North Myrtle Beach, SC – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially removed the wood stork from the federal list of endangered and threatened species last month, marking a significant milestone in wildlife conservation efforts across the Southeast.
This decision, which took effect in March 2026, highlights the success of decades-long habitat restoration initiatives in Horry County and along the East Coast. The wood stork, North America’s only native stork species, experienced a dramatic population decline leading to its endangered status in 1984. At that time, the U.S. breeding population had dwindled to approximately 5,000 nesting pairs, primarily due to the degradation of wetland habitats and disrupted water flows in the Florida Everglades.
Conservation measures implemented since then have reversed this trend. Today, the population has rebounded to an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 nesting pairs spread across about 100 colonies. This recovery has enabled the birds to expand into new areas throughout the Southeastern Coastal Plain, including key habitats in South Carolina.
In South Carolina, the wood stork has transitioned from a seasonal post-nesting visitor to a established breeding resident. The state’s first documented successful nesting occurred in 1981, and by 2023, nearly 4,000 nests had been recorded. This growth is especially prominent in the northern coastal regions, where the birds thrive in the diverse ecosystems around Little River and North Myrtle Beach.
The expansive salt marshes of Little River serve as crucial foraging grounds for these large wading birds. Wood storks methodically walk through shallow pools, employing their specialized beaks to detect small fish and crustaceans by touch. These tactile feeders rely on the natural tidal cycles that concentrate prey in the marshes, a process enhanced by local conservation practices and sustainable land management.
Further inland, the recovery ties closely to the freshwater systems and floodplain forests along the Waccamaw River and in the rural areas of Longs. These regions provide the secluded cypress swamps and backwaters ideal for nesting. The presence of standing water under nests offers protection from ground predators, a feature abundant in the Waccamaw River and its tributaries.
State data indicates that 82 percent of wood stork colonies in South Carolina are now situated on privately owned and managed properties. Landowners in Longs and surrounding areas have played a pivotal role by managing water levels to replicate natural flooding and drawdown cycles. This approach creates optimal shallow foraging conditions during the breeding season, when the birds’ energy demands are highest.
Although delisted federally, the wood stork continues to receive protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has outlined a 10-year post-delisting monitoring plan to track population stability. Primary management duties will shift to state agencies, with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources leading efforts to safeguard the species.
For residents of North Myrtle Beach and Little River, the wood stork‘s distinctive appearance—white body, black-edged wings, and bare head—gliding over the marshes symbolizes a thriving coastal environment. The ongoing health of the Waccamaw River and local wetlands will ensure these birds remain an enduring part of the Horry County landscape.
This delisting underscores the effectiveness of collaborative conservation, involving federal, state, and private stakeholders, in restoring imperiled species. As breeding season approaches, experts anticipate continued population growth, provided habitat protections remain robust. For more information, visit North Myrtle Beach Times.