Kiley Briggs, Author at The Orianne Society

6 minute read

Faces of the Forest

A Year in the Life of a Wood Turtle

ByKiley Briggs
December 13, 2024

Explore the fascinating year-long journey of the Wood Turtle, from winter hibernation to summer foraging, and discover how their seasonal behaviors influence conservation efforts. Learn how understanding their movement patterns can guide land management practices to protect this threatened species.

Saving Wood Turtles on working lands involves working with farmers towards their conservation. Shown here, Wood Turtle with injury from haying equipment.

5 minute read

Faces of the Forest

An Approach to Saving Wood Turtles on Working Lands

ByKiley Briggs
November 14, 2024

Views:206 views Common Injuries Among Wood Turtles When I first came across a Wood Turtle nicknamed “Chippy”, she…

Found on a search for Wood Turtle focus area.

5 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Searching for a Wood Turtle Focus Area in the Hudson-Berkshire Region

ByKiley Briggs
October 16, 2024

Views:274 views When we started surveys for Wood Turtles in southeastern New York last year, I wasn’t sure…

4 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Interesting Observations from the Field (Non-Herps)

ByKiley Briggs
September 12, 2024

Views:132 views In the course of my work, I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I see…

The stream pictured here had no obvious high quality nest sites for Wood Turtles prior to the extreme floods in July of 2023. Once floodwaters receded, however, several prominent sandbars were deposited along the streambanks that could be very attractive to nesting turtles. Photo by Kiley Briggs

4 minute read

Faces of the Forest

How Do Severe Floods Impact Wood Turtles?

ByKiley Briggs
August 10, 2024

Out of all the turtles native to New England, I suspect Wood Turtles are the species most directly impacted by extreme floods. As valley stream specialists, the rivers most prone to extreme floods are the same rivers where Wood Turtles thrive.

4 minute read

Faces of the Forest

False Mermaid Weed – A Rare Plant Rediscovered in Vermont During a Wood Turtle Survey

ByKiley Briggs
July 11, 2024

An early May Wood Turtle survey led to the rediscovery of a plant that hadn’t been documented in Vermont in over 100 years – false mermaid weed (Floerkea proserpinacoides).

5 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Northern Spring Salamanders, a Jewel of the Forest

ByKiley Briggs
June 12, 2024

It wasn’t until high school that I encountered Vermont’s largest stream salamander, the Northern Spring Salamander… I uncovered a 7-inch-long bright orange salamander that nearly knocked my socks off.

5 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Hybrid Salamanders Blurring the Lines Between Species

ByKiley Briggs
May 15, 2024

Blue-spotted and Jefferson Salamanders cannot breed with each other; they are distinct species. However, there is group of hybrids that can breed with either of the pure species.