The Various Predators of the South Carolina Lowcountry

I went back to visit the family in Charleston, SC over July 4th. It was hot, but we had a good time, and visited a couple of very cool places in lovely Moncks Corner - Mepkin Abbey (a working monastery) and Santee Canal Park, the site of the first canal in the US.

Here's some pictures we took of the various predators we encountered.

A turtle at Santee Canal Park. Just waiting to snap your finger off. Don't get too close, I'm being serious. Now, see what happened? That's why you listen to your elders. We'll bring you to the emergency room later, they should be able to sew it back on.


Here's an Osprey from Santee Canal Park. A very regal looking bird of prey. Now, don't tease it, it'll swoop down and peck your eye out. Yes, it will - stop it. See there? That's what you get. You're new nickname is ole' one-eye.


A gator at Santee Canal Park. Yes, it's real, why would they put a fake alligator in the swamp? No, it doesn't look like a log. No, you can't go pet it. Hey, listen to me - oh great. Well, they've made amazing advances in prosthetics. Your nickname can be ole' peggy.


A snake, not sure what kind. No, I don't think it's poisonous, I don't think there are a lot of poisonous snakes in South Carolina. No, you shouldn't check to see. Great, look what you've done now. What, your vision's getting hazy? It's ok, we'll get you some vitamin water back at the gift shop.


And finally, tha' Pepsta'. A very sweet cat, she likes me. She only scratches and bites people she likes. I wish she wouldn't do it so hard though, I seem to be losing a bit of blood. Transfusions are fairly cheap.