ISLAND WILDLIFE
You Can Help Save Kiawah’s Bobcats
Kiawah has long been a home for many of the
Lowcountry’s wild creatures that have seen declines
as the area’s population has increased, including
the elusive bobcat. In fact, Kiawah is home to the
longest, continuous GPS bobcat study in the world.
In a blow to the island’s many bobcat lovers, as
well as its ecosystem, biologists now estimate that
fewer than ten bobcats remain on Kiawah, down
from a historic population of 30-35. In late July, a
toxicology report confirmed the cause of death for
an adult male (Bobcat 550) that died in May was
rodenticide poisoning. This means at least seven
of Kiawah’s bobcats died in the last year as a result
of rodenticide poisoning, and the town’s initial
presumption that second-generation anticoagulant
(SGA) rodenticides were having an impact on the
bobcat population has proven true.
Initially, town council planned to ban the use of
these harmful chemicals on the island. However,
the State of South Carolina prohibits the local
regulation of pesticides. Since local regulations are
not an option, we’re asking for your help to solve
this problem. While island entities are working on
a multi-faceted strategy to address this issue, here is
how you can help immediately:
ELIMINATE THE TOXIC FOURSOME
Tell your pest control provider not to use secondgeneration
anticoagulant rodenticides (SGAs) on
your property. These include:
A bobcat fitted with a tracking collar walks
by the deck at The Sandcastle in 2017. Since
then, the bobcat population has decreased
significantly on the island.
BE INFORMED
Pest control companies are required to disclose the
active ingredient in all pesticides they are using.
Ask your pest control provider to provide in writing
what they are using on your property.
BECOME A BOBCAT GUARDIAN
The Bobcat Guardian pledge is a voluntary
commitment from residents, businesses and
pest management providers to eliminate SGAs
rodenticides on Kiawah.
• Brodifacoum
• Bromadiolone
• Difenacoum
• Difethialone
If you do your own pest control, check the active
ingredient on the label to make sure you are not
using any of the active ingredients above.
The town is inviting residents to pledge to never use
SGAs on their property, either by informing their
pest control provider to cease use or by not applying
SGAs themselves.
Pledge participants will be listed on www.
savekiawahbobcats.com alongside business
partners and pest management providers who
have committed to eliminating the use of SGAs on
Kiawah.
2 | KIAWAH ISLAND DIGEST