Cumberland Island Tours When Cumberland Island National Seashore was established in 1972, both the general public and residents who sold their land to the park supported a limit on the number of visitors, so that the island’s wild and natural state could remain unspoiled. In the early planning stages, the Park Service proposed a tour service on Cumberland Island; however, […]
Sea Turtles on Cumberland Island Cumberland Island’s undeveloped shoreline attracts the largest number of nesting sea turtles in the state of Georgia. Most travel hundreds or thousands of miles to return near the area where they were born (a trait known as natal homing). Once they reach their home waters, pregnant females wait offshore for the perfect moment to come […]
Fire Management on Cumberland Island Fire in the Wilderness should be managed according to the letter and spirit of the Wilderness Act, and adjacent land should be managed to protect that wilderness character. Natural wildfires are critical to the survival of Cumberland Island’s ecosystem. However, under NPS management, naturally-occurring fires have typically been controlled. At this time, the NPS is […]
Feral Hogs on Cumberland Island Hogs have existed on Cumberland Island for hundreds of years, and were likely introduced by Spanish missionaries and/or European settlers. Feral hogs severely damage the island’s delicate ecosystem in a number of ways: Interfering with plant communities, affecting nutrient cycling and patterns of plant succession Removing vegetation critical to dune stabilization Competing with native species […]
Maintain the 300 Visitor Limit on Cumberland Island The NPS is consistently re-evaluating the number of potential daily visitors allowed on Cumberland Island; most recently in association with the development of a new Visitor Use Management Plan. Wild Cumberland opposes any increase in the number of daily visitors to Cumberland Island — to protect both the health of the island and […]
Redesignation of Cumberland Island Wilderness Did You Know? It takes an act of Congress to designate an area as wilderness.Only about 5% of the entire United States is protected as Wilderness. Alaska contains just over half of America’s wilderness, so only about 2.7% of the contiguous United States (an area about the size of Minnesota) is protected as wilderness. For […]
Cumberland Island Visitor Use Management Plan Update – November 2023 There have been no public updates from the agency about the status of its proposed plan since its public comment period closed. Please check back for updates. Update – April 23rd, 2023 COMMENT PERIOD OVER – FROM THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (GA DNR) View Our Comments Here There […]
SPACEPORT CAMDEN Update – 2/1/23 Georgia Supreme Court decision related to a voter referendum in Camden County v. Judge Robert Sweatt went in the favor of the public which is a big step for us! But there are other pieces of litigation pending, too: Camden has sued Union Carbide Corporation for breach of contract in Camden County v. Union Carbide; Related to […]
Cumberland Island Beach Driving Did You Know? Beach driving is allowed along the entire 17-mile beach of Cumberland Island. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has issued over 250 beach driving permits (more than any other beach in the state of Georgia) to island residents and family members. 2024 Total Beach Driving Permits Cumberland Island: 300 (17% increase from 2020) […]
Cumberland Island Horses Cumberland Island is the only barrier island in Georgia with feral horses. Despite their popularity with tourists, they have caused serious damage to the Cumberland Island’s native ecosystem. Cumberland Island Horses trample and graze upon key plant species. This includes Spanish moss (Tilandsia usneoides) and smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), the primary plant of the marshland. This grazing reduces […]