Keep South Carolina Wild

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Executive Director Ben Gregg to Retire after 12 years with SCWF

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SCWF Executive Director, Ben Gregg, has announced his retirement from the SC Wildlife Federation effective February 1st. See below for official announcement directly from Ben.

Ben has dedicated his life to conservation and advocacy for the great outdoors. Thank you, Ben, for everything you’ve done for South Carolina in the 12 years that you have served as our Executive Director. We will miss you!

Letter from SCWF Executive Director Ben Gregg:

Dear SCWF Members, Supporters, Conservation Partners and Friends: 


My twelve years at the helm of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation have been extremely rewarding thanks to our dedicated board, committed staff, generous members and amazing conservation partners.  Last spring I shared with the Board’s executive committee that I wanted to plan for my retirement, and we have agreed on February 1 as my last day.  

As it has been since our founding in 1931, the challenges for wildlife have continued to escalate, but I am confident that the organization is well-prepared for new leadership.

At SCWF, we are and will continue to be about three things:

There is outdoor education – for all ages!  Citizen Science is now at the forefront of all our education endeavors as we build an army of trained volunteers in every county.  Our Palmetto Pro Birder, Midlands Master Naturalist and Women’s Outdoor Retreat programs include quality training while also providing opportunities for fun and fellowship.  We have around 500 enthusiasts involved annually, and most stay involved by returning for outings and participating in a range of citizen science and service projects.

Second but no less important is habitat protection and enhancement from backyards to major corporate land holdings.  This task becomes more important every day as our farmlands, forests and open space are being bulldozed at a blistering pace. We also give recognition to neighborhoods and schools that are doing their vital part in protecting native habitat for wildlife.

And third is advocacy.

SCWF along with our conservation advocates have been victorious on a number of fronts over the past decade. With our partners, we have stopped the last proposed SC coal-powered plant from being built; forged an unprecedented coalition to keep oil and gas development from ruining our coastal beaches and salt marshes; passed legislation that authorizes the Conservation Bank as a permanent state agency and increased the footprint of healthy long leaf pine forests so critical for wildlife.

These are just some of the highlights, but as the saying goes, no conservation victory is forever.

The challenges ahead are immense. To list just a few:

  • Largest population increases in state history
  • Rapid commercial and residential pave-overs
  • Heavier flooding and more periods of drought 
  • Rising seas
  • Loss of pollinators, the building blocks for healthy wildlife
  • More severe and long-lasting pollution threats like mercury and plastics
  • Vast reductions of wildlife numbers and increasing extinctions

Sadly, many elected officials in South Carolina continue to ignore a complex of conservation challenges that need immediate action.

On the other hand, time after time a majority of South Carolinians from every walk of life are behind us, and in a democracy, that is crucial.

I’m looking forward to staying in touch. You will never know what an honor it is to be part of such a thriving and absolutely critical effort. We do not prevail every time but almost without exception, our positions are proven right in the long run.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to join a distinguished group of leaders who have served as advocates for wildlife over the Federation’s 88 year history. And I look forward to seeing you as we continue to advance the cause for our cherished wildlife in the coming years.

Our board also wanted me to let you know that Sara Green, Education Director will become interim director while an in-depth search for a new director follows.

Thanks so much,
Ben Gregg
Executive Director

Arbor Day School Field Trip

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On SC Arbor Day, December 7th, SCWF Habitat Education Manager, Jay Keck, took a couple classes from Richland School District One’s Heyward Technology Center to Harbison State Forest to talk birds and snakes, plant native perennials and trees, and to take a nature walk. SCWF has been partnering with the SC Forestry Commission to take these classes on a field trip each semester for several years. Thanks to Matt Schnabel and Beth Foley of the SC Forestry Commission for hosting!

A note from Jay about the day: “Unfortunately a lot of these children don’t have the opportunity to explore the outdoors. It was amazing to hear and see their reactions to a new world. If you want to experience this reaction, take a child outdoors!!! You’ll love it! I look forward to many future events like this.”




SCWF Highlighted in NWF Magazine

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National Wildlife Magazine – Working for Wildlife

December 2018-January 2019

by Mark Wexler

AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE FEDERATION

Sport and nature advocates

From hunters and anglers to birders and gardeners, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) has represented generations of outdoor enthusiasts on conservation issues since its start 87 years ago. “We are continuing our legacy of insisting that science, not politics, remains at the forefront in decisions affecting our wildlife,” says SCWF Executive Director Ben Gregg.

This NWF affiliate works with organizations fighting against proposed energy exploration along the state’s fragile coast. In central South Carolina, with support from partners, SCWF is putting up dozens of nest boxes to help restore the region’s wood duck population. It is also working with 30 of the state’s largest industries to convert their lands to sustainable habitats.

Committed to education, SCWF trains volunteers for citizen-science projects, provides courses in fishing and other outdoor skills for women, encourages homeowners to grow native plants to help wildlife, and helps schools create wildlife habitats where students can study nature. “We’re especially focusing on teaching kids about the roles pollinators play in our lives,” says SCWF Director of Education Sara Green. “What youngsters learn today will help build the next generation of South Carolina conservationists.”

https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2019/Dec-Jan/Conservation/Working-For-Wildlife

Create wildlife habitat at home

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Disappearing habitat is a problem worldwide. Most endangered species have that status because of habitat loss. Two thirds of the world’s forests are already gone.

Most people feel helpless when it comes to saving the forests around the world, but there are so many things you can do right in your own backyard and community to create wildlife habitat and make a big difference. The S.C. Wildlife Federation (SCWF) partners with the National Wildlife Federation to provide recommendations for creating and enhancing wildlife habitat in backyards as well as at schools, businesses, parks and throughout entire communities.

There are some small changes a homeowner can make that will make a big difference for wildlife. One of the best things you can do is plant native plants and trees — this re-establishes the local ecosystem. Native plants have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife over thousands of years and therefore offer the most sustainable habitat.

A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem or habitat without human introduction. Exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world, or were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t exist in nature, do not support wildlife as well as native plants. Occasionally, they can even escape into the wild and become invasive exotics that destroy natural habitat.

Native plants help the environment the most when planted in places that match their growing requirements. They will thrive in the soils, moisture and weather of your region, which means less supplemental watering and chemicals are needed. Native plants also assist in managing rainwater runoff and maintaining healthy soil as their root systems are deep and keep soil from being compacted.

Discovering the native plants where you live can also define a unique sense of place and heritage for your garden habitat while preserving the natural history of the flora and fauna of your region.

In designing your habitat garden and choosing plants, strive for an “edge habitat,” which is a smooth transition area between two adjacent habitats. For example, smaller trees and shrubs create an edge between a mature forest and a meadow. You will have a higher number and diversity of wildlife in this transition zone because species from each of the different habitats overlap in the “edge.”

The SCWF has a list of native plants with a high wildlife value on its website at www.scwf.org. These plants either provide berries, seeds, nuts or nectar for birds, insects and other backyard wildlife, or they provide evergreen cover and nesting sites.

You can add supplemental cover by leaving hollow trees standing, or with the addition of a brush pile. Nesting sites can be added with a variety of styles of bird boxes available from the SCWF or from your local garden center.

In addition to planting a variety of native plants, it is essential to provide a source of fresh water year-round for wildlife. You can provide this habitat component in a variety of ways, from a simple birdbath or shallow dish of water to a water garden or pond. The sound of running or dripping water will attract a great diversity of wildlife to your yard.

By providing food, water, cover and places to raise young, your yard can become certified as an official wildlife habitat. You can also go beyond your backyard and create wildlife habitat at your local park, library, church, school or business. The SCWF also certifies industry sites, and you can even have your whole community certified by the National Wildlife Federation.

South Carolina currently leads the nation in the number of certified wildlife habitats per capita! You can help us maintain our lead by enhancing wildlife habitat in your own yard, having it certified, and then sharing this information with others in your community and encouraging them to also make a positive impact for wildlife in their own yard.

The mission of the S.C. Wildlife Federation is to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy. For more information, please visit our website at www.scwf.org.

Sara K. Green is director of education with the S.C. Wildlife Federation.

Article published 11/25/18 in Spartanburg Herald-Journal.

SCWF To Partner With Recreational Anglers to Reduce Fish Mortality.

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South Carolina Wildlife Federation was recently awarded a federal grant to work with recreational anglers in four states. We will be partnering closely with the South Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council in its efforts to decrease mortality of snapper and grouper. This project is particularly important for the health of red snapper as regulators are in the early stages of re-opening the red snapper fishery for recreationists.


Mortality is due largely to a condition known as barotrauma (swim bladder expansion with pressure change) that affects hooked deep-water fish as they are reeled in to the surface. Fish released in this condition have a very poor chance or survival. Best practices to reduce such mortality include use of a descending device that allows a controlled return to the bottom and release once the fish equalizes to bottom pressure.

SCWF will focus on education and outreach for recreational anglers through developing and posting an online tutorial; making presentations to anglers and distributing 500 SeaQualizer devices. Our marine biologist, Steve Gilbert, will be coordinating these important efforts.

Click here to access the tutorial now!

Keowee Key Certified as Community Wildlife Habitat

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Keowee Key Becomes the 112th Certified Community Wildlife Habitat in the Nation

Leading a nationwide trend in community concern for habitat loss, Keowee Key has been officially designated an NWF Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). A Community Wildlife Habitat project creates multiple habitat areas in backyards, schoolyards, corporate properties, community gardens, parkland and other spaces. Keowee Key is the 112th community in the country and the 5th community in South Carolina to receive this honor.  The other certified communities in SC are: Callawassie Island & Fripp Island in Beaufort County, Kiawah Island in Charleston County, and Briarcliffe Acres in Myrtle Beach.

NWF commends the dedicated residents of Keowee Key and the Lake and Hills Garden Club team for their wildlife conservation efforts and for coming together for a common purpose – to create a community where people and wildlife can flourish.  At a time when communities are faced with the problems of losing habitat to development, Keowee Key stands out as a model for other communities to emulate.

Keowee Key certified 88 individual – owned properties and 4 common areas to complete the required points for certification.

“We are so proud to be the only certified community in the Upstate of South Carolina!  This award shows the dedication of individuals in our community to conservation and preservation of their natural surroundings,” said Alice Guzick, Keowee Key Garden Club member and community property owner.

A Community Wildlife Habitat benefits the entire community of plants, wildlife, and people through the creation of sustainable landscapes that require little or no pesticides, fertilizers, and excess watering. These landscapes help keep water and air resources clean. They are healthier for people and the environment, and they are less resource-dependent than conventional landscapes. Habitat landscapes can serve to beautify our urban areas and give residents pride in their neighborhoods.

Sara Green, SCWF Director of Education, presents the certificate to Alice Guzick who spearheaded the application for the community.

Keowee Key held a Certification Celebration on October 3, 2018, when Sara Green, Director of Education of the SC Wildlife Federation, presented the certificate to Alice and the Habitat Team. “The team at Keowee Key has sparked great momentum in creating Certified Wildlife Habitats, with more than 45 individual habitats certified since starting the program,” said Green during the celebration. “But one of the most impressive things about this community is the longevity of certified habitats – more than 20 residents had created Certified Wildlife Habitats over 15 years ago, and still maintain them! This longstanding love of wildlife throughout the community has helped Keowee Key certify much more quickly than other communities, in only 8 months!”

Click here for more information on Gardening for Wildlife and Certified Wildlife Habitats.





Alice Guzick with members of the Garden Club.







The National Wildlife Federation sent NWF Field Guide books for each member of the project’s Habitat Team.

Increasing Focus on Wildlife Habitats

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The South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) has named Jay Keck as their new Habitat Education Manager. In this role, he will plan, coordinate, implement and oversee education programs designed to encourage the creation or enhancement of wildlife habitat in backyards, parks, schoolyards, and business property.


Growing up on Lake Murray, Jay has always enjoyed wildlife and the outdoors. After graduating from the College of Charleston in 2000, he worked in the private sector but always maintained a connection to the outdoors. His life took an unexpected turn in the summer of 2012 when he saw a Baltimore oriole for the first time. Since then, he spends most of his free time birding, learning about birds, and studying their various habitat needs. During the spring of 2014, he attended his first SCWF event. Being inspired by SCWF’s mission, he earned his Palmetto Pro Birder certification, and has led bird walks for SCWF as well as Saluda Shoals Park, Columbia Audubon, and private organizations. He has a passion and love for wildlife and hopes to inspire others to take a look at the life within our amazing planet.

Jay will be working with homeowners to enhance wildlife habitat, as well as partners at other places throughout SC communities including schools, churches, libraries, parks and businesses. There are four basic ingredients to turn any landscape into a productive wildlife habitat: year-round food source; water, especially during periods of droughts and hard freezes; cover where animals can hide from weather and predators; and safe places to raise young. The SCWF has certified more than 8,500 Certified Wildlife Habitats in South Carolina making it one of the top states in the nation in the number of certified sites per capita.

Jay has a special interest in expanding the SCWF’s Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) program. WAIT is designed to encourage corporate landowners to integrate wildlife habitat needs into corporate land management decisions. As South Carolina becomes increasingly developed, there is less land available for wildlife. Corporate landowners can offset habitat loss by devoting their under-utilized lands to wildlife. Lonza-Capsugel in Greenwood recently joined the SCWF’s list of WAIT partners, which also includes industries such as BMW Manufacturing, Michelin, Honda South Carolina, 3M, and many others. In total, there are 30 WAIT certified properties across the state that are benefiting wildlife in SC – that’s 30 sites providing a habitat for birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, while at the same time producing oxygen and stabilizing the soil! Our focus on promoting the use of native plants on these properties will help create a network of areas that can be used by pollinators, including butterflies, and many other insects that support the ecosystem and biodiversity of the property.

“Jay’s experience and passion will be a great asset to our team,” said Sara Green, SCWF Director of Education. “He looks forward to connecting people of all ages with SC’s wildlife and finding ways we can all work together for wildlife conservation.”

You can contact Jay to find out more about how you can attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife to your yard and your community, at: mail@scwf.org or (803) 256-0670.

16th Annual Photo Contest Open

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COLUMBIA – Calling all amateur photographers! The SCWF is holding their 16th Annual Wildlife Photography Contest. Send us your best pictures capturing the beauty of South Carolina’s nature – in your own backyard or our backyard – that being South Carolina’s natural landscapes and creatures.

You may submit entries in three categories:

Carolina Critters:

Did you catch that bird sifting through the upstate snow to find its meal on film? How about the shy deer venturing out in the Pee Dee field to graze? A turkey? Or that Great Blue Heron wading through the swamps of the Lowcountry? Enter any of these pictures (or something of the sort) in the Carolina Critters category.

Scenes of South Carolina:

Maybe you’re more into capturing those gorgeous SC sunrises on the ocean or sunsets in the mountains? Or perhaps you find the early morning dew on an open field worth photographing. You might find the placement of rocks in one of SC’s many rivers to be the best photographic moment you’ve ever seen. These scenes (and many others) found in the beauty of SC’s landscapes can be entered in the Scenes of South Carolina category.

Backyard Habitat:

Some of the most beautiful and unique wildlife in South Carolina can be found in your own backyard. Now’s your chance to show off the hard work you’ve put into turning your backyard into a haven for wildlife. No two habitats are created equally, and we want to see photos of the various habitats, native plants, and wildlife that enjoy all the fruits of your labor. You put in the work to provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise young in your own backyard, and we want to see your creations.

Entry fee is $15, and the deadline for entries is October 31st. Click here for more information, contest rules and to submit your photos.

Help Support Shorebird Nesting

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SCWF is one of many organizations supporting a new SCDNR S.C. Coastal Bird Conservation Program to protect and restore rapidly disappearing coastal bird habitat.  The pilot project is to raise approximately $2 million for the cost share needed for the restoration of Crab Bank with dredged material from the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. Crab Bank, an island created in Charleston Harbor with dredged material and former home to thousands of nesting coastal birds, has eroded to the point that it is unsuitable for bird use.  For more information on this effort and/or to make a donation for coastal bird habitat please go to this site: https://www.sccoastalbirds.org/crab-bank-project

A short explanatory video on Crab Bank is available at:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4kW55CfRQEk

SCWF Wood Duck Box Program

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Once threatened with near extinction from habitat destruction and overharvesting, wood duck populations are now steady or increasing. The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is partnering with Duke Energy, SCDNR and the Lake Wateree Association to increase wood duck populations by constructing and erecting 80 wood duck nesting boxes in the on the shorelines of Lake Wateree, Fishing Creek Reservoir, Rocky Creek, Cedar Creek Reservoirs, the Wateree River, and smaller ponds in between.

SCWF will coordinate with property owners, volunteers, biologists, and rangers to determine suitable sites for wood ducks. The goal is to install boxes prior to the start of the 2019 nesting season. Wood ducks begin to pair with each other starting mid-October. Once a nest box is used, it will likely help raise many broods over the years to come. Boxes will be placed in locations that are convenient for monitoring and maintenance.

Volunteer involvement is integral in helping to foster community-wide awareness and appreciation for the project. The wood duck project aims to engage the community in long-term and sustained conservation actions. This project is great for people of all ages. SCWF is actively searching to recruit volunteers to assist in all facets of the project, including nest monitoring, data recording, and witnessing first hand the life cycle of the wood duck.

Photo by Richard Sasnett