That’s what my daughter kept asking me. The Horry County Museum downtown Conway has an interesting wildlife exhibit, filled with animals that once roamed the Lowcountry. Admission is free.

A pine needle fell; the eagle saw it, the deer heard it, but the bear smelled it - Native American saying

The American Black Bear is the most widespread bear in North America, with an estimated population of 700,000. In South Carolina, bears don’t hibernate, but stay dormant during the coldest winter weeks. Every other year, around February bear females give birth to two cubs.

Did you know? Black bears aren’t actually black. They range in color from blonde to cinnamon, with reddish brown as the most common tone. Adult females weigh around 300 pounds while some males can reach up to 800 pounds!

Black bears are omnivorous, consuming anything edible. In the summer bears eat nuts, berries grubs, insects, honey, ants, frogs, snakes and small mammals. Given the opportunity they will catch and eat fish.

“A bear will eat anything a hog will eat, and some things a hog won’t look at.”

The Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial in North America and the only land mammal with 50 teeth! Bears, foxes and coyotes have 42, the raccoon has 40, while bobcats and humans have only 32…

The opossum is an opportunistic eater, and like bears and humans, it is omnivorous. Opossums feed mainly on beetles, earthworms, crayfish, frogs, spiders, crickets and ants.

They’ll gladly clean up your garbage can and any pet food you may leave outside.

Being nocturnal, opossums find shelter in hollow trees, brush piles and rocky outcroppings during the day. Opossums are excellent swimmers and prefer to live in woods with water.

Did you know? Although, opossums have inhabited the earth since the time of dinosaurs they have not changed much. Why fix it, if it’s not broken…

The American Alligator is the king of reptiles in South Carolina. Here is an magnificent skull of a massive alligator found near Conway.

The Lowcountry is home to some of the most amazing birds of prey such as eagles, owls and hawks.

Hey mom, check out this big whale bone!

Once done visiting the museum enjoy a scenic walk along the Waccamaw River, only a block away from the museum!

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