South Carolina Lowcountry Facts
In the story of Rollo: A Lowcountry Puppy’s Tale, Anna’s family introduces Rollo to the wonders of the South Carolina Lowcountry: giant sea turtles with mouths like beaks, dolphins grouping together to drive fish onto the shore like shepherds, and one very special dolphin with a link to a Native American tribe.
Here are some Lowcountry facts and resources.
Dolphin Strand Feeding
(Featured on page 10 in the book)
Dolphin strand feeding is a unique way of fishing developed by dolphins off the shores of South Carolina and Georgia and in a few other places in the world. As a group called a “pod,” they will make noise to disorient the fish and rush them onto the shore, then they will beach themselves to catch the fish trying to make their way back to the water.
Source: https://www.lowcountrymarinemammalnetwork.org/what-we-do
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
(Featured on page 7 in the book)
The loggerhead sea turtle is the world’s largest hard-shelled turtle. They can weigh between 200 and 350 pounds and are estimated to live an average of 70 years, or more. They have lived on Earth since before the dinosaurs.
Source: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/loggerhead-turtle
Pon-Pon
(Featured on page 22 in the book)
Pon-Pon is the name of a section of the Edisto River. It is one of the rare surviving words of a Native American tribe known as the Kusso, which called the Charleston area its home.
Source: https://www.natchezkussotribeofscedisto.website/history
More info:
https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2025/07/17/edisto-natchez-kusso-leader-reflects-on-tribal-survival/
https://www.natchezkussotribeofscedisto.website/
https://www.natchezkussotribeofscedisto.website/musicandmedia