8. Stay Safe and Aware

Sometimes uninformed people are tempted to feed, harass, or approach wild animals in this park. Feeding wildlife, like birds or alligators, causes them to lose their natural fear of people and makes them more likely to become nuisance animals that routinely approach visitors. If the animal is an alligator, it often must be killed to ensure the safety of people. If you see someone feeding any wild animal in the park, please report it to park staff as soon as you can. Let’s work together to keep children and families safe and to keep wildlife wild!

Another way to protect yourself and wildlife is to enjoy the park by staying on marked trails. Using park paths reduces your chances of getting lost or encountering plants or animals that could cause you discomfort. In addition to staying on marked trails, consider wearing long pants, a hat, proper footwear, sunscreen and bug spray to avoid sunburns or bug bites!

Lastly, be a nature detective – keep your eyes and ears wide open to signs of wildlife! Attend a county park nature program or visit the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website for wildlife facts to learn which plants and animals live in areas like this one. The more you learn, the more you can make a difference by successfully sharing parks with animals and plants who make homes here!