For the Town of Kiawah Island, the beach and wildlife are two of the biggest attractions for visitors and residents. The town prints and distributes 12 brochures, posts general information about wildlife on its website, gives wildlife and environment presentations and provides information in its monthly newsletter. Despite these wide-ranging efforts, the town wanted to do more to educate its residents and guests, especially those visitors who may not be aware of some of the dangers posed by certain wildlife on the island.
To that end, the town created and published a new stand-alone website focusing on the Island’s environment and wildlife. The town updates the site several times a week to provide timely information on a variety of the town’s research projects and general information about wildlife species, regulations, viewing locations and more. The town wanted the site to be simple, straightforward and entertaining so that residents and visitors would visit frequently to learn more.
The town’s Environmental Committee, made up of residents and representatives from community groups, discussed and recommended the website idea. The town used money from its general fund to pay for the site, which staff developed. The total cost (excluding staff time) was less than $300.
Town officials met with residents, the Kiawah Conservancy land trust, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and the homeowners association to make sure the site would cover all-important areas. To measure the project’s success, the town monitors a number of website statistics and counts to identify the pages and information that is most viewed by visitors. The town posts updates and changes to the site in its monthly newsletter.
The site’s most popular feature is the Bobcat GPS tracking pages where visitors can access the latest collection data for each bobcat captured and fitted with a GPS tracking collar. Using an interactive map, visitors can find out the day and time that a specific bobcat may have been in their neighborhood.
Kiawah Island is a residential community in a natural coastal environment. Because the Island’s long-term success is tied to environmental conservation, the wildlife website helps keep the public and guests informed and engaged in this vital component of the community.
Contact Tumiko Rucker at trucker@kiawahisland.org or 843.768.9166.