With the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (aka SEWE) right around the corner, Charleston’s diverse array of native wildlife is gearing up to take center stage. Wildlife aficionado or not, you’d be hard-pressed to avoid a run-in with a critter or two during SEWE season. That snake-wrapped billboard, for instance, is a little hard to misssssss.

In the spirit of SEWE, we rounded up nine local critters that have stolen the spotlight– and our hearts.

1. The Lowcountry has its own ‘Little Horse Island.’

A private island inhabited only by wild ponies may seem like the stuff of dreams, but it’s actually very real. The herd has been roaming the marshes of Beaufort County since the 1950s, when a resident of St. Helena Island first crossbred the Lowcountry’s native marsh tacky horse with a Shetland pony (a popular pet at the time). The hybrid stands at an average height of 3-3.5 feet + has strong, fast legs that allow it to gallop through marshy terrain– like pluff mud.

2. … it also has its own ‘Monkey Island.’

Monkey on Morgan Island | Image by @the.dreaming.lens

Since the late 1970s, a colony of rhesus monkeys has called Morgan Island, S.C. (near Beaufort) home. Though the monkeys are used for research, they are able to enjoy a free-range lifestyle on the island– which has earned the moniker ‘Monkey Island.’ Learn more about Monkey Island here.

3. … AND its own ‘Bee City.’

Bee City is a nature center + honey farm located in Cottageville (about an hour outside Charleston, in Colleton County). But don’t let the name scare you away: there are more than just bees at Bee City. In fact, there’s a whole zoo– complete with monkeys, wallabies, farm animals, serval cats, + more.

4. Hampton Park was once home to a zoo. Its main attraction? Leo the Lion.

With recreational uses dating all the way back to the 1700s, Hampton Park is one of the oldest parks in continuous use in South Carolina. Throughout the past three centuries, a lot has come and gone– a race track, a snack bar, and even a zoo.

The zoo was around for much of the 20th century, was run by the city, and charged no admission for entry. There were exotic birds, monkeys, and even a lion named Leo. It was when the Animal Welfare Act of 1971 went into effect that the city was faced with the decision to either downsize the zoo or shut it down. Projected expenses led the city to choose the latter, and most of the animals were moved to Charles Towne Landing.

5. A whale once became trapped in the Charleston Harbor.

If you’ve ever been inside the Charleston Museum, then you’ll recognize the giant whale skeleton hanging inside. But did you know the whale has a whole backstory?

The whale actually arrived of his/her own accord in the Charleston Harbor in January 1880. Unfortunately for the 40 ft. Atlantic right whale, it wasn’t able to get back out.

Eventually, a group of local fishermen captured + killed the stranded sea creature. On the bright side, its death wasn’t totally in vain– as its skeleton has been displayed publicly since for educational purposes. It was housed for a short time at the College of Charleston before finding its permanent home at the Charleston Museum.

6. A pair of Guinea fowl mysteriously moved to a Charleston neighborhood in the early 2000s. Now, an entire flock lives there.

Guinea fowl on Lamboll St. | Photo by @charlestonspired

It turns out, even the feral residents of Charleston’s Historic District are fancy. Don’t believe us? Head over to Lamboll Street (in between Legare + King Streets) where you’ll find, not feral cats, nor a pack of wild dogs, but a flock of feral guinea fowl.

No one seems to know exactly how or why the birds got there, only that two of them showed up first– a couple known as Ginny + Gus– that have, since their arrival about 14 years ago, become celebrities on the block that they + their bird buddies now call home.

7. The famous elk that was discovered in the Upstate now lives at Charles Towne Landing.

In 2016, an elk made national headlines after being spotted in Upstate South Carolina. The sighting was the first in S.C. since the 1700s– and wildlife officials believe this particular elk wandered across the border after being pushed away from his territory in Haywood County, N.C.

In an attempt to protect both the 500 lb. elk + the humans he risked coming into contact with, it was relocated to a remote area in Oconee County. But, the adventurous animal showed back up near Devils Fork State Park, so he was again moved– this time to a safer, more supervised home at Charles Towne Landing in West Ashley. He was also aptly given the name ‘Clark,’ after the Lewis + Clark expedition, based on his love for exploration.

8. A rare species of shark was discovered here.

The sphyrna gilberti (more commonly known as the Carolina Hammerhead) was first discovered in the 1960s, but it wasn’t until 2013 that the new species was confirmed. That’s because it’s considered a ‘cryptic species’– meaning, a species that is almost physically identical to the more common species. The trait that sets it apart is its vertebrae– the Carolina Hammerhead has ten less than its cousin, the scalloped hammerhead shark.

9. Our beaches turn their lights off for sea turtles.

Loggerhead baby | Photo by @paulmdoughty

If you’ve ever taken a staycation at a Lowcountry beach, you’re familiar with the rules: exterior lights must be turned off from sunset to sunrise during sea turtle hatching season.

Sea turtles lay their eggs on S.C. beaches in May– and after a couple of months of incubation, they hatch. The baby sea turtles then make their way to the ocean using the blue + green wavelengths of light reflected on the water. If there’s artificial light pollution on or near the beach (flash lights, flood lights, etc.), it will cause the hatchlings to become disoriented and move toward that light instead. And that’s no small error– moving toward the wrong source of light could mean life or death for the little guys.

Click here to learn what to do if you come across a sea turtle nest.

What animal can serve as a licensed notary?

… A seal!

What do you get when you cross a snake and a pie?

… A pie- thon!

What did the duck say to the waiter?

… Put it on my bill.

– Jen 🦆