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Gollum the Hellbender gets a feed!

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Stevo

Take a look at this latest video of “Gollum” the Eastern Hellbender feeding on minnows and goldfish!

Snake Tracks Field Update for 12-8-12

Posted on December 9, 2012 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.

Great New Video Promo for Earthshine Nature!

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Stevo

Check out this wonderful promo video for Earthshine Nature Programs made by a friend of ENP and Earthshine Lodge Kevin Wild of Drawbridge Media

http://www.vimeo.com/54159514 w=500&h=281

EarthShine-NatureCenter from Kevin Wild on Vimeo.

Thank You for the great work Kevin!!

New Pictures From Earthshine Nature and Earthshine Lodge!

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Stevo

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

We found out some great info on Jimmy! He has moved from the spot that he has used for hibernation for the last two years to a site that he used during a very cold and snowy winter a few years ago. Maybe he knows something we don’t…only time will tell.

Jimmy is in the picture but he is underground on the left center of the photo behind the kids.

Meet Arnold our new Blue “Killer” Crayfish!

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Stevo

Welcome Arnold the blue “killer” crayfish. He will be sharing a habitat with Gollum the Eastern Hellbender. Crayfish are one of the Hellbender’s favorite foods–Arnold, however is just a bit large for Gollum to eat so they should coexist just fine together. When I introduced Arnold into Gollum’s habitat it seemed to me that Gollum was perplexed as to what exactly Arnold was–maybe it was the fact that Arnold was blue–unlike any crayfish he had ever seen in his native habitat. Arnold, being captive raised and never living in the wild seemed unsure as well and kept his pincers raised and at the ready just in case Gollum got too close!

Then Gollum stuck his nose directly up against Arnold to get a big sniff! Arnold did not like Gollum’s attitude so he lightly pinched him on the nose and Gollum moved off unharmed. Now they seem to have established their boundaries and keep their distance from each other. If you would like to meet Gollum and Arnold in person just contact us anytime so we can set up an appointment for you to come visit the nature center.

Watch the short video below to see the first meeting between Gollum and Arnold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYyl7_jhbzY

Visit us online at www.earthshinenature.com

TURTLE TRACKS expedition from 10-14-2012

Posted on October 31, 2012 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 October 30, 2012 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 October 27, 2012 by Stevo

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

Crikey hiding in the murky depths. He is a 20″ Spectacled Cayman that was donated to us in September.

The Turtle of Change with some of the Earthshine education turtles. This Turtle of Change award called “Turtle Grupo Tortuguero” was presented to me by “Salamander Whisperer” Alan Cameron for my work with nature and wildlife education and conservation. THANK YOU Alan! Learn more about the turtle at http://www.blueturtle.com

The Turtle of Change with Dr. Bolt and Dr. Davis and a Timber rattlesnake. The snake was about to have a tiny radio transmitter implanted to facilitate tracking it in the wild.

Timber rattlesnake in a restraint tube before transmitter surgery

The Turtle of Change with the Wildsouth crew.

He is holding the Turtle of Change award and a sick turtle.

Busking in Asheville for the Turtle of Change with John Vorus and Chance Feimster

Another view of Didgeridoo and the Turtle of Change

Didgeridoo and the Turtle of Change on top of a remote rock outcrop.

Five Loggerhead sea turtle nests on Edisto Island, SC.

this Snapping turtle crawled into a plastic milk jug ring when it was a baby. the turtle grew but the ring did not stretch. the turtle is now deformed for the rest of its life. This is why you should never litter and always recycle.

Some massive bamboo I found while canoeing in September

Presenting the Turtle of Change to John Rucker and his Turtledogs

maitake mushroom growing at the base of an oak

cooking the maitake with onions and garlic

Jimmy Irwin on 10-14-12. What a beautiful turtle!

hatchling box turtle with flash drive for scale

Hatchling about to be released in the woods near where it’s eggs were accidentally dug up. Good luck little turtle.

Baby Copperheads about to be released. They were born in the nature center in the late summer.

Earthshine is a great place to learn about nature!

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

Posted on October 19, 2012 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.