iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 3h

In collaboration with researchers from Virginia Tech and biologists at Eglin Air Force Base, we have a new paper out in Conservation Science & Practice. Led by Dr. Amanda Martin, it describes efforts to translocate Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders to wetlands where populations had been extirpated.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 6h

Summer’s end means the start of a second pulse of activity as turtles are preparing for their long winter brumation. Eric gives us a peek into the field in the Hudson Valley of New York. 1) Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) with invasive purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#AlligatorSnappingTurtles spend most of their time in the bottoms of streams and rivers. Rather than chasing down their prey, Alligator Snapping Turtles are ambush predators. They use the worm-like lure on the bottom of their jaw to attract fish looking for their own meal.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Are you a graduate student? Are you conducting research that has clear potential to benefit the conservation or management of reptiles and amphibians in the Southeast? If so, check out The Orianne Society's 2026 Small Grant Program. Applications are now open!

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

What started as a search for one rare rain frog ended with the discovery of a new species! Our latest Photo of the Month takes us to South Africa, where Dylan Leonard shares the story behind the newly described #BostonRainFrog. www.oriannesociety.org/photo-of-the...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I suppose you could say we really GO-PHER it! 🐢 Our Longleaf Savannas field crew has been busy since early summer conducting transect surveys for Gopher Tortoises in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. This work is often tedious, taking us through difficult terrain...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

In his latest blog post, Kiley Briggs explores how monitoring Wood Turtles helps us see the bigger picture, revealing where populations are thriving, where they’re struggling, and where habitat restoration can make the greatest difference. www.oriannesociety.org/faces-of-the...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

What's it like working with #salamanders for the summer? Read reflections written by our interns on a season spent learning about salamander #biodiversity, Southern Appalachian ecosystems, and #conservation at the Wharton Conservation Center: www.oriannesociety.org/news/2026-wh...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Our research was well represented at the recent Southeastern Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (SEPARC) meeting. Andrea, Ben, and Kira shared our #SpottedTurtle #research projects, and Houston presented on effective restoration planning for Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Several current and former members of The Orianne Society recently attended the 2026 Southeastern Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation annual meeting. This meeting brings together a variety of individuals and organizations working towards conservation of herpetofauna across the Southeast.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The Orianne Society is hiring Prescribed Fire Technicians for the upcoming season. Join our team at the Longleaf Stewardship Center and gain hands-on experience using #prescribedfire to restore and manage #longleafpine habitat across the Southeast. www.oriannesociety.org/careers/

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Most sources suggest that the #WoodTurtle lifespan can be 50 to 80 years in a healthy, wild population. Visibly old individuals like this male certainly support this claim. The species name “insculpta” refers to the sculpted, textured carapace that Wood Turtles exhibit. Not so with this male.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

In her latest Herp Journal entry, Andrea Colton explores how temperature shapes the lives of #OrnateBoxTurtles and why a warming world could make balancing their energy budget increasingly difficult. Learn more: www.oriannesociety.org/herp-journal...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Join Kiley Briggs this Wednesday in Greenfield, Massachusetts, for a free presentation exploring the fascinating world of Wood Turtles, from their remarkable intelligence and long-distance movements to the threats they face and what we can do to help protect them.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Our colleague, Dr. Lance McBrayer (Georgia Southern University), recently received photos of an #albino #EasternFenceLizard (Sceloporus undulatus) from southern Georgia. This is a unique observation and such abnormal color variations are rarely observed in wild populations.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Meet the #NeuseRiverWaterdog! In the first episode of A Watershed Moment, Dr. Eric Teitsworth introduces us to this threatened #salamander, the challenges it faces from urbanization, and the work underway to help it recover. www.oriannesociety.org/a-watershed-...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Engaging landowners is an important part of the work we do. Showing them a Wood Turtle on their own land and putting it in their hands is one nearly certain way to win over their hearts and minds and...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Calling graduate students working in reptile and amphibian conservation! The Orianne Society is now accepting applications for our 2026 Small Grant Program for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation in the Southeast. Application deadline: November 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

While you should always assume that a turtle will bite while handling them, some species are much less likely to try than others. #WoodTurtles usually do not bite, but every now and then...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Although based in New York’s Hudson Valley, Eric recently headed north to #Vermont to join Kiley in the field and get a firsthand look at our long-term #WoodTurtle monitoring project in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Georgia’s protected species list is being updated, and now is your opportunity to weigh in! The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comments on proposed updates to the state’s Protected Species List through September 20. The proposed changes reflect...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

One of last year’s small grant recipients recently sent us an exciting update from the field! Michael Brennan reports that over the last couple of weeks, he has observed the first litters of Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes (EDBs) born at his study site in 2026.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

We recently collaborated on a project led by researchers from the Freshwater Ecology Lab at Georgia Southern University, with results now published in the Journal of Environmental Management. The study experimentally manipulated water levels in artificial wetlands to examine how...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Have you ever heard the phrase, “A #prescribedburn mimics a natural process”? Less than a week after we conducted a growing-season burn at the Longleaf Stewardship Center, a summer thunderstorm rolled through and lightning struck this old pine.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Our summer interns are done for the season, but they still have a few scenes from the field to share! In Part 2 of their Intern Cam video series, get a glimpse of some of the unexpected finds they encountered...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

We have another update from the field from one of this year’s small grant recipients. Elizabeth Hays (University of Arkansas) has been using radio telemetry to track an adult male #WesternChickenTurtle. To date, this male has led her to...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

You’ll never know what incredible wildlife you might encounter when off the beaten path. While doing Wood Turtle surveys in the New York Hudson Valley, Eric had a chance encounter with the North American #Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus).

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Did you know the most comprehensive resource on #TimberRattlesnakes is now available to download for free? The Timber Rattlesnake Conservation Action Plan from Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) covers everything from Timber Rattlesnake ecology and conservation to...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Although illegal to do with #WoodTurtles, sometimes when people find one and decide to keep one as a pet, they drill a hole in the edge of the shell so it can be tethered outside. This practice is more common with Box Turtles, especially in decades past.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Eric and Kiley recently attended the Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation conference, held this year at Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondack Mountains. This was the view from the back porch of the conference center, which might be the best view they’ve ever had at a conference.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

A big congratulations to our Associate Conservation Scientist, Andrea Colton, who recently defended her master's thesis at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign! Under the guidance of Dr. Michael Dreslik, Andrea's research focused on the thermal ecology and ecophysiology of...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

We have an exciting update from one of this year's Small Grant recipients! William Taylor (Eastern Kentucky University) reports that he has completed 85 nocturnal surveys across southeastern Kentucky in search of the Yellow-spotted Woodland #Salamander.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Our Longleaf Savannas research crew has been busy conducting Gopher Tortoise surveys in collaboration with GADNR as part of a long-term effort to monitor populations on #conservation lands. In the process, we’ve crossed paths with some iconic sandhill #snakes...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Did you know the #EuropeanAdder has the largest geographic range of any snake on Earth? Thor Håkonsen takes us to coastal Norway to meet this beautiful viper and explore its natural history, adaptations, and the #conservation challenges it faces across Europe. www.oriannesociety.org/photo-of-the...

oriannesociety.org

European Adder

Meet the world's northernmost snake, a striking European adder from Norway captured at the height of its spring breeding colors.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

For years, The Orianne Society has been helping connect landowners with habitat restoration opportunities. In Faces of the Forest, Kiley Briggs shares how those continued outreach efforts are translating into new riparian buffer projects for Wood Turtles. www.oriannesociety.org/faces-of-the...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

On Lighting a Match, Caleb Goldsmith, our Director of Fire Ecology and Management, explains the unique benefits of growing-season #prescribedfire and how it helps restore natural ecosystems, support wildlife, and keep forests healthy for generations to come. www.oriannesociety.org/lighting-a-m...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Back in May, some of our Longleaf Savanna staff took break from tortoise surveys to visit the new Orianne Society headquarters at the #WhartonConservationCenter. Aside from beautiful scenery, they saw a plethora of flora and fauna, a testament to the biodiversity preserved on the property.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Happy Friday from the Wharton Conservation Center.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Some of the most surprising and rewarding finds during Wood Turtle surveys are juveniles. As a long-lived species with high juvenile mortality rates, finding young individuals can be a sign that the stream and surrounding landscape supports a healthy population that is successfully reproducing.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Learning about wildlife behavior is a lifelong process. Many folks are surprised to learn that the Eastern Box Turtle, sometimes called the “woodland” box turtle, (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a terrestrial species of North American turtle, and does not frequent ponds or lakes.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

As part of the annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH), our Director of Science, Houston Chandler, was invited to give a presentation at a special Amphibian Metapopulation Ecology Symposium. This session brought together speakers (pictured) from across the U.S. to discuss...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Kiley was recently joined by folks from a local county Natural Resources Conservation district to teach them how to survey for #WoodTurtles and to identify and restore their habitat. Over the past eight years, trainings like this...

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Thanks to our work a few years ago with the Connecticut River Conservancy, part of a hay field on a private property was just set aside and planted with trees and shrubs through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

It's been an exciting summer at The Orianne Society's Wharton Conservation Center! Our interns have been #snorkeling mountain streams in western North Carolina, searching for #EasternHellbenders.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

The Orianne Society recently began an exciting study to understand Eastern Box Turtle movement and behavior in the New York Hudson Valley. We are using a combination of radio telemetry and GPS loggers to track adult turtles as they move across a heavily curated, privately owned landscape.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

We recently hosted our first grant recipient at The Orianne Society's Wharton Conservation Center! Ph.D. student Chloé M. Allen-Love from The University of Texas at Austin completed a field study investigating #amphibian health and disease in the Southern Appalachians.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

In addition to presenting our own research at the annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH), many of the graduate students whose work we have funded through our small grant program were present at the meeting.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

The Eastern Indigo Snake inspired our beginning. You can help shape its future. For nearly two decades, together with our partners and supporters, we've restored habitat, advanced science, monitored wild populations, and helped return this remarkable snake to its historic range.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

For nearly two decades, The Orianne Society has been working to conserve the Eastern Indigo Snake. From monitoring wild populations to researching habitat use and disease, our work is helping secure a future for North America's longest native snake.

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The Orianne Society @oriannesociety.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

One of the greatest threats to the #EasternIndigoSnake is habitat loss. These remarkable snakes evolved alongside the longleaf pine ecosystem, one of the most biologically diverse, and most endangered, ecosystems in North America. Today, only a tiny fraction of that landscape remains.

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