Savannah Valley District

Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent – Clemson University Wildlife viewing is becoming a very popular activity among homeowners and wildlife enthusiasts. According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife-Associated Recreation more than 148 million U.S. residents, 57%  of the U.S. population 16 years old and older […]

Preparing for the Arrival of Purple Martins

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent – Clemson University The Purple Martin may be America’s most wanted bird; homeowners and birding enthusiasts spend a lot of time and resources to attract this beautiful songbird, which is also the largest member of the swallow family. Purple martins have been under human management longer than any other […]

Canada Goose Impacts on Pond Ecosystems and Management Strategies 

Mike Windhorn, Regional Forestry and Natural Resources Agent & Molly Jones, Regional Water Resources Agent    Canada Geese are grazers that prefer well-maintained lawns next to a body of water. They are very wary of predators, so they prefer large open areas where they can easily see an approaching predator. They also use ponds for rest […]

Prescribed Fire as a Management Tool

Janet Steele, Forestry & Natural Resources Agent The southeast United States’ landscape has been shaped by fire since the pre-Paleoindian period. Prior to man living on the land, fire was started naturally by lightning strikes. Since thunderstorms primarily occur during summer, these wildfires favored species that could tolerate hot, fast-moving flames. Human settlement in the […]

Legumes, Inoculation and Nitrogen Fixation: Frequently Asked Questions

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent, Distinguished Q. What are the benefits of planting legumes in wildlife food plots? If you want to improve the quality of your wildlife food plots, add some legumes. Legumes, which belong to a family of plants, with the assistance of Rhizobium bacteria, can remove nitrogen gas from the atmosphere […]

Around the Countryside Red Bugs: The Itching Begins

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent, Clemson University It’s official: summer has arrived with the heat, humidity, and red bugs. Many Lowcountry residents are just “itching” for some relief from these pests so common to our area of the state. Red bugs, also called chiggers, among other names that may not be appropriate to repeat, […]

Welcome, Mike Windhorn

Area Forest and Natural Resources Agent Mr. Windhorn comes to us with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management from Clemson University.  Originally from Blythewood, SC, he has many years of experience in land management, wood procurement, forest certification, forest product sales, and environmental education. Mike is excited to join the Clemson Extension team and is […]

Are You Ready for Summer?

Janet Steele, Area Forestry & Natural Resources Agent The extra daylight hours during the summer are great for doing yard projects, such as mowing the grass and working in the garden. One landscape component that is often not considered until there is a problem is our yard trees. Trees can provide multiple benefits around our […]

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent Clemson University May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, a time to educate people about skin cancer, share the facts and save lives. The month of May is devoted to shining the spotlight in skin cancer and ways to prevent this disease. Currently, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer […]