Kiawah’s historically healthy and stable bobcat population is declining, due in part to a recent rise in mortality rates. Four of the six bobcats fitted with GPS collars this past winter, as part of the
Town’s Bobcat GPS Study, have died and Town Biologists have been trying to figure out why. The latest incident occurred on August 1, when Bobcat 300, an adult female, was found dead near Seascape Villas. Biologists sent the bobcat to the University of Georgia’s Wildlife Disease Laboratory for analysis. Laboratory tests revealed that the bobcat died from consuming toxic levels of four different anticoagulant rat poisons.
The four poisons identified in Bobcat 300 at high levels were Bromadiolone, Brodifacoum, Diphacinone, and Difethiolone. A fifth poison, Difenacoum, was found at low levels. All of these poisons work by inhibiting the body’s recycling of Vitamin K, which is vital to the blood clotting process. Infected rodents ultimately bleed to death 3-7 days after consuming the poison.
Bobcats pick up these poisons secondarily by eating infected rodents, not by consuming the actual poison itself.
Secondary poisoning of wildlife from anticoagulant rodenticides is well-documented in places like California’s Santa Monica Mountains, where a recent study found that 92% of bobcats and 94% of mountain lions had been exposed to rat poison. Other studies have shown high levels of rat poison in many different species of raptors (hawks, owls, eagles). The extent of the problem on Kiawah is currently unknown, and while future studies may provide additional details, taking action now to curb the use of these toxic chemicals is critical.
Rodenticides, especially the more toxic second-generation anticoagulants, are heavily regulated and can only be used by licensed, commercial pest control agents. Due to their high toxicity to people and pets, baits containing these rodenticides are placed within black plastic bait stations to prevent access. Bait stations are placed around homes and other structures where rodents enter the box, eat the poisoned bait, and ultimately die somewhere nearby.
Predators, including bobcats, hawks, owls, and snakes that provide natural control of Kiawah’s rodent populations, eat the poisoned rodents and over time, accumulate a toxic amount of these rodenticides.
How can you help?
Talk to your pest control provider and tell them to:
1- Stop using all second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. These include: Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Difenacoum, and Difethialone.
2- Follow an integrated pest management strategy.
- Identify specific rodent problems and locations by doing a thorough survey of the property. Only take action if a problem exists.
- Use non-chemical methods of rodent control (eliminate food/water sources, exclude rodents from structures by sealing exterior holes and cracks, use traps).
- Pesticides should only be used as a last resort for large infestations. In these cases, use first-generation anticoagulants or non-anticoagulant rodenticides only. The pesticide should only be applied for a short time (typically 10 days) and then stopped once the problem is resolved.
Town Biologists will continue to research this emerging issue. If you have questions, please contact Biologist Jim Jordan at 843-768-5106 or at
jjordan@kiawahisland.org.
|
|
Participate in Our Deer Survey
Town Biologists are asking the public to
participate in a short survey regarding the island's deer population. The survey will close on October 31.
|
|
Revised Short Term Rental Ordinance Update
At the October 1 meeting, Town Council approved the first reading to the revised ordinance that regulates the operation of short term rentals. Council directed staff to review options for the proposed application fees and the definition of destination clubs for their consideration prior to the second reading at the November Town Council meeting. The entire video of the October Town Council meeting is
available here.
To skip to the
portion of the meeting where Town staff and Council speak to the background and basis for the revisions to the existing ordinance,
click here. The presentation shown in the meeting is available
here.
|
|
Maybank Highway and Main Road Zoning Project
Charleston County and City of Charleston Planning Departments will host a Johns Island public workshop on the proposed Maybank Highway and Main Road Overlay Zoning Districts. This is the fourth and final round of public workshops to finalize the draft overlay zoning districts. The sessions provide an opportunity for County and City Planning staff to present specific draft overlay information and maps for public review and comment.
The October 24 workshop will focus on the Johns Island portion of Maybank Highway and will include Main Road. The workshop will take place Thursday, October 24, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s High School (1518 Main Road, Johns Island, SC 29455).
Read more
|
|
This week is Kiawah Native Plant Week (October 12-19), which coincides with South Carolina Native Plant Week! We are highlighting native plants each day this week on our social media accounts. Follow us to learn more (
facebook |
instagram |
twitter )
In 2018, the Town launched the
Grow Native initiative as a community-wide effort to increase the use of native plants in landscaping projects across the island to improve the island's ecosystem and wildlife habitat.
|
|
Why?
Native plants have a direct impact on the ecosystem and are a vital part of a region's ability to adapt to natural events. When natural protection mechanisms like native plants decline, the environment's ability to sustain regular ecological changes is reduced and negatively impacted. Specifically, natives provide watershed protection by filtering water naturally flowing into rivers and estuaries, protect marsh and pond borders, lessen erosion, and improve resistance to flooding, while at the same time providing critical habitat for our local wildlife. Restoring native plant habitat is also a recommendation from the Town’s
Flood Mitigation and Sea Level Rise report.
|
|
How?
Resident involvement is needed to increase the use of native plants in landscaping projects on the island. Residents can help by encouraging their landscapers to plant natives in their yards, directing their landscape architects to use natives in future projects, or renovating existing landscapes to include native plants.
|
|
|
Please be aware that the next King Tide that could affect the island will occur October 26-31. King Tides are the highest seasonal tides that naturally occur each year. In some cases, they may barely even be noticed. In other cases, a King Tide may cause flooding of low-lying areas and disruption to normal daily routines. This is particularly true when a King Tide event coincides with significant precipitation.
|
|
Nesting/Hatching Reminders
- Turtle Patrol loves to share the sea turtle experience with guests and residents. Check out all the pictures from this season on Facebook and Instagram.
- Keep artificial lights off the beach at night during nesting season – this includes beachfront property lights, flashlights and flash photography, which can disorient nesting mothers and hatchlings. May through October all outdoor lighting facing the beachfront should be turned off from 9:00 p.m. to dawn. Free red flashlight filters are available at the Municipal Center and the Nature Center.
- Always observe from a distance. Harming or interfering with sea turtles or their nests is against the law.
- Keep our beaches and ocean clean by avoiding single-use plastics. Plastic bags and balloons are among the most common trash items found on South Carolina beaches and can cause injury or death when marine life mistake them for food (SCDNR).
|
|
In Case You Missed It | Previously Mentioned
|
|
|
|
Next Event
Carles and Sofia Piano Duo
Sunday, October 20 at 4:00 p.m.
Church of Our Saviour
Fee: No Charge
|
|
Ways and Means Committee
– October 22 | 2:00 p.m.
Town Council Meeting – November 5 | 2:00 p.m.
Planning Commission – November 6 | 3:00 p.m.
Arts & Cultural Events Council – November 7 | 2:00 p.m.
Environmental Committee – November 12 | 2:00 p.m.
Public Safety Committee – November 13 | 2:00 p.m.
Public Works Committee – November 18 | 10:00 a.m.
Board of Zoning Appeals – November 18 | 3:00 p.m.
Ways and Means Committee – November 26 | 2:00 p.m.
(subject to change)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
