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The 7 Wonders of South Carolina Expedition Map borrowed from here!  Did you know South Carolina has seven designated natural “wonders”? These remarkable places were selected to represent the state’s most extraordinary landscapes, from mountain peaks and ancient forests to blackwater rivers, coastal estuaries, and barrier islands. Together, the SC7 Wonders showcase the incredible biodiversity that makes South Carolina so unique. The seven wonders include the Chattooga River, Jocassee Gorges, Sassafras Mountain, Congaree National Park, the Edisto River, the ACE Basin, and Bulls Island. While Capers isn’t an official SC7, we think one trip to Capers would change your mind! Every July, these spectacular places take center stage during the South Carolina 7 (SC7) Expedition, a month-long journey that follows the Palmetto Trail from the Upstate to the Lowcountry. Along the way, hikers, paddlers, cyclists, and community members can join…

Pitcher plant! Carnivorous plants thrive in the Francis Marion National Forest thanks to its wet, nutrient‑poor soils and fire‑maintained longleaf pine ecosystems. In habitats like pine savannas, roadside wetlands, and Carolina bays, plants have evolved to “supplement” their nutrition by trapping insects rather than relying solely on the nutrient‑limited soil. The forest is home to…

Photo from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benthic_zone When thinking about the ocean people often imagine charismatic megafauna like dolphins leaping through the waves or schools of fish gliding through open water. But some of the ocean’s most intriguing residents live far below the surface in the benthic zone, the vast, often overlooked world that stretches across the seafloor. This zone includes everything from sunlit, shallow sand flats to the pitch‑black depths thousands of feet down. It’s a dynamic habitat shaped by currents, sediment, and structure, offering food, shelter, and hunting grounds for an astonishing diversity of life. Here off the coast of South Carolina, the seafloor is anything but empty. Even though much of its activity happens out of sight, the bottom is alive with creatures burrowing, crawling, hunting, and hiding in ways that keep this underwater ecosystem thriving. Many of our local benthic…

If you’ve ever wanted to experience a true Lowcountry tradition, our Blue Crabbing Excursion is the perfect way to spend an afternoon on the water. Combining hands-on crabbing, wildlife viewing, island exploration, and a classic crab boil, this trip offers a little bit of everything that makes the South Carolina coast so special. Our adventure…

Dunlin to the right of sandpipers wading through the Littoral Zone (aka Intertidal Zone)  One of the most productive and dynamic areas of the ocean is the littoral zone, a transitional habitat where land and water meet. Also known as the intertidal zone (around tidally influenced areas), this area is constantly shaped by the rise…

Wahoo with a red! !Attention Anglers! Beginning July 1, 2026, new regulations will take effect for red drum fishing in South Carolina as part of an effort to rebuild the state’s declining red drum population. Recent stock assessments conducted by both the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries…

Pelagic waters! When many people think about the ocean, they picture beaches, marshes, oyster reefs, or coral habitats near the shoreline. But far beyond the coast lies the pelagic zone, the vast open-ocean environment where animals live in the water column rather than near the seafloor. The word “pelagic” comes from the Greek word

Manatee at an excursion seen by one of our staff in Crystal River, Florida! Last week two of our captains witnessed a manatee on the move! The crow favorite sea cows are gentle marine mammals that migrate seasonally in response to water temperature. Because they are highly sensitive to cold stress, manatees *typically* begin moving…

Under special wildlife permits, Capt. Nike has volunteers out at Cape Romain during nesting season!  Each summer, South Carolina’s beaches transform into vital nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles, and the most recent nesting season was another strong one. According to data compiled by seaturtle.org and regional monitoring programs, thousands of nests are recorded along…

Each year, the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network hosts Dolphin Week—a vibrant, community-centered celebration dedicated to protecting and appreciating the Lowcountry’s resident bottlenose dolphins. In 2026, Dolphin Week will take place April 20–25, bringing together education, conservation, and outdoor adventure. Throughout the week, participants can engage in hands-on experiences while learning about the dolphins that call…

This is an AI edited photo of a captive bobcat from an education center! Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are surprisingly well adapted to life on barrier islands, where a mix of maritime forests, salt marsh edges, and dense shrub thickets create their ideal habitat. These elusive cats rely on thick vegetation for cover while stalking prey…

Snags are standing dead or dying trees that remain upright in forests, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems. Even though they are no longer living, they play a super important role in habitat structure. As a tree dies, its wood softens and begins to decay, making it easier for animals to carve into or nest within. Snags…