Serving South Carolina by conserving our most imperiled species and working with federal agencies to conserve plants, fish, and wildlife.

Latest News

green plant with purple blossoms
Endangered Species Act
Ocmulgee Skullcap Federally Protected
After reviewing public comments concerning the proposed threatened status of the Ocmulgee skullcap, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined the plant needs more protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and meets the criteria of an endangered species. Learn more about what this...
A woodpecker perched on a tree with a bug in its mouth.
Endangered Species Act
Downlisting of Red-cockaded Woodpecker from Endangered to Threatened
The Department of the Interior today announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is downlisting the red-cockaded woodpecker from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. This milestone is the result of five decades of collaborative conservation efforts between the...
Group of manatees resting in the warm, clear, blue water of Three Sisters Springs
Endangered Species Act
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Findings on Two West Indian Manatee Petitions
ATLANTA, Ga. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed two 90-day findings on Endangered Species Act petitions to uplist the West Indian manatee and the Puerto Rican population of the Antillean manatee. Based on the Service’s review, both petitions present substantial scientific or...
Cluster of about seen small white flowers radiating from a green stalk.
Endangered Species Act
Successful Protection and Management Efforts Keep Venus Flytrap off the Endangered Species List
Based on a review of the best available science, the Service has determined that the carnivorous plant, Venus flytrap, is not in need of listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Rufa red knot feeding along with other shorebirds
Endangered Species Act
Service finalizes recovery plan for threatened rufa red knot
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a recovery plan for the rufa red knot, a subspecies listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
a portrait of a hanging bat with large ears, folded arms, and a fuzzy brown body
State of the Bats
The 2023 State of the Bats report described the current conservation status and top threats facing North American bats.
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About Us

Eastern black rail walks on decaying and live grasses in a marsh area.
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Established in 1973 the South Carolina Ecological Services Field Office (SCESFO) covers 46 counties, 31,000 square miles, and 187 miles of general coast line. It works with 13 threatened or endangered animal species, 19 threatened or endangered plant species, and approximately 70 other plant/animal species deemed to be at-risk.

What We Do

Sea turtle eggs held in a hand by someone kneeling on a beach
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The SCESFO works in partnership with South Carolina’s seven national wildlife refuges and two national fish hatcheries. Protecting over 192,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat and providing exceptional recreational opportunities for the public, these facilities serve as models for effective conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species and other species of emerging conservation priority. 

Our Organization

A rocky shoreline of a river. The water is calm. Mist and green branches line the river.
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA

Projects and Research

Female biologist kneeling in the water, one hand in the water, the other, cupped, holding mussels
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Working with others is at the core of how we operate, and through those partnerships, we develop a number of conservation projects across South Carolina, from conserving mussels in the upstate, to protecting our coast. Learn more about some of the key efforts we have underway.

Our Library

South Carolina Shared Stewardship Agreement, signed on Friday, December 9, 2022
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South Carolina Shared Stewardship Agreement, signed on Friday, December 9, 2022

Signed MOU and press release issued on December 9, 2022.

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Get Involved

Four people standing in stream, one with a bucket, two with underwater viewers
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A fundamental tenet in our approach to conservation is community engagement – from working with private landowners wanting to improve endangered species habitat on their land, to helping non-profits doing on-the-ground work. 

Location and Contact Information