wildlife conservation

Snake Tracks Field Update for 12-8-12

Posted on by Stevo

This is an update of the Snake Tracks Timber Rattlesnake research, conservation and education project currently being conducted by Earthshine Nature Programs.

Zoe and Utsanati remain in their over-wintering den sites. Today I discovered a rodent hole only a few inches from Utsanati’s location–this may be his access to his den site. I also found that Zoe has moved about 10 feet downhill from her last years den and is sheltering under a large rock.

Take a look at the video footage for the details of today’s expedition.

THANK YOU to Earthshine Mountain Lodge and all of you who have helped to make Earthshine Nature Programs happen!

Without all of you our wildlife conservation and education mission would not be possible.

It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation through exciting hands-on education and out-reach programs. I am not paid to operate ENP or to conduct wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated project designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and to hopefully, impart to you their beauty, uniqueness and value to a healthy earth and healthy humans. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate using this link. You may also donate supplies such as research materials, 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.  Receipts available upon request.

THANK YOU to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without you this important work would not happen.

New Pictures From Earthshine Nature and Earthshine Lodge!

Posted on by Stevo

Check out some of the latest pics of your memories at Earthshine!

TURTLE TRACKS expedition from 10-14-2012

Posted on by Stevo

This is the most recent Turtle Tracking expedition of 2012. In the below video we find that Catherine is headed toward her over-wintering site and Jimmy Irwin is already there! This is probably the last time we will see them until April 2013.

Thank you to everyone who assisted me in locating the turtles today!

Turtle Tracks is an Eastern Box Turtle conservation and research project occurring at Earthshine Mountain Lodge in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology, glimpse into the life of a wild box turtle in its natural environment.

Music By: The Steep Canyon Rangers http://www.steepcanyon.com

Special Thanks to: Catherine and Jimmy Irwin the Eastern Box Turtles, Earthshine Mountain Lodge and staff, John Rucker and his amazing turtledogs, Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC., Dr. Coleman DVM, Catherine O’Neil, Marian O’Neil, Lori Williams, Gabrielle Graeter of the NCWRC, Ann Somers , The Steep Canyon Rangers http://www.steepcanyon.com, John Mason http://www.blueridgebreezes.com and the late Steve Irwin “The Crocodile Hunter” for your passion and dedication for preserving the wildlife and wild places of the planet. May your dreams and passion live on in everyone you inspired and may you rest in peace.

For more information on Earthshine Nature and the Turtle tracks Eastern Box Turtle conservation project check out: http://www.earthshinenature.com

Snake Tracks Field Update for 10-28-12

Posted on by Stevo

Zoe and Utsanati were not visible on the surface today. They have have moved into their over-wintering dens. They are using the exact same sites that they used last year. It is obvious to me that both snakes know exactly where they are and exactly where they are going. This is important to know because moving a snake to a new area could adversely it’s ability to survive. Even if you move a snake with the goal of trying to help get it out of harms way, you could actually be harming the snake unintentionally. Other studies have shown that when moved, some animals can adapt but others such as the Timber rattlesnake, will search endlessly for familiar places. Relocated animals use vast am mounts of energy and do not feed or mate as often as if they were in their native habitat. They spend most of their time searching for familiar sheltering, feeding and denning sites and if they cannot find their preferred over wintering site they may not survive the winter. If you have to move a snake please do not move it very far–a few hundred yards at the most.

Take a look at the video footage from today below:

If that link does not work you can watch the video through this link

It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation through exciting hands-on education and out-reach programs. I am not paid to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated project designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and to hopefully, impart to you their beauty, uniqueness and value to a healthy earth and healthy humans.

If you would like to support 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 over the years!! Without you this important work would not happen.

Click HERE to learn how you and your family, school, scout, corporate or camp group, can visit Earthshine Mountain Lodge and have a wonderful educational retreat!

Video and editing by Steve O’Neil

Music by the Steep Canyon Rangers used with permission. http://www.steepcanyon.com

New nature photos from ENP!

Posted on by Stevo

Check out several new photos from adventures with Earthshine Nature Programs from over the last few weeks–enjoy!

Turtle of Change visit’s Asheville, NC street buskers and Xavier Rudd in concert!

Posted on by Stevo

On October 20th the Blue Turtle award known as “Turtle Grupo Tortuguero” made a special trip to Asheville, North Carolina. While there it witnessed some street buskers playing their didgeridoo (yidaki) for good and positive change. The turtle then was present at a concert by “multi-instrumentalist, world class surfer, animal rights activist and nature conservationist” Xavier Rudd. The next day the turtle journeyed to the top of a remote granitic dome in the middle of the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC for a look at the fall scenery and a special didgeridoo performance by Earthshine Nature Programs Naturalist Steve O’Neil. View the video of highlights from the adventure below.

My challenge for you reading this: PLEASE do something good today for your family, friends, community, animals and Nature. Pass the positive energy along and keep it moving. Let’s create a wave of good and positive, lasting change that will make your communities and the world a better place for all creatures.

Musicians in order of appearance: Steve O’Neil, Chance Feimster, John Vorus and Xavier Rudd.

For more about Earthshine Nature Programs and Steve O’Neil visit: www.earthshinenature.com and www.earthshinenature.wordpress.com

For John Vorus visit: www.johnvorus.com

For Xavier Rudd visit: www.xavierrudd.com

Learn more about the Blue Turtle/Turtle of Change Award at www.blueturtle.com

Snake Tracks Field Update for 10-11-12 from Earthshine Nature Programs

Posted on by Stevo

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.

Baby ratsnakes hatch at the Earthshine Nature Center!

Posted on by Stevo

A few months ago I found several ratsnake eggs in the “ratsnake skyway” habitat at the Nature Center. I am unsure which snake laid them but it had to be Lori (Yellow ratsnake) or Xena (Albino ratsnake). The father was either Scar (Black ratsnake) or Heyward (Grey ratsnake). I placed the eggs in a makeshift incubator and hoped for the best and about a week ago they started hatching! Take a look at the photos and video below for great vision of all the action!

In the first photo the eggs have just starting to hatch.  The small cuts on the eggs are from the baby snakes using their egg tooth’s to cut the shell open from the inside.  The egg on the lower left has a tiny snake nose poking out to sniff the big world!

Do I really want to come out of the safety of this warm egg?

Just hatched!

Hello world!  I am a ratsnake and I am here to eat rats!

 One of the babies was born with a spinal defect and did not survive so it was fed to King the Eastern Kingsnake.  Watch the short video below to watch the feeding and see the baby snakes!

Find us online at Earthshine Nature Programs.