News
Did you know that we have a native tortoise species in South Carolina? The Gopher tortoise is the only species of tortoise found in the southeast and one of only four tortoise species found in the entire U.S.! They dig large underground burrows that hundreds of other animals use for shelter and protection from predators. Gopher tortoises play an important role in the ecosystem as a keystone species, and this makes the protection of this species critical to the entire food web.
Found only in the piedmont of the Carolinas, this native sunflower is a late summer bloomer that has been on the endangered species list since 1991. The Community Habitat team at Sun City Carolina Lakes has been doing their part to preserve and restore one of the rarest species in the nation. Working with local parks, garden clubs, universities, and the SC Native Plant Society, this team has incorporated the plants into their pollinator gardens and are working to distribute seeds throughout their community.
Senator Lindsey Graham has signed onto a bipartisan wildlife conservation bill, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, that will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to locally-led efforts to help at-risk wildlife species nationwide.
