Whales in South Carolina in July

Yes, July is a good month to see whales in South Carolina. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 420 of the 4,727 sightings logged across the year (8.9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

White-tailed Deer photographed in South CarolinaWhite-tailed Deer photographed in South CarolinaWhite-tailed Deer photographed in South Carolina
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for whales in South Carolina

8.9%

of yearly sightings

420

records in July

#5

busiest month of 12

4,727

verified records a year

June 12.3%, July 8.9%, August 9.2%. Busiest month is June at 12.3%.

Best months: June, May, March

4,727 verified observations of whales in South Carolina, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When whales are recorded in South Carolina

Peak month

June

582 records (12.3% of the year)

Quietest month

February

248 records

MonthObservationsShare
January2715.7%
February2485.2%
Marchpeak4429.4%
April3788%
Maypeak47810.1%
Junepeak58212.3%
July4208.9%
August4349.2%
September3266.9%
October3948.3%
November4108.7%
December3447.3%

Whales you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
White-tailed Deer3,177
Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin805
Wild Boar432
Sperm Whale6
Domestic Goat6
Humpback Whale5
Domestic Cattle3
Striped Dolphin2

In South Carolina, July carries 8.9% of the year's whales sightings, about 0.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from June (12.3%) into July, and it heads toward August (9.2%) after. The busiest month is June (12.3%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The whales most often recorded in South Carolina are White-tailed Deer, Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin and Wild Boar. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.

Which whales you are most likely to see

  • White-tailed Deer3,177 records
  • Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin805 records
  • Wild Boar432 records
  • Sperm Whale6 records
  • Domestic Goat6 records
  • Humpback Whale5 records
Plan your tripCharles Pinckney National Historic Site

Plan your whale trip in South Carolina

Start with live tours near Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see whales in South Carolina in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 420 of the 4,727 verified whales sightings logged in South Carolina across the year, which is 8.9% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see whales in South Carolina?+

July is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though June and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for whales in South Carolina?+

June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, May and March, based on 4,727 verified observations.

Which whales are you most likely to see in South Carolina?+

The most-recorded species in South Carolina are White-tailed Deer, Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin and Wild Boar, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.