Zoe and Utsanati have left the power line access way and moved into the forest closer to their over-wintering sites. We found Zoe underground in her interim den but we were unable to visually locate her. This is a site that she used last year at this time just before she entered her primary den which is located only ~150 from the interim den. She again used this site this past spring as a a resting place just after she came out of hibernation. It is obvious that she knows exactly where she is and exactly where she is going.
We found Utsanati on the surface in a resting coil only a few hundred feet uphill from his den site. It will be very interesting to see if both snakes return to their last winter’s den sites.
Utsanati. Photo by Fred Bahnson
Watch the video from today’s expedition below.
If the video does not show then you can watch the video on my Youtube channel.
I am not paid to conduct this research–this is a volunteer project that I am undertaking to learn all that I can about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals to further educate you about their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy forest ecosystem.
If you would like to support the Snake Tracks Timber Rattlesnake wildlife conservation, research, and education project and/or Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate using this link. Receipts available upon request. You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, 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 all of you who have donated to ENP!! Without you this important work would not happen.
Today I found both rattlesnakes deep in the forest far from areas of Human habitation or visitation. They were only ~40 feet apart within the power line access way. Zoe was sunning in the open under some brush and Utsanati was coiled at the base of a Mountain Laurel shrub beside the “trail.” It is interesting to note that while tracking Zoe I had unknowingly walked within 2 feet of Utsanati and he never once moved or rattled!
Here is a photo of Utsanati.
Both snakes never rattled or acted aggressive upon my approach–they just remained coiled in resting coils despite the fact that I was only a few feet away as I collected my data.
Zoe as I found her.
After locating both rattlesnakes I made my way back up the steep mountainside and almost stepped on this little cute garter snake.
He posed for several photos and video–he was a bit more wary of me than the rattlesnakes who I believe have gotten used to me visiting them occasionally.
Take a look at the video footage from today below:
If the video does not show then you can watch the video on my Youtube channel.
I am not paid to do this research–this is a volunteer project that I am undertaking to learn all that I can about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals to further educate you about their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy forest ecosystem.
If you would like to support the Snake Tracks Timber Rattlesnake wildlife conservation, research, and education project and/or Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate using this link. Receipts available upon request. You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, 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 all of you who have donated to ENP!! Without you this important work would not happen.
Today I found both rattlesnakes deep in the forest far from areas of Human habitation or visitation. They were only a few hundred feet apart within the power line access way. Zoe was sunning in the open and Utsanati was moving from the access way into the forest.
Here’s a photo of Zoe basking in the warm last day of summer sun.
Both snakes never rattled or acted aggressive upon my approach–they just slowly moved a few feet away from me and hid when I started collecting my data. That’s a photo of Utsanati below–can you find him?
I am not paid to do this research–this is a volunteer project that I am undertaking to learn all that I can about these amazing animals to further educate you about their beauty, uniqueness and value to a healthy forest ecosystem. If you would like to support the Snake Tracks Timber Rattlesnake wildlife conservation, research, and education project and/or Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate using this link. Receipts available upon request. You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, 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 all of you who have donated to ENP!! Without you this important work would not happen.
Today I discovered Zoe stretched out on the leaf litter–she was on the move heading north possibly toward her hibernation location.
I found her only around 100 feet from the woodpile where Utsanati has spent lots of time over the last year! This means that she has moved over 1/2 mile over the last two weeks and successfully evaded the heavy equipment on the south side of the ridge. Because I find these snakes in the vicinity of the woodpile in the early spring and again in the late summer it makes me wonder if these snakes use this ridge line as sort of a highway when moving from feeding to wintering grounds–only time will tell.
Zoe had a hitchhiking red mite at the base of her rattle. I do not know it it was simply getting a lift or if it was actually feeding on Zoe. Here’s a photo.
When I approached Zoe her she was calm, quiet and never rattled and barely even moved so I decided to test her comfort zone and see what it would take to get her to rattle without touching her–boy was I in for a surprise! I could explain what happened in a very long paragraph but the best way for you to experience it is to watch the video below.
Here is a photo from just after I shot the video…
Watch the video to find out way Zoe is coiled so close to my foot!
If the video does not show up just follow this link.
I am still processing this amazing experience but I will tell you that this encounter has further strengthened my belief that Timber Rattlesnakes are timid, secretive, docile and non-threatening–unless you harass them or harm them. Then they can be dangerous and will use their venom in self defense and I can not blame them for that because I would do the same if I was in their shoes…er, scales.
Zoe was very close to human inhabited areas on September 14th so if you live near the woodpile I mentioned please be on the look out for her. I plan to re-locate her on the 20th and will report on her then.
I found Utsanati sheltering in the remote forest at the edge of the power line access way far from human habitation and activity areas.
When I found him he was in a resting coil under a Mountain Laurel shrub. He never rattled or moved.
What a beautiful creature!
I am not paid to do this research–this is a volunteer project that I am undertaking to learn all that I can about these amazing animals to further educate you about their beauty, uniqueness and value to a healthy forest ecosystem. If you would like to support the Snake Tracks Timber Rattlesnake wildlife conservation, research, and education project and/or Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate using this link. Receipts available upon request. THANK YOU to all of you who have donated to ENP!! Without you this important work would not happen.
Watch as ENP’s rattlesnake vet Dr. Lee Bolt and Professor Ron Davis implant a radio transmitter into a wild Timber Rattlesnake. This snake will be tracked by Dr. Davis and his students from Western Carolina University in order to learn more about it’s movements and habitat use.
After the surgery watch as Dr. Bolt uses a therapeutic laser to help with wound healing! This may be the first time a therapeutic laser has been used on a Timber Rattlesnake!
Due to continued technical difficulties this post is late.
Utsanati is still sheltering in the remote forest at the edge of the power line access way far from human habitation and activity areas. He has recently shed his skin and is beautiful! Today he participated in a special photo shoot (see photos and video) for the Blue Turtle/Turtle of Change project that is working to make a difference and a change all over the world. That is Utsanati with the Turtle of Change “Turtle Grupo Tortuguero” below.
If you have not had a chance to read my blog posts on the Turtle of Change blog then here’s another chance:
Today I found Zoe in the same small clearing near the top of the waterfall sheltering under the same tangle of brush/logs where I found her about two weeks ago! She obviously has some sort of special attachment to this spot be it a good thermo-regulation location or a possible maternity site–we may never know. Because I have found her in this exact location on three separate times this spring and summer I now know that this is an important site for this rattlesnake. To a human this site would look unremarkable but to this snake it is all important and may make all the difference in the world to her life and her success. This is why we need to learn all that we can about wildlife–especially sensitive and threatened creatures like the Timber Rattlesnake. The more we know the more we will be able to help conserve and protect nature and wildlife from us.
With the cooler nights and shorter days I believe that Zoe will soon be making her trek back up the ridge toward her over-wintering location. To do this she will need to cross a dangerous road construction zone where a driveway is being cut into the forest so I fear for her safety. I only hope that she decides to move after the workers “punch out” at the end of the day or late at night.
Zoe also participated in the photo shoot for the Turtles of Change project–see if you can find her in the photo below.
If the video does not show or play then follow this link to view the video: http://youtu.be/CQBqCbBKHG4
I am not paid to do this research–this is a volunteer project that I am undertaking to learn all that I can about these amazing animals to further educate you about their beauty, uniqueness and value to a healthy forest ecosystem. If you would like to support the Snake Tracks Timber Rattlesnake wildlife conservation, research, and education project and/or Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate using this link. Receipts available upon request. THANK YOU to all of you who have donated to ENP!! Without you this important work would not happen.
I walked in the nature center a few weeks ago and check out what I saw! Gandalf the Canebrake Rattlesnake shedding the last 1/3 of his skin! Watch the short video below for the details!
Recently Earthshine Nature Programs Executive Director Steve O’Neil was awarded a very special award known as the “Turtle of Change”
This award is a small bronze statue of a sea turtle.
It is special because it is the only one in the USA and it is traveling all over the world visiting people who are working to make a good and lasting change in the community or the planet.
The turtle called “Turtle Grupo Tortugero” was presented to Steve by the previous recipient of the turtle Alan Cameron. Alan is also known as “The Salamander Whisperer” because of his ability to find endangered Green Salamanders where no one else can find them. Alan has been volunteering with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for many years and has helped them find thousands of Green Salamander sites all over WNC.
Alan presents Steve with the Turtle of Change.
Steve wrote the following in the Blue Turtle blog:
After receiving Turtle Grupo Tortugero (TSN004) first I took it to meet the education and turtles at Earthshine Mountain Lodge and Nature Center (see last photo). I found four of the turtles who were interested in meeting the turtle–the other seven did not want to have their photo placed on the internet 🙂
Three of the Earthshine turtles are Eastern Box Turtles and one is a Redfoot Tortoise. All of our turtles have either lost their homes due to development, are ex-pets or were badly injured due to unfortunate meetings with vehicles, lawn mowers or dogs. Tripod–on the bottom left–is our mascot. She lost her right rear leg after she was hit by a car in 2007. The turtle to Tripod’s left is Lucky. She was also hit by a car and suffered severe trauma to her left rear leg and shell but she has recovered nicely. The turtle to Lucky’s left is Crash. She was hit by a car and had such severe injuries that I did not think she would survive. After a visit to our veterinarian Dr. Coleman, I patched her up with epoxy, gave her some antibiotic injections and fed her loads of box turtle favorites and she has made a full recovery! The final turtle is Charlie. I found her at a reptile show and felt sorry for her so I gave her a great home at our nature center. Sadly, all of the turtles at Earthshine Lodge and Nature Center cannot be released due to their circumstances. They are however wonderful education animals that help teach people about the wonder and beauty of nature and why animals like the Eastern box turtle need understanding and protection.
After visiting with the turtles at Earthshine Lodge the Turtle of Change traveled with me to a local Veterinary Clinic–Sweeten Creek Animal and Bird Hospital–where I met up with Dr. Lee Bolt and Dr. Ron Davis to assist with the radio transmitter implantation surgery on a Timber Rattlesnake. Take a look at the photo of the turtle on the operating table with the rattlesnake, Dr. Davis (in yellow) and Dr. Bolt. The surgery went flawlessly and the snake has recovered and has been released back into the wild. Dr. Davis will track the snakes movements over the next few years in order to learn as much as possible about the life of the Timber Rattlesnake. The knowledge he gains will be imparted to his students who will become future wildlife biologists, conservationists and naturalists.
The next stop for the turtle was at a remote rock outcrop known as the “Secret Place” on the side of a mountain near Brevard, NC. USA. This rock shelter was used by the Native Americans as evidenced by the petroglyphs on top of the rock. I teamed up with my friend (and didgeridoo virtuoso) John Vorus to play didgeridoo (yidaki) over the turtle in this amazing power place. We first played our yidaki to the turtle on top of the rock then moved down under to the rock shelter and recorded a video. Take a look at the photo on top of the rock and video of our time at “The Secret Place.” View the short video of our concert for the turtle of change here.
The final stop for the turtle (so far) was when it followed me to the office of Dr. Coleman DVM. Dr. Coleman is a wonderful veterinarian and lover of all wildlife and my wildlife vet. I snapped the photograph of Dr. Coleman and the brass turtle while he was treating a wild box turtle. Thank you Dr. Coleman for all that you to for wildlife and for Earthshine Nature Programs!
THANK YOU Alan Cameron for presenting me with this great honor.
A bunch of great photos from the Summer of 2012 with Earthshine Nature Programs and Earthshine Mountain Lodge. Thank you all for staying with us, please come back next year and tell all your friends about Earthshine and Earthshine Nature.
Earthshine Nature 