Lowcountry outdoors: 2021 Tillman Sand Ridge

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

2021 Tillman Sand Ridge - Gopher Tortoise Habitat

Gopher Tortoise in educational classroom

In the southernmost potion of the S.C. Lowcountry, lies a sandy pocket of land in Jasper County that is adjacent to the Savannah River. The roughly 3000-acre tract of land is under conservation easement and run by the SCDNR as both a Heritage Preserve and a Wildlife Management Area. There is no sign posted regarding the formation of the Tillman Sand Ridge, but soil scientist Randy James explains that it certainly could have been the result of an eddy current several thousands years ago when the Atlantic Ocean was covering the coastal plain, and rubbed up against the current form the Savannah River, causing sand granules to drop down in the lax current of the eddy system.

Gopher Tortoise Hole at Tillman

Many features make Tillman Sand Ridge unique, but one stands out. This is the northernmost range for the Gopher Tortoise, which is called a keystone species in nature because the burrows they dig benefit 300+ other species. A Gopher Tortoise will dig and complete several burrows, and regularly moves around and changes locations, which causes the surplus of burrows. The sandy soil is also home to an impressive landscape of wire grass, longleaf pines, turkey oak and birding habitat. The property does include bottomland closer to the river and a boat landing on B & C road for a canal that leads to the Savannah River.