Hilton Head Island Wildlife
Revisit nature at one of Hilton Head Island's nature preserves. Visit the Newhall Audubon Nature Preserve and view the natural flora and fauna of the Island. Find wildlife at Pinckney Island Nature Preserve, a former lookout used by early settlers. Walk the last remaining tract of undisturbed land on Hilton Head Island at Sea Pines Forest Preserves. Explore the 4,000 year-old Indian Shell Ring.
Or, visit one of many registered historic landmarks designated by the National Register of Historic Places.
Hilton Head Island natives also include deer, bobcats, otters, minks and even a few wild boar. Of all the Island creatures, the bobcat proves to be the most elusive, lurking in the forest preserves and in the undeveloped parts of the Island. With great foresight, plantation designers in the 1950’s set aside areas for an animal habitat, when the master plan for the Island was first conceived. This ingenuity and high regard for environmental preservation set the standard for resorts worldwide. These informative, award-winning nature-based tours are ideal for families and can be booked by through the concierge by calling 843-681-4000.
Wildlife Activities
Bottlenose Dolphins
The pristine beachfront of The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is one of many excellent places to see a bottle nose dolphin. In the summer, dolphins are prevalent along the shoreline, where they feed on small fish and sea creatures.
Marine life study and dolphin-watching excursion cruises are available through several of the Island’s public marinas and through Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island.
Endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtles
The loggerhead turtle, an endangered species, nests extensively along Hilton Head Island’s 12 miles of wide, sandy beaches. Few visitors ever meet these 200 pound giants, for the turtles choose the darkest hours of the summer night to crawl ashore and bury eggs in the soft sand. If a visitor happens to spot one of these wondrous creatures, they are advised not to interact with the turtle in any way. These rare animals, some almost a century old, must be allowed to lay their eggs to help ensure the survival of the species.
The Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island offers a late night Turtle Watch for visitors who are interested in observing the habits of the loggerhead turtle.
Bird Watching
Protected wetlands make Hilton Head the place to watch shorebirds and inland birds. See Egrets, Sandpipers and Wood Storks. Look above to catch Sea Gulls in flight alongside Pelicans and Osprey Eagles. Hilton Head Island is a bird watcher's haven.
According to the Audubon Society, nearly 200 species of birds flock to the lakes, marshes and shoreline of Hilton Head Island. However, more than 350 species of native American birds have been sighted on the Island over the past ten years. Among the most notable of species are the Snowy Egret, the Large Blue Heron and the Osprey, but bird watchers will also discover the White Ibis with its unique beak that curves downward. In addition, smaller Cattle Egrets that first arrived on Hilton Head Island in 1954 from their South American habitat may be observed following Island cows, horses and tractors.