| Each time I walk on the
beach, folks ask me questions. Because people have been asking the same
questions for years, I have decided to begin responding online. For answers
to every question I could ever think of and far more, see Nature
Guide to the Carolina Coast by Peter Meyer. |
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Q
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Where are the goats? |
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A
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There
is an island beginning at the Sunset Beach bridge that extends directly
west. Goats live on the island. There is a fresh-water lake in the center
in a valley. The goats spent most of the day at the center of the island.
The goats emerge to graze on marsh grass along the bank when the temperature
is lower early in the day and in the evening, especially in the summer.
There are as many goats near the west end of Ocean Isle Beach on similar
dredge spoil islands not connected to Ocean Isle Beach. See: Goats. |
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Q
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Do the goats pollute waters such as
the Intracoastal Waterway? |
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A
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No one has documented
that fecal coliform from goats is polluting the Waterway. Coliform is feces
bacteria from sources such as dogs, raccoons, goats and humans. Goat feces
are firm, brown "berries." Because the goats residing on local
spoil islands spend at least 23 hours per day on the inner parts of their
islands, only a small percentage of their excrement would be dropped when
they emerge to graze near the waterway. Goats are herbivores; they eat mostly
plants. Their waste could be less harmful to the environment than human
waste. |
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Q
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Do the goats harm native habitat and
uncommon plants or birds of concern? |
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A
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Possibly. The only threatened plant
and birds of special concern with which I am familiar with locally need
beaches. Seabeach Amaranth, Amaranthus pumilus, grows on the beach at the
base of the dunes. Birds of concern such as plovers, and Black Skimmers
nest on the beach above the high tide line. I am unaware of any beaches
on the dredge spoil islands.
However, Willets, Gull-billed Terns,
American Oystercatchers, Painted Buntings, Seaside Sparrows, and other
landbirds use the marsh edges and scrub growth for nesting sites. Although
they are herbivores, if they find the nests, goats might destroy them
and eat the eggs and hatchlings.
Thanks to John Pagels, Ph.D., VCU,
and to Joy O'Keefe, Ph.D., Indiana State Univ., and Taylor Piephoff of the
Carolinas Bird Club for assistance. |
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Q
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What happened to the old pontoon bridge? |
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A
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The Old Bridge Preservation Society,
through the generosity of English Construction Company, arranged for a portion
of the roadway and the bridge motor house to be moved to land diagonally
across Hwy. 179B from the Sunset Beach Fire Department. |
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Q
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Why aren't there any fiddler or sand
fiddler crabs on the beach this year? |
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A
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There are thousands of them
but they are not at the edge of the ocean. If they "hung out"
there, we might walk on them. You will find them on the opposite side of
the island and anywhere else where there are mudflats, a moist mixture of
sand and mud, and marsh grass. They dig deep burrows into which they rush
when predators like us and shorebirds approach. |
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Q
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Are the stingrays in tide pools at
Sunset Beach dangerous? |
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A
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Although there could be stingrays
in tide pools, I have only seen Smooth Butterfly Rays in tide pools. They
are not stingrays and they themselves are in danger because they are stranded.
If several people walk behind one toward the edge of the tide pool, you
should be able to scoop it up in a wide bucket and return it to the ocean. |
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Q
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How should we treat jellyfish stings? |
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A
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Painful, welt-like lesions on the
skin are typical.
Inactivate the stinging cell (nematocyst) with vinegar.
Pick off the nematocyst with tweezers or fingers or shave the area. A
credit card can be used to scrape off the venom.
If needed, take Ibuprofen, Tylenol, or stronger pain medicine.
If discomfort continues, use vinegar soaks.
Call 911 or obtain medical care immediately
for severe pain, whole-body symptoms such as sweating, nausea/vomiting
and cramps, or when a large area of the body is involved and for allergic
shock (anaphylaxis) or a compromised airway from a sting inside the throat.
Exception: for sea nettle (Chesapeake
Bay) use baking soda slurry.
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Q
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How do Knobbed Whelks differ from
Channeled Whelks? |
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A
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A Knobbed Whelk, often referred to
by beachgoers as a "conch," has sharp points jutting out near
its apex. A Channeled Whelk has smooth circles curling around, like the
channel a small stream would make if it swirled around a rock. Here is
a link with many photos: Whelks.
Below are photos of the two species -- Knobbed Whelk, left, Channeled
Whelk, right.
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Q
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Where is Bird Island? How can we get
there? |
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A
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Bird Island is the last barrier island
in North Carolina. Since 1997 sand has filled the ocean end of Madd Inlet,
which formerly separated Bird Island from the next island, Sunset Beach.
To reach Bird Island, walk west on Sunset Beach toward Myrtle Beach. A sign
reading "Bird Island Coastal Reserve" indicates when you reach
Bird Island. The State of North Carolina purchased the island in 2002, protecting
nearly 1,300 acres of beach, marsh and wetlands. For further informations,
check these sites: Bird
Island and Bird
Island Coastal Reserve. |
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Q
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What are the best places to see birds? |
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A
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On the two islands and on the mainland.
Because birds forage for food in marshes, intertidal flats, and subtidal
area, you can find them on the back of both Sunset Beach and Bird Island.
Blane Creek is behind the west end of Sunset Beach and Jinks Creek is
behind the east end. Wilson's Plovers, American Oystercatchers and Least
Terns are among species that nest on the far east end of Sunset Beach.
Shorebirds dart left and right pecking for dinner where ocean waves wash
over the beach. Unique birds found on Bird Island are mentioned on this
webpage: Bird
Island.
The mainland area to inspect is fairly
compact. Along Hwy. 179 heading south toward Calabash, there is marsh
leading to the Intracoastal Waterway on the ocean side of the highway.
Wading birds forage there at low tide. On the mainland side of Hwy. 179
are two lakes, the East Twin Lake and the West Twin Lake. Both have numerous
species of herons, egrets, and ducks. Lakeshore Drive begins on the bridge
side of the east lake and circles around behind both lakes, ending at
the entrance to the Oyster Bay community. Birds are easily visible along
Lakeshore Drive, particularly at an empty lot. Scores of Wood Storks roost
there and forage at low tide. Noteworthy is the tree at the furthest west
end of the West Twin Lake. Wood Storks and occasionally a Roseate Spoonbill
roost there. Roosting occurs at mid-tide, high tide and sundown. Here
is a checklist of the 260 species of birds on the two islands: SB
and BI Birds.
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Q
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What kinds of jellyfish are at Sunset
Beach? |
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A
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In order of frequency, I have found
Cannonball Jellyfish, Comb Jellies (not true jellyfish), Stomolophus jellyfish,
Moon Jellyfish, Box Jellyfish and Portuguese Man-of-War (not true jellyfish).
I have only seen two of the latter on Sunset Beach. One was 16 inches wide,
alive and beached. I would have been stung badly if I had touched it. The
venom dripping from Box Jellyfish always stings. Check these webpages: Miscellaneous
Marine Life and SC
DNR Jellyfish. |
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Q
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What kinds of shells are at Sunset
Beach? |
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A
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Recently I found 198 species at the
eastern point. To learn the types of shells and how to find them, check
these webpages: The
Shells of Sunset Beach. I have more species to be identified.
There easily could be additional species on other portions of the 3-mile-long
island. |
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Q
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What are those heavy, rubbery globs? |
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A
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Colonial tunicates. More later. |
The following is a test unrelated to this FAQ.
