earthshine nature programs

Timber Rattlesnake Tracks Field Update for 4/24/13

Posted on by Stevo

Update for the Earthshine Nature Programs “Snake Tracks” Timber Rattlesnake conservation project.

Zoe is on the move and over 400 feet southeast of her den.  She is in the same brush pile that I found her in at the same time last year.  This brush pile is at the edge of the forest behind the private residence in the photo below.

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This photo was take on 4/17/2012 and today I found Zoe only a few feet to the right of the yellow arrow.  This year however, more brush has been piled on the brush pile so Zoe has better cover and I was unable to see her.

Utsanati is out of hibernation and on the move.  He has moved about 260 feet west of his hibernation location and was sheltering in a stumphole.

Following in the “tracks” of these snakes is revealing that Timber Rattlesnakes seem to follow the same general paths each year.  They use the same dens, visit the same sheltering, feeding and basking sites.  I believe that Zoe will move on in the next week or so and make her way east along the ridge just like she did last year at this time.

If you encounter a rattlesnake on your property please stay a safe distance away, take photos and let it be.  If it is in a place where it may be a danger to you or your family please contact me and I will discuss the options with you.

View the video from today below.

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 to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without you this important work would not happen.  You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, vitamins and habitat supplies. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting www.earthshinenature.com/donate

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

Snake Tracks Field Update for 4/12/13

Posted on by Stevo

Spring update for the Earthshine Snake Tracks Timber Rattlesnake conservation project.

Today I found Utsanati remaining in hibernation and Zoe was ~160 feet Southeast of her den.  She was outstretched on the leaf litter basking in the morning sun and although I walked to within ~4 feet of her she never rattled.

Take a look at the video footage from today below:

If the above video does not play you can view the video at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCkk60MIKgc

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.  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 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 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 Earthshine Discovery Center 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.

New Wild Adventures with Steve Videos!

Posted on by Stevo

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A few weeks ago some friends and I headed south to the forests of southern Alabama to meet up with some great folks from Auburn University and members of the Southeastern chapter of the North American Field Herping Association. We were there to assist them with their Eastern Indigo Snake re-introduction project.  In the new video below follow some friends and I as we hunt for reptiles and amphibians in the name of wildlife conservation in the Conecuh National Forest in Alabama USA.

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Our primary goal: help the researchers and scientists in charge of the re-introduction of the threatened Eastern Indigo Snake find as many snakes as possible and assess their health and status.

Our secondary goal: find and many herps (reptiles and amphibians) as possible, photograph them and then release them safely where we found them.

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Check out the video for all the action and details.

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I live in an area known as “The Land of Waterfalls” so a couple of weeks ago I went waterfall hunting with some friends and visited Rainbow Falls–a beautiful waterfall about an hour from my home.  Following in my usual style I was not content to just view the falls from the observation area–I had to have a more personal experience!

Check it out below!

New Pictures From Earthshine Nature and Earthshine Lodge!

Posted on by Stevo

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

Meet Arnold our new Blue “Killer” Crayfish!

Posted on 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 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