Discover our amazing diversity of species.

Study & Research

At Southern 8ths we have undertaken a series of in-depth studies of both the geographic and hydrological features and are attempting to record the myriad forms of life that can be found in our unique area.

Additionally, Southern 8ths has become a Biological Field Station for the Carolina Wildlands Foundation (CWF) whose mission is to provide educational pathways for the students of our regional colleges and universities interested in pursuing a career in community ecology and organismal biology by offering fellowship grants and internships in field work.

With research and higher education involvement, CWF hopes to raise the awareness of landowners and agricultural operators to the benefits of natural land restoration, for themselves, their communities, and the public welfare.

Bird Species Observed

Over 125 species of birds have been observed at Southern 8ths Farm.

Of those, twelve are on the State of South Carolina’s highest level of threat list:

American Bittern American Kestrel
Black-crowned-Night Heron Black-throated Green Warbler
Grasshopper Sparrow Green Heron
Henslow’s Sparrow Loggerhead Shrike
Northern Bobwhite Pied-billed Grebe
Rusty Blackbird Swainson’s Warbler

Click for full list.

Green Heron

Trees

Being on the very edge of the sand hills of The Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Piedmont range of the Appalachian Plateau, the Farm has much wider range of tree species often found in areas of South Carolina. Over 45 species have been documented here.

To help visitors identify some of the trees found on the property we have created a field guide which you can view or download here.

Trees on the property.

Moths

We seldom experience the unexpected beauty of moths as they are mostly active at night. In our research of nocturnal insects, over 500 species of moths have been recorded at Southern 8ths. Some are rare for this region. Moths and their caterpillars are an integral part of the life cycle of our wild lands.

Check out our gallery of moths and you will learn appreciate them as much as we have.

Moths of South Carolina from Carolina Wildlands Foundation on Vimeo.

Review our research sources.

Butterflies

Butterflies, the public fan favorite of the insect world, are frequent flyers at the Farm. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, or Papilio glaucus, the state butterfly of South Carolina, is often seen fluttering over the fields.

Have a look at our butterfly gallery!

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

As well as being beautiful to watch butterflies are important pollinators. We are currently working to restore our fields for native insects by planting native grasses and plants.

Butterflies

Reptiles & Amphibians

Carolina Wildlands Foundation is funding Eastern Box Turtle research by Winthrop University graduate student Sydney Grant, and faculty advisor, Kiyoshi Sasaki, assistant professor of biology at Southern 8ths began in 2022. The species was once common throughout the eastern United States but now has undergone declines, even in protected habitats.

A survey in 2018 found evidence of the following species on the property.

Reptiles
Brown Snake
Copperhead
Canebrake Rattlesnake
Red-bellied Watersnake
Ringneck Snake
Rough Green SnakeCommon Snapping Turtle
Eastern Box Turtle
Yellow-bellied Slider
Green Anole
Carolina Anole
Black Rat Snake
Five-lined Skink
Amphibians
Bullfrog
Carpenter Frog
Cope’s Gray Treefrog
Green Frog
Northern Cricket Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Spring Peeper
Upland Chorus Frog
Barking Tree Frog
American Toad
Eastern Narrowmouth Toad
Eastern Spadefoot Toad
Fowler’s Toad
Northern Dusky Salamander
Spotted Salamander
Southern Toad

Mammals

We are beginning to study mammals that make their homes on the property. We have wildlife cameras set up across the property and have recorded some of our neighbors. We are hoping to find as many species as are generally accepted to be found in South Carolina: oppossum; southeastern, short-tailed, and least shrews; eastern and star-nosed moles; eastern pipistrelle; big brown, silver-haired, red, Seminole, hoary, evening, and big-eared bats; eastern cottontail; gray, flying, and fox squirrels; rice rat; eastern harvest mouse; golden mouse; cotton rat; pine vole; gray fox; raccoon; long-tailed weasel; mink; striped skunk; river otter; bobcat; and white-tailed deer.

To learn more about our local animals view or download the Clemson PDF on Fur Bearers of South Carolina.

Mammals