Too Hot to Handle – My Review of Spicy Bird Seed
If you have bird feeders in your yard, you have probably waged war against squirrels. I know whenever I put up bird feeders in my backyard, the squirrels that frequented my yard certainly put on...
Category: Wildlife
Reducing Bird Strikes at Your Home
Introduction In 2016, 45 million birders in the United States spent $39 billion on travel and equipment to observe birds in the wild and their backyards. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of...
Management Practices for Reducing Deer Damage in South Carolina Agriculture
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus) are common throughout South Carolina. Deer numbers vary from county to county, and even vary within counties. Rural areas with abundant agriculture and...
Going Batty??…What to Do About Bats in Your Belfry
Have you encountered a stray bat flying around in your house? Bats that fly into human living quarters are usually lost youngsters whose primary goal is a safe escape. They often will leave on their...
Repurposing Christmas Trees To Benefit Wildlife
After the holiday season, many residents are left wondering what can be done with their discarded “live” Christmas tree. There are several options to repurpose the trees to benefit wildlife, a yard,...
Identifying Copperhead Snakes
There are 38 species of snakes found in South Carolina, but only six are venomous. The venomous snakes found in South Carolina are all pit vipers, except the coral snake. The pit vipers include...
Providing For Bluebirds: Guidance for Bluebird Nest Box Establishment in South Carolina
Why Bluebirds Bluebird populations in North America have been in decline due in part to the loss of habitat. Bluebirds are secondary cavity nesters. They do not drill their hole for a nest but use...
Birds in the Landscape
As a gardener, one of my main goals is to develop a landscape that provides a safe habitat for birds (and other wildlife). I have added plants to provide food and shelter and have been gratified by...
Deer Management for Home Gardeners Using a Two-Tiered Fence System
Deer damage is a problem each year for homeowners growing fruits and vegetables. Crops commonly targeted by deer can include but are not limited to: beans, peas, squash, greens, tomato, melons,...
Developing a Wildlife Management Plan
Who would consider building a house without a blueprint or taking a trip without a road map? Land managers and landowners who are successful at managing wildlife carefully plan and target management...
Backyard Wildlife Enhancement
The first step in enhancing a backyard habitat for wildlife is to assess the yard or outdoor areas as they are right now, identifying habitat elements that already exist for wildlife. Some plants...
Wildlife Control
All animals need food, water and shelter to survive and reproduce. If any of these are in short supply, animal numbers decline proportionately. On the other hand, when these requirements are met,...