Wishing you a great Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) and wonderful 2014 with all of your friends, family and loved ones–human and animal–gathered all around you.
The animals and I THANK YOU for all your support during the 2013 year.
Look for the 2013 year end review coming soon!
Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks are two reptile conservation, research and education projects occurring near Earthshine Discovery Center and Dupont Forest in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology and a lot of hard volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers, glimpse into the lives of several wild reptiles living in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on our projects and programs please take a look at our website: http://www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation of our misunderstood wildlife through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs, conservation based field research programs, and online with our nature documentary video series.
We are not paid nor do we collect a salary to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
An update of the status of the Eastern box turtles in the Earthshine Nature Programs Turtle Tracks Eastern box turtle conservation, public awareness and education program happening at Earthshine Discovery Center in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, USA.
12/08/13 Field Update: Today I located both Catherine and Jimmy Irwin. They were both settled into their overwintering sites for their long winters nap. Jimmy is in almost the exact same location that he over-wintered in last year and Catherine is only about 30 feet northwest of the site she used for the last several years.
The Trails turtles, Shelly Echo and Paula Journeys, are also deep in their winter sleep waiting for spring.
Note: While walking back to my car today I found the scat (poop) of an unusually large animal–probably a horse–so if you are missing a horse, please contact me and I will let you know where I found it. Like any good naturalist I analyzed the scat so if you are interested in what I found just take a look at it in the video below–especially if you are missing a horse. It was just a bit large to be a bear so the other possibility is a Sasquatch 😉
View the video from today’s field excursion below.
This will probably be the last locate day for 2013 however, I will do a mid-winter video report on all of the reptiles and then start anew in the spring with the continued tracking of these beautiful creatures.
Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks are two reptile conservation, research and education projects occurring near Earthshine Discovery Center and Dupont Forest in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology and a lot of hard volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers, glimpse into the lives of several wild reptiles living in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on our projects and programs please take a look at our website: http://www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation of our misunderstood wildlife through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs, conservation based field research programs, and online with our nature documentary video series.
We are not paid nor do we collect a salary to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
This is an update on the Snake tracks reptile conservation and education project being conducted by Earthshine Nature Programs.
Zoe remains in the small valley but she has moved around 200 feet to the north of her last location and is sheltering under a rotting stump a few feet above a spring head.
Utsanati remains in hibernation in the same den he has used for the last three winters.
Today I also discovered some unusual large tracks in the melting snow–possibly from a passing hiker or hunter. They were not far from where Utsanati is overwintering and were hard to make out due to the melting snow. They were about 3-4 inches longer than my size 11 boots and looked surprisingly like “Sasquatch” tracks.
Take a look at Zoe, Utsanati and the strange tracks in today’s video below.
I would also like to introduce the first episode of Earthshine Nature’s new series: Ratsnake Tracks!
In Ratsnake Tracks we will follow in the tracks of “Splinter”–an adult Black Ratsnake that lives just outside Earthshine Nature Programs’ primary base of operations on the campus of The Academy at Trails Carolina.
In this first video I meet Splinter for the first time then, a short time later, I am joined by Jim and Margaret as we visit Dr. Bolt at Sweeten Creek Animal Hospital to assist with the implantation of Splinter’s new micro radio transmitter.
After Splinter recovers he will over-winter in the nature center only ~10′ from where he was found just outside the back door. He will be released in the spring and the students and I will track him for several years with the goal of learning all that we can about the natural movements and habitat use of a wild ratsnake in and around an area highly used by humans.
Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks are two reptile conservation, research and education projects occurring near Earthshine Discovery Center and Dupont Forest in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology and a lot of hard volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers, glimpse into the lives of several wild reptiles living in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on our projects and programs please take a look at our website: http://www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation of our misunderstood wildlife through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs, conservation based field research programs, and online with our nature documentary video series.
We are not paid nor do we collect a salary to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
This is an update on the Turtle Tracks wildlife conservation and education project being conducted by Earthshine Nature Programs.
Today I discovered Catherine only about 30-40 feet northwest from her usual over-wintering location. Since I released her after her new transmitter was attached she has moved around 300 feet to the southeast and appears to be getting ready for her long winters nap. Just three feet to the south of Catherine I discovered another box turtle basking in the warm sun just outside of his form. This was a male turtle I had previously marked in 2007. Because of his marking sequence I call him “Abi” and I have found Abi several times before–several years ago I even found him mating with Catherine. It would be nice to one day attach a transmitter to Abi and see just how often he and Catherine cross paths.
Take a look at Catherine and Abi in today’s video below.
If the video does not play try following this link:
This is an update on the Snake Tracks wildlife conservation, research and education project being conducted by Earthshine Nature Programs.
Today both snakes were underground and not visible. Utsanati is in the exact location that he used for overwintering over the last two years. Zoe is a different story. She remains on the southeast side of the ridge not very far from the small clearing above the waterfall where she spent the summer and fall. She is only about 170 feet west of that location and she is in a small, sheltered valley, underground, beneath the roots of a Mountain Laurel shrub. I believe she has chosen to over winter in this location. My question is why? Is this a site she uses periodically for a reason or did she just get caught off guard by cool weather and decide to shelter here out of necessity? Only time may tell.
View a rather dark video (because it was night) of today’s locate.
If the video does not play try following this link:
Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks are two reptile conservation, research and education projects occurring near Earthshine Discovery Center in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology and a lot of hard volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers, glimpse into the lives of two wild Eastern box turtles and two wild Timber rattlesnakes in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on our projects and programs please take a look at our website: http://www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation of our misunderstood wildlife through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs, conservation based field research programs, and online with our nature documentary video series.
We are not paid nor do we collect a salary to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
This is an update on the Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks wildlife conservation and education projects being conducted by Earthshine Nature Programs.
We released Catherine today after she received a new radio transmitter. If you missed out on the fact that her previous transmitter malfunctioned just take a look at this video for the update:
If the video does not play try following this link:
Zoe has moved about 170′ back toward the clearing where she spent the summer. Today we were unable to visually locate Zoe but Margaret found one of her recently shed skins!
We were unable to track Utsanati and Jimmy today but will have an update on their locations soon.
Watch the video of today’s locate:
If the video does not play try following this link:
Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks are two reptile conservation, research and education projects occurring near Earthshine Discovery Center in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology and a lot of hard volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers, glimpse into the lives of two wild Eastern box turtles and two wild Timber rattlesnakes in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on our projects and programs please take a look at our website: http://www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation of our misunderstood wildlife through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs, conservation based field research programs, and online with our nature documentary video series.
We are not paid nor do we collect a salary to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
Catherine and Jimmy Irwin are doing very well however, in late September Catherine’s transmitter began emitting a strange signal that was very hard to track (see video). I was instructed by the company that manufactured the unit to remove it and send it back to them for repair. I have since received a new transmitter and attached it to Catherine, the signal is strong and she is doing well. Jimmy was about 300 feet west of his usual overwintering area and looked well.
Below is a video update of Catherine and her transmitter incident and Jimmy Irwin.
For more information on the Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks projects and Earthshine Nature Programs please visit us at www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation of our misunderstood wildlife through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs, conservation based field research programs, and online with our nature documentary video series.
We are not paid nor do we collect a salary to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
A few days ago I drove my Nissan Leaf deep into the forest in search of Zoe the Timber Rattlesnake! As many of you already know, I am following in Zoe’s tracks in order to learn more about the natural movements of a wild Timber rattlesnake in it’s natural habitat. Then I bring my experiences and knowledge to the world via this blog and my Youtube chanel, in the hopes of teaching you a bit about the beautiful and greatly misunderstood world of the Timber Rattlesnake.
Today I found Zoe at the same location where she has been since early June–the clearing in the forest. It is so late in the year I believe she has decided to overwinter at this location.
This snake tracking excursion was probably the first time a Nissan Leaf has been used as a Timber rattlesnake tracking vehicle and possibly the first time a Leaf has been used in a wildlife conservation field project.
After driving to the top of a steep mountain, parking at the end of a gravel road on a foggy, darkening mountainside I located Zoe and collected the vital biometric data and got ready to head home–that went easy but the adventure was not over. I noticed that my range gauge (aka Guess-O-Meter or GOM) said that I had ~41 miles of range remaining on my charge so I decided to take a remote, steep, one lane gravel road through the deep forest in order to benefit from the most regenerative braking and gravity assist (downhill) as possible to extend my range. The only issue I foresaw was near the bottom of the narrow, windy, dark, remote track in the forest–a creek crossing–yes, a creek crossing. It was a small creek but it must be crossed in order to make it back to the pavement. So, like any true pioneer I turned off the safety of the pavement and into the dark forest I plunged with LED headlights cutting laser-like paths in the foggy blackness of the deepening night. Down and down the narrow, steep road wound until I came to the recent thunderstorm ravaged, flash flood swollen and boulder strewn creek…oh wait, that is another story. The creek was rather small and quiet and about 8″ deep but still I wondered: would I tear out the bottom panels of the leaf on the rocks in the creek? Would the leaf flounder and get stuck? Would it um…short out? Like electrons through a wire all these questions and more went through my mind at warp speed…but I could not go back or turn around because the road was to narrow to do so…I was committed so I plunged into the creek…slowly…and the Leaf charged across with no apparent ill effects–woo hoo!! Without so much as a wheel spin or slippage the Leaf negotiated the creek and the entire journey with no problems at all. While it may not be a 4×4 it is a very sure footed and capable car for steep, mountainous, gravel roads…and yes, even shallow creek crossings.
I must say that the car performed admirably while quietly climbing steep, wet mountain gravel roads without issue. When I reached the bottom of the trek I realized that I had regenerated over 23 miles of range just by rolling downhill–amazing! Free power means more range, less money out of my pocket and less power I have to suck from the outlet and therefore a cheaper, cleaner and greener ride! I can feel my carbon footprint shrinking!
When I arrived at home I glanced at the GOM and noticed that it was sitting on 41 miles range–the same range I had when I was at the top of the mountain at the start of the trek–truly amazing–the 12 mile drive home was powered by the car for free!
Watch the video of the adventure below!
The Leaf is an amazing vehicle!
A few days after my snake tracking adventure I found myself in the city charging my Leaf alongside a Chevy Volt.
Premium Parking + Free Power = Pure Bliss.
Snake Tracks is a Timber Rattlesnake conservation and research project occurring near Earthshine Discovery Center in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology and allot of hard volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers, glimpse into the lives of two wild Timber rattlesnakes in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on the project please take a look at the website at: http://www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation through our unique, exciting, citizen science based, hands-on education, out-reach programs, and online with our nature videos, blog and website.
We are not paid to operate ENP or to conduct wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated and donation funded organization. It is our mission to educate you about these beautiful but greatly misunderstood animals and hopefully, to impart to you their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth, healthy wildlife and healthy humans.
THANK YOU to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without you this important reptile conservation and education work would not happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting
You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, vitamins and habitat supplies just contact us for more information on what supplies we are in need of and how to donate.
An update on Mrs. Bones, one of the Eastern box turtles in the Earthshine Nature Programs Turtle Tracks box turtle conservation, public awareness and education program happening at Earthshine Discovery Center, Cedar Mountain and The Academy at Trails Carolina in western North Carolina, USA.
Mrs Bones has been on another incredible Odyssey. She was picked up in mid summer by an unknown turtle-napper, toted several miles away for several days, was discovered by a concerned citizen who returned her to us where we then discovered her transmitter was dead. She then received a new transmitter, was released back into her habitat where she became sick with conjunctivitis, was pulled from her habitat and was treated and recovered from the illness, had an article published about her travels in the local paper, was again released back into her home range where she was preparing for her long winter sleep when an outside force of unknown description (most likely a canid or a mower) removed her transmitter leaving her whereabouts unknown (more about this in the video below). We searched but found no trace of Mrs. Bones so we feel that she is doing fine somewhere in the forest and fields of her native habitat roaming free like a turtle should be. We may find her again one day but as we know it is very heard to locate a wild turtle that does not want to be found.
Over the 4+ years that we followed Mrs. Bones we collected some very valuable data on the travels of a wild Eastern Box Turtle in a fragmented, human altered landscape.
What did we learn from following in the tracks of Mr. and Mrs. Bones?
In short we learned that box turtles know where they are, what they are doing and where they are going. They have an agenda, a mission–they are on “important turtle business” and they need to complete it. They do not need help from us in the form of being “rescued” from being “lost.” If they have not been picked up and moved away from their native habitat, then they are not lost–they know exactly where they are. Box turtles have an amazingly accurate sense of navigation and they can find remote areas of their habitat at the same time each year that a normal human could not do without a GPS and specialized training. They are incredible survivors and have been around since the time of the dinosaurs and survived unbelievable odds in order to still inhabit the earth today. However, they are having trouble surviving the human animal and his drive to alter the land to his way of thinking. They have trouble adapting to our way of life so we must adapt to theirs. What do I mean by this? First, they need our help when it comes to crossing roads–simply move them to the side that they are moving or pointing toward, take them a few yards off the road into the vegetation and say goodbye. Please do not take them home as pets–they need to stay wild and in many places it is illegal to do so. If you burn leaves and other yard debris in the fall–do so shortly after raking because box turtles like to shelter in leaf piles. If you wait days or weeks to burn, a turtle could be trapped inside and be injured or die. Do not use chemical fertilizers, weed killers and other toxins on your land. These chemicals are toxic to life and poison the food chain of which turtles are a part. These toxins build up in their bodies and weaken or kill them. These toxins also eventually end up in your food supply because everything is connected in the great web of life. Finally, if you must mow grass, please keep your grass short so that turtles and other wildlife do not move into the tall grass in search of food and shelter and then get injured or killed by the blades of your mower. Also, mow at the hottest time of the day as this is when turtles and other wildlife have either moved out of the heat or buried into the ground and may be safe from the mower.
In the future I plan to publish a scientific paper outlining the detailed findings of this study as well as a children’s book about the Eastern Box Turtle. The book will outline the life of the box turtle as well as the dangers and challenges it faces to survive and serve to teach children and adults about the life and the importance of these beautiful, ancient creatures.
View Mrs. Bones’ latest Odyssey via the video below:
View Mrs Bones’ first Odyssey via the video below:
For more information on Earthshine Nature Programs and the Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks wildlife conservation projects check out: http://www.earthshinenature.com
We are not paid nor do we collect a salary to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
Field update for the Earthshine Nature Programs Snake Tracks Timber rattlesnake conservation project for September 21, 2013.
Zoe remains in the small clearing in the forest where she has been since mid June. I found her today basking at the edge of the forest on a stump. Take a look at the photo below–this is how I found Zoe today!
This time last year Zoe was already on the move toward her overwintering area on the north side of the mountain. Why she is waiting so long to depart, only she knows.
Safety note: Zoe was only about 50 feet from the parked camper. If you are the owner of this camper, please be careful when walking in the area around dusk and dawn during the summer months.
Utsanati has close to half a mile since the last time I located him. I found him on the move and outstretched on the leaf litter. He was in the open, on a sun warmed ridge about 30 feet from the debris associated with a fallen oak and only about 60-80 feet from his overwintering location. He did not feel comfortable enough with my presence so he slowly crawled off into the nearby tangle of timber.
Below is a photo of Utsanati as I first found him.
The next photo is of Utsanati after he started to move off.
It is interesting how he was holding his head up high in a “cobra-like” stance. This is the first time I have seen this behavior in Timber rattlesnakes. It is also interesting to note that he never rattled or acted aggressive in any way–only very slowly moved off with almost no sound at all in order to escape the human interloper.
For more information on the Snake Tracks project and Earthshine Nature Programs please visit us at www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation through exciting hands-on education, out-reach programs, and online with our nature videos, blog and website. We are not paid to operate ENP or to conduct wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated organization with the mission to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
Music by The Steep Canyon Rangers www.steepcanyon.com used in our videos with permission.
Earthshine Nature Programs is in no way affiliated or responsible for ads that may appear below this line.
Below is a video field update on the status of all five of the Eastern box turtles in the Earthshine Nature Programs Turtle Tracks and Turtle Trails projects.
For more information on the Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks projects and Earthshine Nature Programs please visit us at www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation of our misunderstood wildlife through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs, conservation based field research programs, and online with our nature documentary video series.
I am not paid nor do I pay myself to operate ENP or to conduct my wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.
If you would like to help support our mission and programs please feel free to donate using this link: http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate. Receipts available upon request. You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, reptile vitamins and habitat supplies. If you are interested in donating any of these items please contact us for more information on our current needs.
THANK YOU to everyone who has helped us make Earthshine Nature Programs happen! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would not be possible.
Music by The Steep Canyon Rangers used with written permission. www.steepcanyon.com
Earthshine Nature Programs is in no way affiliated or responsible for ads that may appear below this line.
Earthshine Nature 