IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016
Authored by Dr. Chris Jenkins I have heard many people say that meetings can be a waste of time, slow and tedious. In some cases, I might be inclined to agree, but I recently returned from one of the most inspiring—and dare I even say productive—meetings I have ever participated in. Over 10,000 conservation biologists […]
Searching for Southern Hognose Snakes: One of Georgia’s Most Elusive Species
Authored by Houston Chandler Georgia is home to a diverse snake assemblage, but many native snake species are difficult to find unless one knows when and where to look. Many species are only active for a short time each year and are habitat specialists, rarely straying far from their preferred locations. These species are difficult […]
Places You’ve Never Herped 9 Recap
Authored by Ben Stegenga There was an unmistakable autumn crispness in the air as we arrived at the rendezvous point Saturday morning for Places You’ve Never Herped (PYNH) 9. It was a beautiful October morning in North Carolina’s Big Ivy Region of Pisgah National Forest. The sun had not yet peaked the ridgeline, leaving pockets […]
Gopher Tortoise Initiative: A Partnership to Conserve the Gopher Tortoise
Authored by Heidi Hall and Brannon Knight The Orianne Society has been working to conserve the Gopher Tortoise since its inception in 2008. It was and is critical for us to save the Gopher Tortoise in order to conserve the Eastern Indigo Snake. Gopher Tortoises are a keystone species of the Longleaf Pine ecosystem. They […]
Transitioning from Fire Season to Seed Collection
Authored by Jacob Barrett Since the closing of fire season, our main focus has been to prepare our native groundcover donor site to be ready for planting this coming year. Our donor site is located on the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve (OISP) in what used to be old agricultural fields used by the previous landowner. […]
Reflections on Seven Years at The Orianne Society
Authored by Dr. Stephen Spear This month, I will be leaving The Orianne Society to take the position of Director of Wildlife Ecology at The Wilds conservation center near Columbus, OH (part of the Columbus Zoo). My decision to join The Wilds is in part due to their strong history of Eastern Hellbender conservation, including […]
Volunteering with The Orianne Society
Authored by Sara Rodgers Few animals fascinate quite like snakes do. Historically viewed with equal parts fear and awe, the venomous rattlesnake fascinates more than most. I have always loved snakes (all reptiles and amphibians in general, really), and ever since I was a kid, I would regularly bring home new “friends” I had found […]
In the ARMI
David Hutto, Jr., has been a member of The Orianne Society since 2015. This summer, he spent time working with the United States Geological Survey and writes about his experience working to conserve amphibians in this guest article. Authored by David Hutto, Jr. Crawling through streams, wading in wetlands, hiking for miles over mountain ranges […]
Partnership to Improve Water Quality in the Little Tennessee Watershed
In 2013 The Orianne Society (TOS), Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (RGNS), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) Wildlife Resources Division, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) partnered to begin a project aimed at improving water quality in the Little Tennessee watershed by focusing on decreasing sedimentation […]
Places You’ve Never Herped 8 Recap
Authored by Houston Chandler and Ben Stegenga As the sun set on a warm Friday night in early June, Orianne members and staff ventured onto the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve (OISP) to begin Places You’ve Never Herped (PYNH) 8, a members-only citizen science event attended by 37 members of all age ranges. Seasonal afternoon thunderstorms […]