Capers Island, South Carolina





Capers Island is a state-owned barrier island on the Atlantic Ocean in Charleston County, South Carolina about 15 miles north of the city of Charleston. It is separated from the mainland by salt marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway. To the southwest it is separated from the barrier island Dewees Island by Capers Inlet. To the northwest, it is separated from the barrier island Bulls Island by Price Inlet.

The island is named for Bishop William Theodotus Capers, a native of South Carolina.

Visiting
Capers Island is undeveloped and maintained by the State of South Carolina. There is a small dock on Capers Inlet that has a boardwalk across the marsh to an unpaved nature trail which leads to the beach approximately 1 mile to the southeast. Primitive camping is permitted. However, a free permit must be acquired from the State Department of Natural Resources and is limited to 80 campers per night in no more than 20 groups.

Natural Habitat
Capers Island is a barrier island with a number of discrete habitats including:
 * Maritime uplands
 * Sandy beach
 * Salt marsh
 * Brackish ponds

Flora
Plant species on the island include:
 * Sabal palm

Fauna
Numerous animal species inhabit the island and surrounding waters and marshes on a seasonal or permanent basis.

Mammals

 * Raccoon
 * White-tailed deer
 * Bottlenose dolphins

Birds

 * Bald eagle
 * Osprey
 * Egret
 * Heron
 * Ibis
 * Bittern
 * Brown pelican

Reptiles

 * American alligator
 * Loggerhead sea turtle
 * eastern diamondback rattlesnake
 * timber rattlesnake
 * carolina pygmy rattlesnake
 * cottonmouth

Fish
red drum
 * Bull shark
 * White shark
 * Bonnethead shark
 * Sea trout
 * Red drum
 * Flounder
 * Black drum
 * King whiting
 * Spot
 * Pompano
 * Croaker

Crustaceans

 * Shrimp
 * Ghost crab
 * Blue crab
 * Fiddler crab

Mollusks

 * Oyster