Shark tooth hunting is a great way to connect to the natural world
I ran my first kayak tour around Crab Bank in the spring of 2010. I was instantly enamored with the birds scurrying along the shore, preparing for nesting season. In the years that followed, I celebrated with the baby pelicans as they made their way out of the nests and again, the first time they were brave enough to push their heads under water, mimicking their parents who patiently showed them the basics of plunge diving. I smiled at the young skimmers with their fluffy heads and long beaks. I cheered with the shorebirds running from the waves pushing up on the sand. Countless hours were spent floating around the island quietly observing, teaching tourists and locals alike, and explaining the importance of rookeries like Crab Bank – and conservation as a whole.
For the last decade I’ve been lucky enough to operate my own ecotour company based on Folly Beach. We don’t go into the harbor, but are able to observe nesting birds on Bird Key and Morris Island (in years the island is flush with sand, not often these days).
Education, sustainability, and conservation is at the forefront of our mission. My background is as a marine biologist and I learned a tremendous amount working with the inshore fisheries division of SCDNR. This group monitors inshore fish populations and provides the research to determine size and catch limits of recreational species. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn about big-picture conservation and the amount of time it takes for populations to rebound if numbers are depleted. (If you are not familiar with their work, I highly recommend checking out their website!).
Last December, I decided that the late sunrise of the Winter Solstice was my best shot at “happily” watching the sunrise and that Crab Bank was the place to do it. Coastal Expeditions was kind enough to lend me a kayak in the predawn light and I was on the far end of Crab Bank enjoying coffee when the sun rose over the ocean.
Then I found a tooth.
We had jars of shark teeth growing up, but fossils have never been my thing. I’m more a sea glass person, but that’s hard to come by here. By the end of the morning there were 100 teeth in my pocket and I was hooked. Our business only occasionally runs fossil tours and we’ve never taken folks to Crab Bank, but this year I’ve been shark tooth hunting alone or with friends several times. It’s been the best return to nature (and way to slow down) that I could imagine.
While I will personally miss Crab Bank as a place to spend a quiet morning, I understand and support the decision to close the island. The primary goal of ecotourism, as we see it, is to educate the public about the environment while being a part of it — without leaving a trace. Human use can take a toll on any resource and it’s imperative that we find a way to interact with the world around us with respect, care, and long-term stewardship in mind.
Found something and want to know more about it? Send a photo to saltmarshadventure@gmail.com for help identifying and a chance to be in the next Creature Feature!
