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A common nonvenomous snake that can be found in the southeastern US is the black racer! Because of their smooth (& shiny black scales!) and slender bodies, black racers are incredibly fast and make impressive predators. They help control populations of rodents, frogs, and insects. Black racer staying still for the camera! Despite their speed…

Sheepshead showing off its teefers! Known for their wild human-like teeth (yes, really), sheepshead fish are coastal favorites commonly found around jetties, docks, and oyster reefs. Those chompers aren’t just for show—they use them to crunch through hard-shelled snacks like barnacles, crabs, and clams, oysters, and other crunchy things. Think of them as the shellfish…

We’re sending out a big round of applause to some of our amazing team members who have been featured in the local news! ✨ First up, a heartfelt shoutout to Capt. Jessen Lindler for being featured in Isle of Palms Magazine! The article showcases his passion and dedication to connecting our community to the coast. You can catch the full feature here. ☀️ Next, and we still claim her as our very own but she is making waves with her new business!!! Ms. Goldengirl herself, aka Capt. Courtney Hutson, was highlighted in Charleston Magazine’s “50 Ideas for Having Fun, Chilling Out, and Experiencing Something New This Season.” We couldn’t agree more — she brings the fun and sun wherever she goes/glows! Check it out here. 🚤 And last but not least, a big cheers for Capt. Mike Pickett who was…

On May 27th in the evening some of our crew members helped Sarah Harper set up mist nets at the Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station.(If you are interested in learning more about the station check out the link HERE ) Harper and her team of volunteers were hoping to catch, band, and release Chuck-wills-widows or even a common nighthawk! Both species are a type of nightjar, most active at night and insectivores. Unfortunately the team did not catch any, but they heard a lot of individuals and saw them flying OVER the nets!  Chuck-will’s-widows get their name from their unique call that sounds like the phrase “Chuck-wills-widow”.  One of their bird “doppelgängers” is the Whip-poor-will, however, the Chucks are longer in their wings, larger, and more reddish. Another difference is more white in the tail for the Chuck and a…

Have you ever found a stingray mouth plate or pieces of the mouth plate (grinders) before?   A close up of sting ray mouth plates! A stingray mouth plate refers to the flattened, hard plates inside a stingray’s mouth that are used to crush and grind prey such as mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. Their…

What a Week for Community Events! This week has been an incredibly exciting one for community events we’ve had the honor of participating in! Monday, May 12:We joined the LENS Foundation of Isle of Palms for their Neighborhood Block Party at Islander 71! LENS, which stands for Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the bond between first responders and the community. We offered short teaser eco tours and brought a touch tank with live (caught and released!) marine specimens. It was such an awesome event to be part of! LENS’s mission is “to enhance public safety and community well-being by supporting our local first responders through education, outreach, and financial assistance.” Learn more about what they do here. Tuesday, May 13…

Moon snail operculum on the left and knobbed whelk operculum on the right! What are these two pieces of thin shell? Well, these are called operculums. They are usually found attached to different sea snails, like knobbed whelks or moon snails. Operculum is Latin for “little door,” and as you can imagine, the job of…

Islands shaped by tide and wind,  Is where this little tale begins. Where land is thin, yet life runs deep— A coastal guard where secrets sleep. First comes the marsh, all green and gold, A nursery where young and old Of fish and fowl find food and rest, In grasses swaying, nature’s nest. Beyond the…

This lovely sea snail is called a banded tulip. Banded tulips use the thick lip of their shell to break a hole into their prey’s shell. Once a hole is created the banded tulip will insert its proboscis to eat its prey like oysters or clams. If you notice on top of the two long…

Live Limpet at the IOP Marina! Limpets are categorized as marine gastropods and have a distinctive cone-shaped shell that protects their soft, pliable bodies. These fascinating mollusks are primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae that grow on rocky surfaces, marina docks—such as those at the Isle of Palms (IOP) Marina—and even in tide pools. As limpets…