for privacy from adjacent lots or roads - and they also
ensure that wildlife has ample cover to nest or rest.
These strips of habitat also serve as important travel
corridors.
The majority of the main yard is comprised of
understory shrubs and ground cover plants. Open
areas, such as turf or laid pine straw are minimized…
The understory not only provides cover, but also
offers food sources, which are very important to many
resident and migratory birds. Lightly maintained
shrubs that exhibit a more natural look are more
beneficial to wildlife. Additionally, using native species
helps maintain the ecological integrity of the Island.
There are no exotic invasive plant species (tallow trees,
non-clumping bamboo) observed… These invasive
plants are difficult to control and over time can have
negative impacts on Kiawah’s ecology by outcompeting
native species. Additionally, tallow trees can have
harmful effects on unique habitats, especially the
Island’s limited freshwater wetlands.
Currently, 61 percent of developed single-family
home sites exhibit landscapes that meet the Naturally
Kiawah criteria for providing important wildlife
habitat. Due to improvements of existing landscapes
and new installations that meet the criteria (96 percent
of all new homes), this percentage has increased by 11
percent since the program’s inception in 2011.
Kiawah Conservancy Preserved Land
Through December 31, 2014:
•• The Conservancy owns 18 properties, totaling 10.3
acres
•• The Conservancy holds conservation easements on
seven properties, totaling 319.6 acres
•• 2014 Wildlife Data
•• Loggerhead turtles: 142 nests documented on
Kiawah’s beach
•• Alligator population: 448 – estimated along the
survey route that does not include ponds
•• White-tailed deer population density: 66 / square
mile – representing a stable density over the last
ten years; Kiawah’s balanced deer population is
controlled by natural predators (primarily bobcats
and alligators)
•• Bobcat population: 30-35; six bobcats tracked via
GPS collars in 2014
•• Fall Migration Bird Banding: 5,086 new birds
banded (80 species), and 1,313 were recaptured
•• Marsh Sparrow Banding: 156 new birds were
banded, and 134 were recaptured. Weather played
a big role in 2014’s banding efforts. Many good
banding days were lost due to cold and windy
conditions.
More wildlife information can be found at:
www.wildlifeatkiawah.com.
Tallow Tree Management Efforts
Left unmanaged, tallow trees can ou t-compete and
eventually displace native plant communities - in
effect causing the loss of unique habitats, primarily
freshwater wetlands, and impacting wildlife that rely
on these areas.
The Town of Kiawah Island completed its Phase
II treatment of tallow trees in the fall of 2014,
concentrating efforts on areas of tallow trees on larger
properties, including golf courses.
In 2014, 240 total acres were treated including four
golf courses, Little Bear Island and the Ocean Course
Drive Nature Area. Treatments have worked well with
greater than 99 percent of tallow trees killed in the
treated areas. Follow up treatments are ongoing to
target resprouts.
The Kiawah Island Community Association Land
Management Department also continues management
on KICA buffer properties.
The Kiawah Conservancy continues to monitor and
manage tallow trees and other invasive plants on its
preserved properties across the Island.
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