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Explore 5 powerful stories revealing how wildlife invades SC’s springtime

Stories by The State journalists, with AI summarization

Wildlife surges into South Carolina each spring, bringing striking encounters and bold survival tactics. This list of stories outlines red-eyed cicadas tunneling up in Oconee County, ground bees quietly burrowing in lawns for early flower pollination, and copperheads slipping back into yards with the warming weather.

Get clever with measures to discourage copperhead visits, try growing trumpet vine or bee balm to attract ruby-throated hummingbirds, and learn why ground bees make your yard more vibrant and fertile. Whether you're hearing cicadas hum at dusk or spotting tiny dirt mounds from mining bees, each story shows nature's return in South Carolina's spring. Handle these wild moments with a sense of curiosity—and a bit of caution where it counts

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Japanese beetles have returned to devour our landscapes.

NO. 1: THESE 5 INVASIVE INSECTS ARE DESTROYING SC THE MOST. HERE ARE THE BEST WAYS TO FIGHT THEM OFF

Here are the five invasive insects that are destroying South Carolina the most and the best ways to fight them off. | Published April 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Patrick McCreless

Brood XIV, which comes out every 17 years, likely will only be in the northwestern tip of Oconee County. By Cicada Mania/provided

NO. 2: RED-EYED CICADAS TO EMERGE FROM THE GROUND IN SC SOON. HERE’S WHEN, WHERE & IF THEY’RE HARMFUL

A new brood of cicada is set to emerge from the ground in South Carolina soon. Here are the details. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lyn Riddle

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The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common species of hummingbird in Georgia. By courtesy of Hummingbirds Plus

NO. 3: RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS ARE ALMOST BACK IN SC! HERE’S WHEN TO PUT OUT YOUR FEEDERS

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are ready to return to South Carolina. Here’s when and what to know about using feeders to attract them to your home. | Published March 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patrick McCreless

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Copperheads are the most common venomous snake in South Carolina. Local expert, Todd Metz, said he’s already started to see them in the Myrtle Beach area following the winter hibernation season. According to Metz, this year is not different in terms of the number of snakes he’s seen compared to previous years. By Janet Blackmon Morgan

NO. 4: COPPERHEADS ARE BACK IN SC AGAIN! KEEP THE VENOMOUS SNAKES OUT OF YOUR YARD WITH THESE TIPS

The venomous copperhead is out and about in South Carolina once more. Here’s what to know about keeping them away from your home. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patrick McCreless

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An image of a mining bee, also referred to as a ground bee. By screenshot

NO. 5: THESE SPECIAL BEES CAN DIG HOLES IN YOUR YARD IN SC. SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED?

Should you be concerned about these special types of bees that can dig holes in your yard in South Carolina? Here’s what to know. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patrick McCreless

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.