Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks Field Updates for 11-10-2013
This is an update on the Turtle Tracks wildlife conservation and education project being conducted by Earthshine Nature Programs.
Today I discovered Catherine only about 30-40 feet northwest from her usual over-wintering location. Since I released her after her new transmitter was attached she has moved around 300 feet to the southeast and appears to be getting ready for her long winters nap. Just three feet to the south of Catherine I discovered another box turtle basking in the warm sun just outside of his form. This was a male turtle I had previously marked in 2007. Because of his marking sequence I call him “Abi” and I have found Abi several times before–several years ago I even found him mating with Catherine. It would be nice to one day attach a transmitter to Abi and see just how often he and Catherine cross paths.
Take a look at Catherine and Abi in today’s video below.
If the video does not play try following this link:
to watch the video on Youtube.
This is an update on the Snake Tracks wildlife conservation, research and education project being conducted by Earthshine Nature Programs.
Today both snakes were underground and not visible. Utsanati is in the exact location that he used for overwintering over the last two years. Zoe is a different story. She remains on the southeast side of the ridge not very far from the small clearing above the waterfall where she spent the summer and fall. She is only about 170 feet west of that location and she is in a small, sheltered valley, underground, beneath the roots of a Mountain Laurel shrub. I believe she has chosen to over winter in this location. My question is why? Is this a site she uses periodically for a reason or did she just get caught off guard by cool weather and decide to shelter here out of necessity? Only time may tell.
View a rather dark video (because it was night) of today’s locate.
If the video does not play try following this link:
to watch the video on Youtube.
Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks are two reptile conservation, research and education projects occurring near Earthshine Discovery Center in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology and a lot of hard volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers, glimpse into the lives of two wild Eastern box turtles and two wild Timber rattlesnakes in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on our projects and programs please take a look at our website: http://www.earthshinenature.com
It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation of our misunderstood wildlife through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs, conservation based field research programs, and online with our nature documentary video series.
We are not paid nor do we collect a salary to operate ENP or to conduct our wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated program 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.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without all of you, our wildlife conservation and education mission would just not be possible – your support makes this important work happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate
Music by John Mason and the Steep Canyon Rangers used with written permission.
Video and editing by Steve O’Neil
Earthshine Nature Programs is in no way affiliated or responsible for ads that may appear below this line.
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Earthshine Nature 