Fripp Island Deer
Beautiful Whitetail Deer
Home to a large herd of whitetail deer, Fripp offers shelter in the forests of pine and oak but they can also be seen roaming freely throughout the island. Wildlife viewing is one of the draws to Fripp Island, and the deer live up to this activity. Many homeowners and visitors alike enjoy toodling around the island in a golf cart and often can see groups of deer hanging out in grassy areas, on beach dunes and along tree-lined streets.
Fun Fact
The whitetail deer was designated as the South Carolina state animal in 1972.
Whitetail Characteristics
Deer on the island are smaller than their northern counterparts. A typical adult female, or doe, will weigh about 100 lbs. while adult males, or bucks, average 140lbs. The underside of their body and tail are completely white while the remaining coat coloring changes with the season from a reddish-colored coat in the summer to a heavier, gray, or dark brown coat in the winter. Just before shedding in the spring, the island deer tend to look fluffy. Bucks begin growing antlers in April. As antlers consist of growing bone, they remain covered with blood vessels and nerves, or “velvet” skin, until the antlers harden in late August. Bucks generally shed their antlers in January and February.
Giving Them Space
While many of the island’s residents consider these animals their pets, seeing regular visits daily, it is important to respect their space and not touch or feed them. It is unsafe and unnatural for wild deer to become too friendly with humans. This can be especially critical with fawns. They often appear to be alone but you can be sure the doe is nearby. Any human handling could cause the doe to shy away or even desert her offspring. When it comes to feeding island deer, just don’t. Any change in their diet can cause digestive issues as their system attempts to adjust to the new food. While it may seem harmless, it is not. Be kind to the island deer and do not interfere with their natural environment.
Fun Fact
Deer are herbivores and feed on leaves, fruits and grasses.
In the winter months they will also feed on mushrooms, acorns and plant buds.
By the Numbers
According to a 2020 article from The Post and Courier, out of Charleston, there are approximately 400 deer that call Fripp home. A decade earlier there were about 600, when the island became eligible for a program that allowed female deer to be injected with birth control to manage population growth. It was a successful program and lead to stabilizing breeding and herd size. Whitetail breeding season on Fripp runs a little earlier than the rest of the state, beginning at the 1st of October through the 1st of November. New fawns will begin appearing around mid-May.
The wildlife on Fripp Island is endless and the herd of whitetail deer is sure to enhance your time on the island. Bring your binoculars and your camera on your next visit and you will be rewarded with great memories and great pictures to share.
Sources:
https://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/species/deer.html
https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/white-tailed-deer
Young Doe - Fripp Island. Copyright 2015 Joe Fishburne. All Rights Reserved. #frippisland #frippislandsc #frippislandresort #fishburnephotographic #joefishburnephotography #frippislanddeer #deer #doedeer
Young Doe - Fripp Island. Copyright 2015 Joe Fishburne. All Rights Reserved. #frippisland #frippislandsc #frippislandresort #fishburnephotographic #joefishburnephotography #frippislanddeer #deer #doedeer
Deer in the Dunes. Gorgeous. ✨❤️
#frippisland #fripp #frippinit #fripplife #thelowcountry #beaufort #beaufortsc #seaislands #vacationtime #vacationtimemode #wildlife #naturelovers #naturelover #paradise #frippislanddeer #deer
Deer in the Dunes. Gorgeous. ✨❤️
#frippisland #fripp #frippinit #fripplife #thelowcountry #beaufort #beaufortsc #seaislands #vacationtime #vacationtimemode #wildlife #naturelovers #naturelover #paradise #frippislanddeer #deer
My centerpiece for a fundraiser to support humane birth control for the deer in Fripp. We Fripp Islanders do love our deer. #lifeonfripp #loveourdeer #gloriarobinson #frippisland #frippislandsc #frippislanddeer
My centerpiece for a fundraiser to support humane birth control for the deer in Fripp. We Fripp Islanders do love our deer. #lifeonfripp #loveourdeer #gloriarobinson #frippisland #frippislandsc #frippislanddeer
Just after sunset on this spring evening, if you look up at the softening sky, you may catch a flicker overhead—quick, silent, and deliberate. It’s easy to miss. Most do. But those who pause long enough to notice will witness one of Fripp Island’s most overlooked protectors: the bat.
I know. Bats have a reputation. They’ve been cast as eerie, even creepy. But consider this…
They’re not showy like dolphins, nor as graceful as egrets. They don’t pose for photos or seek applause. Yet under the hush of twilight, they’re doing something extraordinary: quietly preserving the balance of the island.
Each night, a single bat devours thousands of insects—mosquitoes, beetles, moths, and even no-see-ums. The very pests that disturb our evenings and disrupt the delicate chain of life. While we sleep, they work—not for praise or recognition, but because that is their rhythm. Their role.
Their droppings feed the soil. Their presence is a sign that the land still breathes and the ecosystem still works. And here on Fripp—where deer graze at dawn and turtles rise from the sea—bats belong to the same divine pattern, our ecosystem.
So this evening, when dusk settles over the island, take a moment. Look up. Watch for the whisper of wings tracing the last light of day. A bat doing its work—faithfully, silently—just as this island has always done for us.
Fripp Island invites us to live in step with nature, not apart from it. And bats are our quiet reminder: harmony often begins in the unseen.
By the way, April 17 is International Bat Appreciation Day. #frippisland #frippislandwildlife #frippislanddeer #fidpwf #deer #bats #coastalcarolina #beaufortsc #hiltonhead #charlestonsc #barrierisland
Just after sunset on this spring evening, if you look up at the softening sky, you may catch a flicker overhead—quick, silent, and deliberate. It’s easy to miss. Most do. But those who pause long enough to notice will witness one of Fripp Island’s most overlooked protectors: the bat.
I know. Bats have a reputation. They’ve been cast as eerie, even creepy. But consider this…
They’re not showy like dolphins, nor as graceful as egrets. They don’t pose for photos or seek applause. Yet under the hush of twilight, they’re doing something extraordinary: quietly preserving the balance of the island.
Each night, a single bat devours thousands of insects—mosquitoes, beetles, moths, and even no-see-ums. The very pests that disturb our evenings and disrupt the delicate chain of life. While we sleep, they work—not for praise or recognition, but because that is their rhythm. Their role.
Their droppings feed the soil. Their presence is a sign that the land still breathes and the ecosystem still works. And here on Fripp—where deer graze at dawn and turtles rise from the sea—bats belong to the same divine pattern, our ecosystem.
So this evening, when dusk settles over the island, take a moment. Look up. Watch for the whisper of wings tracing the last light of day. A bat doing its work—faithfully, silently—just as this island has always done for us.
Fripp Island invites us to live in step with nature, not apart from it. And bats are our quiet reminder: harmony often begins in the unseen.
By the way, April 17 is International Bat Appreciation Day. #frippisland #frippislandwildlife #frippislanddeer #fidpwf #deer #bats #coastalcarolina #beaufortsc #hiltonhead #charlestonsc #barrierisland
It’s fawn season! We have some pregnant mamas out there. Please remember if a fawn is alone it doesn’t mean it is in immediate danger. Here is a quick tip guide when to call Fripp Island Security at 843-838-2334. Let’s keep up with the fawns this season! You can reach us through IG or let the Wildlife Foundation know when you see a new little one at 843-457-2980. Please remember to not get too close to them! www.Fidpwf.org. #frippisland #frippislandsouthcarolina #frippislanddeer #fidpandwf #frippislandresort #fawns #deer #beaufortsc #hiltonhead #wildlife
It’s fawn season! We have some pregnant mamas out there. Please remember if a fawn is alone it doesn’t mean it is in immediate danger. Here is a quick tip guide when to call Fripp Island Security at 843-838-2334. Let’s keep up with the fawns this season! You can reach us through IG or let the Wildlife Foundation know when you see a new little one at 843-457-2980. Please remember to not get too close to them! www.Fidpwf.org. #frippisland #frippislandsouthcarolina #frippislanddeer #fidpandwf #frippislandresort #fawns #deer #beaufortsc #hiltonhead #wildlife
Thank you to Judy and Ted Bourne of CE Bourne Roofing for sponsoring the Fripp Island 2nd Annual Jingle Mingle! Without our sponsors, we could not build a foundation that will continue long after we are gone. Our island is ever changing. We are building an organization that not only helps wildlife but one that can also preserve the natural habitat of the island as it changes. Thank you to all who believe in our efforts. Remember CE Bourne when you have roofing issues! #frippisland #frippislandsc #fidpandwf #frippislandwildlife #frippislanddeer #lowcountry #barrierisland #seaisland #coastallivingmagazine #wuldlifeconservation #landpreservation #wetlands #marshtacky #beaufortsc
Thank you to Judy and Ted Bourne of CE Bourne Roofing for sponsoring the Fripp Island 2nd Annual Jingle Mingle! Without our sponsors, we could not build a foundation that will continue long after we are gone. Our island is ever changing. We are building an organization that not only helps wildlife but one that can also preserve the natural habitat of the island as it changes. Thank you to all who believe in our efforts. Remember CE Bourne when you have roofing issues! #frippisland #frippislandsc #fidpandwf #frippislandwildlife #frippislanddeer #lowcountry #barrierisland #seaisland #coastallivingmagazine #wuldlifeconservation #landpreservation #wetlands #marshtacky #beaufortsc
It’s baby season! Did you know that most fawns on Fripp are born between April and July of each year? Don’t be surprised if you see a little one hunkered down on your lawn or near your home by itself for hours at a time. Mom is not too far away and will come back to feed it later in the evening, usually around dusk. If you suspect a little one is trouble, just call Fripp Island Security at 843-838-2334. They will send a wildlife specialist to assess. #frippisland #frippislandsc #fawn #frippislanddeer #beaufort #seaisland #deer #wildlife #nature #frippinit
It’s baby season! Did you know that most fawns on Fripp are born between April and July of each year? Don’t be surprised if you see a little one hunkered down on your lawn or near your home by itself for hours at a time. Mom is not too far away and will come back to feed it later in the evening, usually around dusk. If you suspect a little one is trouble, just call Fripp Island Security at 843-838-2334. They will send a wildlife specialist to assess. #frippisland #frippislandsc #fawn #frippislanddeer #beaufort #seaisland #deer #wildlife #nature #frippinit
