Potter O. Possum

Posted on by Stevo

It is with great sadness that I must report that Potter passed away last night.

Late yesterday afternoon his condition had quickly worsened and he and was rushed to an emergency Veterinary clinic where he was given IV fluids and meds but his injuries were just to severe to save him and he passed away on the table at around 11pm. According to the doctor he may have had internal injuries including swelling of the brain and possibly a bacterial infection that resulted from his battle with his attacker. These internal injuries did not show up at his first exam but developed later.

Potter was a great ambassador for wildlife education. He educated thousands of people on the value and beauty of our native wildlife and nature. He became a celebrity at Earthshine where thousands of children and adults met him and learned about his life and twice he appeared on WLOS TV to help promote nature education events. He showed us that even misunderstood animals like the Opossum have a place in nature and should be respected and admired for their role in the web of life.

Potter, your gentleness and uniqueness will not be forgotten.

Thank you to everyone who donated your time, money and care for Potter after his ordeal and in his final hours.

POTTER THE OPOSSUM ATTACKED

Posted on by Stevo

On the night of June 5th Potter O. Possum–Earthshine Nature’s resident Opossum–was attacked by an intruder.  The animal–most likely a Raccoon–tore its way through the wire and into Potter’s enclosure and attacked him.  He was badly scratched up and suffered several bad puncture wounds to his neck, shoulders, face, front feet and he also lost a large amount of fur in his battle with the varmint.  The most startling thing was that both of his dagger-like upper canine teeth were badly damaged and one of his lower canine teeth was broken off at the gum line.  For this to happen he must have put up an incredible fight with his attacker.  Hopefully he gave out just as much or more than he received and the raccoon will think twice about trying to tangle with Potter again.

I rushed Potter to Riversong Veterinary Clinic in Brevard where Dr. Ann Holshouser and her assistants gently treated his wounds and sent him home with an order for with plenty of bed rest, good food and meds.  They were very caring and professional in their care of Potter and I highly recommend their services to anyone with a pet or Opossum in need.

Here is a pic of Potter at Riversong undergoing treatment for his wounds.

For Potter’s ordeal in it’s entirety (not including the fight) view the video below.

Potter is sleeping now and will hopefully be back to his old ‘possum self soon.  I am worried however that he may have to have major dental surgery at some point down the road because of the injuries to his canine teeth.  Opossums have very long canine teeth and to remove them will require over an hour of surgery with Potter fully anesthetized.  I honestly hope that this does not have to happen because an opossums first line of defense are his teeth–without them he would not be able to defend himself if an attacker ever broke into his habitat again.  For this reason I have decided to appeal to you–Potter’s friends and family–for any and all donations to Potters fund.  All donations to help Potter recover will be used to cover the costs of Potters recent vet bills, future care and in the event that he needs further health care resulting from any complications from his injuries.

The first 5 people who donate $50 or more to the Potter fund will receive an autographed (his paw print) photo of Potter and a plush Opossum toy.

Below is a pic of a photo similar (but not exactly like) the one you will receive.  Your photo will be actually autographed by Potter as he walks across the photo after stepping in non-toxic ink so it may appear a bit different than this photo-shopped photo.

The plush Opossum will be like the one in the below photo.  It is made by Fiesta toys.

Please sponsoring Potter with a donation.   When you donate please note that your donation is for the Potter Fund and it will be used only for Potters support.

Thank you for your support.

Rattlesnake Report for 6/4/12

Posted on by Stevo

I tracked Zoe on 6/3/12. She remains in the same area of old fields and tangled undergrowth as I reported on 5/28. She has only moved around 50 feet and was in a tight resting coil when I found her. While searching for her I “discovered” a beautiful waterfall known as Kings falls.

Watch the video below for the full report.

A Visit to a Timber Rattlesnake Den

Posted on by Stevo

A few days ago I teamed up with some wildlife conservation friends and we ventured deep into a remote forest in the search of a Timber Rattlesnake den site.

The day started early and after a lengthy drive over rough and rutted roads (thank goodness for 4wd) we came to a remote pull off on the side of a long forgotten trail deep in the forest.  We geared up and headed off to shoot some rattlers–with cameras!  After a grueling hike up a steep mountainside covered in ripening blueberries we came to what looked like an impassible Rhododendron thicket…we dove in and picked our way through for at least a hour before we were rewarded on the other side by a view of a sprawling mountain bald laid out before our eyes.  It was a beautiful and somewhat surreal place, a fragile habitat that called for us to walk gingerly so we would not destroy the fragile mosses and lichens that grow like fairy gardens from the rocks.  Alan, our guide, pointed out a rock where he had seen several rattlers a few days before so we used our cameras to zoom in and search the area for occupants–and there they were, three large Timber Rattlesnakes basking in the morning sun!  They were beautiful snakes and they remained calm and still until we approached closer–then they began to rattle and slowly moved under the nearby rock to shelter from the huge creatures that had disturbed their morning basking ritual.  We laid down on the warm bald and used our cameras to zoom in and get some video and photos of these beautiful creatures (see video below).  Alan then noticed two rather plump Northern Copperheads sharing space under the rock with the rattlers–we took more pictures.

After we had our fill of the first rock Alan led us across the bald to another rock where we found a pile of rattlesnakes!  There were four in all and they were basking together in the warm morning sunshine.  Upon our approach they began to rattle and then they  moved quickly under their shelter rock to escape the invaders. We approached the rock and again flattened ourselves on the bedrock of the mountain to observe these beautiful and misunderstood creatures.  Several of them continued to rattle for a time until they felt content that we were not going to proceed any farther and harm them–then they calmed down and stopped rattling and let us take some more photos.

Nearby I found what looked to us like a possible den entrance hole and a shed timber rattlesnake skin.

We discussed the fact that so many chunky, healthy rattlers–7 in all–were basking together on this one small rocky bald.  We came up with the hypothesis that all of these snakes may be females and that this site may be a maternity/gestation site!  Female Timber Rattlesnakes and Northern Copperheads are live bearers–they do not lay eggs.  When they are gravid (pregnant) they move to a site that provides warmth in which to raise their body temperature and speed up gestation of the baby rattlers inside of them, shelter in the form of rocks to hide under and safety–these sites are usually far away from areas that humans frequent.  Not because the Timber rattlesnakes chooses these remote sites to be away from humans but because the other rattler maternity/den sites that were once in the areas where humans now range–have sadly all been destroyed by people that are fearful of snakes.

After surveying the remainder of the site for more rattlers and not finding any we decided to leave the site so not to further disturb these beautiful and sensitive creatures.  We have also decided to not return to the site any more than necessary so we limit the risk of stress to the snakes in this crucial time in their lives.  We may return in the late summer to see if the mothers have had their young and if we do I will be sure to report on it.

For the full story as it happened on film take a look at the video of our visit to a Timber Rattlesnake den.

The Timber Rattlesnake is vanishing from many parts of its range for many reasons:

Rattlesnakes are often killed on sight just because they are snakes.

Rattlesnakes are often collected from the wild for horrible rattlesnake roundups where they are tortured and killed and their arts are then sold for the production of boots, bags and belts and other rattlesnake trinkets and for their meager amount of meat.  These rattlesnake products are often used by people who believe that owning or eating a part of a rattlesnake will make them more desirable in some way.  In truth it makes them less desirable in all ways because they are supporting the continued killing of a beautiful, shy and unique creature that deserves to live.  Please do all you can to stop rattlesnake roundups.

Rattlesnakes are often kept as “pets” by people who like to keep snakes.   This is illegal in many areas without specialized state and possibly federally issued permits.

Rattlesnakes are often illegally sold to people in Asian countries for medicinal and fertility concoctions that do not work.

Because of the human persecution of Rattlesnakes–they are now extirpated (locally extinct) in many areas where they once ranged.

Many of these areas have now enacted protection for the rattlesnake.  In North Carolina it is illegal to collect, capture, possess or harm a rattlesnake unless it is threatening your life.  This means you cannot touch, harm or capture a rattlesnake if you see it in the forest while hiking/hunting/camping and so on.  The forest is the snakes home–not yours.  If the snake is in your kitchen or your child’s play area then that is a different story.  The snake has a role to play in the circle of life and it deserves to live just as much as we do.  If you are privileged and lucky enough to one day cross paths with a rattlesnake–stop.  Back up and marvel at this wonderful and beautiful creature that you have found.  Take out your camera and get some photos–from a safe distance of course.  Please do not harm the snake.  Please let it live and grow and play the part in nature that it is meant to play–the role of a very effective predator of rodents and food source for other creatures.

The fact is that many, many more rattlesnakes have been killed by people than people have been killed by rattlesnakes.  Less than 20 people per year die from the bite of venomous snakes in the USA.  How many people are killed by other people–it looks like we humans are FAR more dangerous than the rattlesnake will ever be.

For more on Earthshine Nature Programs please visit: Earthshine Nature Programs

Rattlesnake Report for 5/28/12

Posted on by Stevo

Today when i went to look for Zoe I was unable to get a signal in any direction. I walked deeper into the forest and still no signal. I drove to the end of the road–no signal. I began to think she had either moved out of range or been carried off by a predator such as a hawk or owl. i decided to search for Utsanati’s signal to see if he had moved closer to Zoe and when I input his frequency into the receiver his signal was as if he was sitting right next to me! I panned the antenna around just to be sure and yes–he was right in front of me in the very same woodpile that he visited in the late summer of 2011. He had come back to the woodpile for what purpose–rodents, thermoregulation, shelter–or all of the above. Whatever the purpose I quickly got some video and data and left him alone in all his glory. I am amazed that in one week he has moved so far. He trekked from the top of the mountain above Earthshine to the woodpile–moving most likely along the edge of the forest as he did last year after his transmitter implantation surgery. The movements of Timber rattlesnakes will never cease to amaze me. Due to Utsanati’s presence in the woodpile his danger level is a 5. If you live in the area of the woodpile please use caution when walking/working near brush and thick vegetation especially from dusk to dawn when Timber rattlesnakes are most active.

I had found Utsanati but where was Zoe? I drove to the top of the mountain above the lodge to try to get to the highest point to search for Zoe’s signal–no signal. I drove down the trail in the woods below where she was previously located–no signal. I decided to slowly drive around the side of the mountain where she had last been located and venture up every road and driveway until I found her signal…it worked! The third trail I went up went through a field of tall grass and near the end of the field I picked up her signal quite strongly! I drove down a rough trail and through an overgrown field to where the road ran out near the edge of the forest. When I exited the vehicle I could hear a waterfall somewhere nearby. I searched the thick bushes and followed her signal to an area of overgrown vines, wild rose and blackberry brambles where I found her resting in a coil in the warm sun under some tall grass. She had ants biting at her and was twitching the get them to leave her alone. I also noticed that she had an injury or dry skin spot on her left side a few inches back from her head. Maybe she had encountered a predator in her travels? I was unable to investigate it farther because she moved off into the tangle of vines in response to my presence and the ants. She had traveled over 1/2 a mile in one week! She had passed through very hazardous terrain for a rattlesnake–farms, roads, trails, predators, dogs and humans were all obstacles in her way–but somehow she managed to survive. Where is she going? Only time will tell.

Watch the video of my search today for Utsanati and Zoe.

The release of Lucky Longnecker and a fun Watersnake Encounter

Posted on by Stevo

Lucky Longnecker–a juvenile Common Snapping Turtle–came to us in May of 2010.  Our maintenance guru Gene found him in the parking lot on a hot spring day.  What he was doing that far from water we will never know–but he appeared dead and dessicated.  I gave him a soak in a warm water and over the next few hours he came back from the brink of death.  We have had him ever since in a 20 gallon aquarium in the Nature Center where he has grown by leaps and bounds into the strong and healthy sub-adult snapping turtle we all know and love.  This is the most recent photo of Lucky below.

Lucky has grown to large for his enclosure so on 5-20-12 we decided to release him into the pond where he was probably born 3-4 years ago.  Before we released him we filed a couple of tiny notches on the trailing edge of his carapace so that we can always identify him if we ever see him again.  Watch the video below to view the release of Lucky and then watch as we then discover a medium sized Northern watersnake and I catch it for everyone to meet and learn about!