On December 3rd, a group of Seabrook Island Natural History Group members toured the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. Tom Yawkey, long-time owner of the Boston Red Sox and avid conservationist, willed this magnificent South Island Plantation to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in what is considered one of the most outstanding gifts to conservation in North America. The property is located on three coastal islands at the mouth of Winyah Bay and consists of pristine marshes, wetlands, ocean beaches, long leaf pine and maritime forests. Over the years it has become a refuge for wildlife preservation, providing research, education, field study, and protection for endangered species.
Entrance to the refuge is difficult to come by and strictly limited to groups of 14. The group carpooled to the Georgetown area, boarded a pontoon boat for the ride to the island and then toured by van. The shore and wetland scenery was magnificent and the guide was outstanding.
—Submitted by Gary Fansler