...cared for ambassador animals. She’s excited to continue pursuing her passion for habitat restoration and endangered species conservation.
Learn more about Jordan and meet the rest of our staff: www.oriannesociety.org/staff/
A warm welcome to Jordan, another new Prescribed Fire Technician!
Jordan graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management and previously worked in a disease ecology lab and as a Naturalist at Chewacla State Park, where she led education programs and...
...with The Nature Conservancy in Missouri, where he worked on prairie habitat management.
We’re excited to have him on the team as a Prescribed Fire Technician! Learn more about Ethan and meet the rest of our staff: www.oriannesociety.org/staff/
Join us in welcoming Ethan to The Orianne Society!
Ethan Shepherd graduated from Liberty University in 2024 with a degree in Zoo and Wildlife Biology. His path into fire and habitat management began during an internship with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and continued...
She’s excited to expand her work using prescribed fire to improve habitat for reptiles and amphibians.
Welcome to the team, Emily! Learn more about Emily and meet the rest of our staff: www.oriannesociety.org/staff/
Meet Emily, one of our new Prescribed Fire Technicians!
A recent graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management, Emily Tice has field experience in habitat management and wildlife research across Alabama and south Texas.
The group also explored how these reintroduction efforts fit into a broader, range-wide strategy for Eastern Indigo Snake conservation.
The workshop was hosted by the Jones Center at Ichauway and funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Establishing new indigo snake populations comes with real challenges - from captive snake production and post-release monitoring to long-term habitat management. Workshop discussions focused on how partners can address these hurdles and make key decisions guiding the project’s future.
Chris and Houston recently attended a Structured Decision Making workshop focused on advancing Eastern Indigo Snake reintroduction efforts in southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Partners from 10 organizations gathered to help chart the path forward for this conservation effort.
In this video, Chris stands among giant poplars, giving us a glimpse of some of the oldest trees in the Appalachian Highlands.
#OrianneSociety #AppalachianHighlands #Appalachia #Poplars #OldGrowthTrees #NantahalaNationalForest #Conservation
A deadly wildlife disease is spreading, but could season and habitat determine which snakes survive? In this episode, grad student Catherine Hanks reveals how indigo snakes may fight Snake Fungal Disease, and what her research could mean for conservation.
www.oriannesociety.org/snake-talk/
What is this?
Discover one of the Caribbean’s rarest amphibians fighting for survival. Through the lens of conservationist Dustin Smith, we get a closer look at this incredible species, and the dedicated recovery efforts working to secure its future.
www.oriannesociety.org/photo-of-the...
Who stands in a frozen river at night to look for salamanders?
In this month’s Faces of the Forest, Kiley heads into the icy waters of Canada in search of Mudpuppies, taking part in a winter tradition unlike any other!
www.oriannesociety.org/faces-of-the...
On Lighting a Match, learn how Caleb interprets the weather forecast for predicting fire behavior. From temperature, wind direction, and relative humidity to dew point and dispersion index, he explains how these conditions shape every prescribed burn.
www.oriannesociety.org/lighting-a-m...
At low temperatures, they can absorb much of the oxygen they need directly through their skin—especially through the roof of the mouth and cloaca (yes, sometimes called “butt breathing”). Nature always finds a way.
During this time, they shelter in deep pools, under streambanks, or wedged under root wads and debris. Unlike some turtles that tolerate very low oxygen, Wood Turtles rely on cold, well-oxygenated water, one reason they overwinter in flowing streams rather than stagnant ponds.
What do #WoodTurtles do to survive the winter?
Like most turtles, they overwinter underwater, surviving for months without breathing air as long as the water stays very cold.
...to emerge in the spring and can sometimes be seen breeding in large congregations while there is still snow on the ground.
What do Common #Gartersnakes do to survive the winter?
Although somewhat freeze tolerant, they typically head underground for the winter, seeking out holes, crevices, or other openings to get below the frost line. They are often the first snake...
#WildHogs might look out of place in the Appalachian Highlands... and they are.
Dr. Chris Jenkins gives us a peek at recent feral hog damage to a sensitive mountain habitat we’re working to restore for salamanders and other wildlife.
...finding the right lab as an undergraduate. They also dive into her thesis research on the immune capacity of Eastern Indigo Snakes and what it may reveal about how these iconic snakes respond to Snake Fungal Disease in the wild.
Listen in: www.oriannesociety.org/snake-talk/
How do weather, habitat, and season influence a snake’s ability to fight disease?
In this episode, Chris Jenkins sits down with Catherine Hanks, a graduate student in ecology at the University of Georgia, to talk about her path into graduate school, from studying tropical ecology in Costa Rica to...
Because these pools dry up in summer, arriving early gives their young the best chance to mature before the water disappears, an advantage that comes with real risks in the cold.
But if they do freeze, they can survive that, too (to a point). By staying so close to the surface, they’re among the first amphibians to awaken in spring and head straight to vernal pools to breed.
What do #WoodFrogs do to survive the winter?
They usually just seek shelter under leaflitter or just under the soil’s surface. Wood Frogs are famous for their ability to cool well below freezing temperatures without freezing, by producing high concentrations of sugars in their blood.
Dr. Chris Jenkins shares an exciting update from the field—another wave of #WoodFrog eggs has appeared here in the Appalachian Highlands. These brief, explosive breeding events are a reminder of how closely amphibians track rain, temperature, and timing in early spring.
...the challenge is finding a spot where they won’t be exposed to freezing temperatures. As a contingency, however, they are the only turtle in North America capable of surviving over half of their body freezing as adults.
What do #EasternBoxTurtles do to survive a northern winter?
As the only turtle in the Northeast that overwinters on land, Box Turtles need to find a safe spot to seek shelter from harsh winter conditions. Burrowing under leaflitter or to a shallow depth below the soil is typical, but...
Putting the GO in indigo!!
Did you know that Eastern Indigo Snakes have one of the largest home ranges of any North American snake? They’ve even been documented traveling over 10 miles between capture events! This is why contiguous, un-fragmented habitat is vital for indigo snake conservation.
When wetlands dry, Spotted Turtles will often hunker down in the mud or leaf litter and wait for wetlands to refill, making them nearly impossible to find.
