobcats have been tracked on Seabrook Island as well as Johns Island.

“It was eye-opening when we figured out this was the issue,” said Jordan. “Once we started looking into it, it’s like look how prevalent this is here at Kiawah and certainly just as prevalent in about every community in SC, but no one is looking at it.”

That’s where Meaghan Keating, a Ph.D. student at Clemson University, comes in.

“I’m trying to dig in and understand how these bobcats are responding to SGAs and human development and try to understand future directions for the population and what the town can do to try to mitigate some of those threats,” said Meghan Keating, Clemson University Ph.D. student.

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Part of the process is tracking the bobcats every year.

“The GPS tracking collars take 5 points a day, and it shifts throughout the day so that they are getting different times, and every night it connects to the Iridium satellite and sends us those points on the web,” said Keating.

This year, there has been plenty to track, as all six bobcats are still alive and well. “We have got six different bobcats with working collars right now, so each color is an individual bobcat,” said Jordan.

Keating will continue her fieldwork until 2024 and hopes these positive trends will continue. She estimates that the number of bobcats on the island is probably in the 20s. Historically, there are usually 30 to 35, so the number has increased since the decline in 2017.

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Seabrook Island has its own Bobcat Guardian Program, which has also been very successful. Beyond the islands, no other programs are in place across the state.

If you are interested in learning more about this issue or bobcats, the last event of Save the Bobcats week is an hour-long walk to discuss bobcat habitat, livability, and how the community can support the town.

Visit the Town of Kiawah Island's website for more information about bobcats.