earthshine nature programs | Earthshine Nature

Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks Field Update for April 13, 2015

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Stevo

I have confirmed that almost all of the reptiles at both the Earthshine Discovery Center and Sky Valley (Trails Academy/Trails Carolina) Study sites are out of hibernation! Catherine, Zoe, Paula Journeys, Shelly Echo, Splinter and Apollo are all on the move heading toward their spring feeding and basking grounds.

I found Catherine about 200 feet west of her den basking in the late afternoon sun. The epoxy on her transmitter looks rough because I was forced to replace her previous unit a few weeks ago due to the cold weather prematurely depleting the energy in the previous units battery. On an upcoming field excursion I will smooth out the edges of the expoy so it will be less likely to get snagged on vegetation.

Zoe basking on the warm leaf litter.

She is only a few hundred yards from the top of the ridge and seems to be moving east toward her summer feeding grounds near the waterfall. If you live in the vicinity of her movement areas, please be aware that she is active and will be moving through soon.

I was unable to locate Jimmy Irwin the Eastern box turtle and Utsanati the Timber rattlesnake. It seems that Utsanati’s transmitter may have exhausted it’s battery due to the very cold temperatures we had near the end of the winter. It will now be a chore to find him but I do know all of his “old haunts” so hopefully I will be able to locate him in the next few weeks. As for Jimmy Irwin, I do not know why his transmitter would have stopped transmitting–it should have had several more months of power remaining before needing to be replaced. It is possible that Jimmy has been predated or his transmitter’s antenna has been chewed off by rodents. I am leaning more toward the rodent theory as I have had this happen before with Catherine and it greatly reduces the range and lifespan of the transmitter. I will need to do a more thorough search in a week in order to know more.

Apollo basking just outside of a tree cavity.

The Trails students from Journeys wilderness assisted me with locating Apollo the Rat snake a few days ago. We found him basking in the afternoon sunshine just outside of a rather large tree cavity on an old dead oak tree. The students and I were very excited to see him looking so healthy after sleeping underground for over five months. This experience was a great teachable moment for the students, many of whom had never seen a wild rat snake in it’s natural environment. We discussed reptile biology, why they need to hibernate, and why old, rotting trees like this one are important to this species of snake and many other species of wildlife such as birds, squirrels, bats and insects. If you have standing dead trees on your land that are not endangering any structures or anyone, please consider leaving them for wildlife.

Master Splinter basking on a low limb.

A couple of weeks ago the students from Trails Academy assisted me in locating Master Splinter during our natural resource management and conservation class. We found him outstretched on a low limb, basking in the early spring sunshine. Then, a few days ago Trails Wilderness group Bravo joined me and we found him sunning on the limb of an old bent oak about 35 feet off the ground. Everyone was able to see him before he moved back inside the tree to hide from us while we collected vital environmental data and held class under the greening forest canopy.

Keep your eyes open when hiking in the forests and fields or driving the roads and riding the trails because our scaly friends are out and about and we need to do all we can to help them help us.

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What are Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks?

Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks are citizen/student science reptile conservation and research projects occurring at two separate study sites near Lake Toxaway and Dupont Forest 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 students, and volunteers, glimpse into the lives of four wild Eastern box turtles, two Rat snakes and two Timber rattlesnakes in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on the project please take a look at our website: http://www.earthshinenature.com

It is our goal at Earthshine Nature Programs and Trails Science to promote wildlife conservation through our unique, exciting, citizen science based, hands-on education, out-reach programs, and online with our nature videos, blog and website and in our environmental education classes at Trails Momentum (previously Trails Academy) and Trails Carolina.

What is Earthshine Nature Programs?

Earthshine Nature Programs is a separate entity from Earthshine Discovery Center and Trails Carolina/Academy however, we work directly with these institutions of education to promote the conservation and respect of our native wildlife and wild places. It is our mission to educate you about these beautiful but greatly misunderstood animals and hopefully, to impart to you their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth, healthy wildlife and healthy humans.

Earthshine Nature Programs is a grass-roots, 501c3 non profit, volunteer operated and donation funded organization.

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without you, this important reptile conservation and public education work would not happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting

www.earthshinenature.com/donate

You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, vitamins and habitat supplies just contact us for more information on what supplies we are in need of and how to donate.

Learn more about Trails Carolina and Trails Momentum and see if our unique programs may fit into your child’s education needs.

Music by The Steep Canyon Rangers used with written permission.

www.steepcanyon.com

Earthshine Nature Programs is in no way affiliated or responsible for ads that may appear below this line.

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Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks winter field report and a snakey surprise!

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Stevo

This is a late winter video report on the status of all the reptiles in the Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks reptile conservation and education projects currently being conducted by Earthshine Nature Programs.

In the following video the students and I encounter the unexpected when we find Splinter the Rat snake out of his den basking in the late winter sunshine!

Wasn’t that amazing!!!

We are gearing up for a great year so please continue following in our Turtle and Snake Tracks by following this blog and better yet, consider a donation to Earthshine Nature Programs today – THANK YOU!

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THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Thank you all for making the Snake Tracks and Turtle Tracks wildlife conservation projects possible. Thank you for continuing to support Earthshine Nature Programs over the last seven years. If the turtles and snakes could speak they would thank you even more than I because due to your support they will in turn be supported through the efforts of science being put to use in the areas of wildlife and habitat conservation. Thank you also to the land owners in the community where these animals live. Thank you for taking care of these highly misunderstood but yet oh so important parts of a healthy ecosystem.

The story continues…

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What is Rat snake Tracks?

Rat snake Tracks is a reptile conservation and research project occurring near Dupont Forest in the mountains of western North Carolina, USA. Through the magic of modern technology and allot of hard volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers and students, glimpse into the lives of two wild Ratsnakes in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on the project please take a look at our website at: http://www.earthshinenature.com

It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation through our unique, exciting, citizen science based, hands-on education, out-reach programs, and online with our nature videos, blog and website.

What is Earthshine Nature Programs?

Earthshine Nature Programs is a separate entity from Earthshine Discovery Center and is a 501c3 non profit. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated and donation funded organization. It is our mission to educate you about these beautiful but greatly misunderstood animals and hopefully, to impart to you their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth, healthy wildlife and healthy humans.

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated to ENP over the years!! Without you this important reptile conservation and education work would not happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting www.earthshinenature.com/donate

You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, vitamins and habitat supplies just contact us for more information on what supplies we are in need of and how to donate.

Music by The Steep Canyon Rangers used with written permission.

www.steepcanyon.com

Earthshine Nature Programs is in no way affiliated or responsible for ads that may appear below this line.

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Rat snake Tracks Field Report for late 2014.

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Stevo

This is an overdue update on ENP’s newest reptile conservation and research project Snake Tracks: Ratsnake Tracks. This project is being conducted at The Academy at Trails Carolina by naturalist Steve O’Neil and his natural resource and conservation management and wilderness therapy students as part of Steve’s ongoing reptile focused wildlife conservation citizen science projects.

In Rat snake Tracks we follow in the tracks and trails of two wild adult male Rat snake’s known affectionately as Master Splinter and Apollo.

The first snake in the study is Splinter. We found him just outside the nature center in the fall of 2013. Shortly thereafter he was fitted with a radio transmitter, treated for internal parasites, fed lots of yummy mice, and then overwintered in the nature center to await his release in the spring.

In early May of 2014 Splinter was released and radio tracking commenced.

Over the summer Splinter spent most of his time in large, old Oak trees and in and around the buildings on campus. He frequented attics and crawlspaces of unused and used buildings as well as large, hollow habitat trees. We believe he is using these areas as foraging, thermoregulating and sheltering sites.

For more on Splinter’s story read my previous blog post.

In mid summer, Steve and his students encountered another large, male Rat snake just outside the nature center. This snake was named Apollo in honor of the Apollo moon missions, and it was decided that this snake would join Splinter in a multi-year radio telemetry study of their natural movements in the forests surrounding the nature center.

A photo from the day we found Apollo

In late August Apollo was given a radio transmitter and later released at his capture location. View Apollo’s transmitter implantation and release in the video below.

If the video does not play try following this link to watch the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjvVB5EmNdQ

Later in the summer we produced an extended length documentary video following both Splinter and Apollo over the remainder of their active seasons. In this video follow my students and I over several months as we search for and find the snakes high in Oak trees, on the ground, in buildings and bushes, and finally, in hibernation. Please view the video below for all the details of this fascinating new reptile conservation and citizen science project.

If the video does not play try following this link to watch the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSoSTeEP3Yw

Where will Splinter and Apollo go next?

Follow this blog to stay up to date with the adventures of Master Splinter and Apollo the Rat snakes.

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THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

The story continues…

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What is Rat snake Tracks?

What is Earthshine Nature Programs?

You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, vitamins and habitat supplies just contact us for more information on what supplies we are in need of and how to donate.

Music by The Steep Canyon Rangers used with written permission.

www.steepcanyon.com

Earthshine Nature Programs is in no way affiliated or responsible for ads that may appear below this line.

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Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks Field Report for October – November 2014

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Stevo

This field report covers a two month time span between early October and mid November 2014. In this report I locate all four reptiles currently being followed in the Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks projects at our Earthshine study site, I replace the radio transmitter on Jimmy Irwin the male box turtle, locate Catherine and Jimmy nearing and then in their dens, find both rattlesnakes very close together and then later in their dens, listen to coyotes singing in the distance, install den cameras watching Utsanati, the male snakes’, den entrance in the hopes of getting video of him moving into his den and more.

Current Status: presently both turtles and both snakes are sleeping the winter away safely in their overwintering dens. In fact, they are all in the same overwintering locations they have used repeatedly over previous winters. Catherine and Jimmy the box turtles are only inches away from where they spent the last three winters in a row and they are both within the boundary of what I call their overwintering zones. These zones are areas contained within a 40 foot radius of the most frequently used overwintering locations.

jimmy9.14.14

The Timber rattlesnakes are also using overwintering sites they have repeatedly used in the past. Zoe, the female snake, overwintered on the other side of the ridge last year but this year has returned to the exact den site she had used over the winters of 2011-12 and 2012-13. Utsanati, the male snake, is in the same hibernation zone as in all years previous however, this year he is resting in a new underground location about 25 feet from the den entrance.

It is remarkable to me that these reptiles have the ability to zero in on these same small locations at the same time each year. The fact that these animals use these same locations each year without much variation also suggests that these habitat locations may be imperative to their very survival.

Although most animals do have differing levels of ability to adapt to changing habitat conditions, I believe that if important habitat sites such as these overwintering zones were to be destroyed or drastically altered, limiting or removing the ability of overwintering by these reptiles, that these animals may in fact adapt in the short run, especially if it was a warm winter. However, the stresses imposed on them to find and overwinter in a new location in subsequent years and over colder winters may lower their fat reserves, weaken their immune system, and possibly be highly detrimental to their very existence.

zoeonlimb9.14.14b

Many studies have shown that habitat disruption or alteration is beneficial in some ways for many species of wildlife. For example, with these turtle and snakes it seems that during their active months, and for the turtles the winter months, they frequent the edge habitat created by a wide power line access-way that cuts through the middle of all of their habitats. This forest opening provides many areas of dense cover for the reptiles to shelter in while resting or foraging. All four of the reptiles most frequented areas–including the box turtles overwintering locations–fall within or adjacent to the access way’s sunny openings which provide great thermoregulation opportunities as well as a greater biodiversity than the surrounding forests or fields. This edge habitat in turn supports many different species of plants and animals, many of which are excellent food sources for both the turtles and the snakes. However, even with the enhanced habitat and resulting good feeding, thermoregulation and overwintering opportunities provided by the edge effect created by the man made power-line access-way, it remains unclear what would happen to these reptiles should their overwintering zones be damaged or destroyed. In this case I believe the best option for protection and conservation of these reptiles and their habitat is the continued benign neglect of their habitats. In other words–leave these animals and their overwintering sites alone (except for some occasional non invasive status and population monitoring), and leave nature alone, and it will take care of itself and everyone will be happy.

As in the past I have produced a video documentary of my field work with these reptiles over the later part of 2014. It is a special extended length 2 part documentary of Turtle and Snake Tracks. Please join me as I follow the movements of the snakes and turtles as they move closer, and finally into, their winter dens over a two month span of time.

See the videos below for all the details.

Part 1

Part 2

If the videos will not play please try following the links below:

Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JScFv_sVylM

Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VWZQ_OlWtc

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About the Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks wildlife conservation projects.

The reptiles in this wildlife conservation education project are wild animals that live free in the remote forests and surrounding human maintained fields and subdivisions surrounding Earthshine Discovery Center in Lake Toxaway, NC.

The purpose of this study is to learn as much as possible about the natural movements and habitat usage of wild Timber rattlesnakes and Eastern box turtles that live wild yet in and around areas used and manipulated by humans. Results from this study will be used to help conserve and protect these species and their habitats from harm through better land use and management practices, via these Youtube documentaries and blog postings, and through outreach programming in the Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, and upstate South Carolina areas.

Through the magic of modern technology and many hours often taxing volunteer work by a wildlife conservationist and his small crew of volunteers and students, glimpse into the lives of wild reptiles in their natural habitats. For more detailed info on the project please take a look at the ENP website: http://www.earthshinenature.com

About Earthshine Nature Programs (ENP)

ENP is a 501c3 non profit wildlife conservation and outreach organization that operates as a separate entity from Earthshine Discovery Center. We do we pay ourselves to operate ENP or to conduct wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated and donation funded organization. It is our mission to educate you about these beautiful and greatly misunderstood animals and hopefully, to impart to you their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth, healthy wildlife and healthy humans. Please contact us if you are interested in having Earthshine Nature Programs speak to your class, camp, group, festival, or special event.

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have donated time, supplies, and funds, to ENP over the years!! Without you this important reptile conservation and education work would not happen. If you would like to support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate by visiting

www.earthshinenature.com/donate

You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, reptile vitamins and habitat supplies just contact us for more information on what supplies we are in need of and how to donate.

Music by The Steep Canyon Rangers www.steepcanyon.com used with written permission.

ENP is not responsible for ads that may appear below this line.
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Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks for early August 2014

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Stevo

Today I locate all four reptiles currently being followed in the Snake Tracks project at our Earthshine Discovery Center study site.

What I found today

Utsanati: had recently fed and had a very full stomach and was only a few yards from Jimmy Irwin the box turtle!

Jimmy Irwin: was in form bedded down for the night.

Catherine: was also in form bedded down for the night.

Zoe: unknown–I was unable to visually locate her due to thick, thorny vegetation.

See the video below for all the details.

If the video will not play try following the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDmRJrkBa-g

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Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks are two reptile conservation, research and education projects occurring near Earthshine Discovery Center and Dupont Forest 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 several wild reptiles living 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

ENP is not responsible for ads that may appear below this line.
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Ratsnake Tracks Field Report For July-Early August 2014

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Stevo

This is a new update on ENP’s newest reptile conservation and research project Snake Tracks: Ratsnake Tracks. This project is being conducted at The Academy at Trails Carolina by Steve O’Neil and his natural resource and conservation management and wilderness therapy students as part of Steve’s ongoing reptile focused wildlife conservation citizen science projects.

In Snake Tracks: Splinter’s Tracks we follow in the tracks and trails of a wild adult Ratsnake known affectionately as Master Splinter. Splinter was found by Steve just outside the nature center in the fall of 2013. Shortly thereafter Splinter was fitted with a radio transmitter, treated for internal parasites, fed lots of mice and then overwintered in the nature center to await his release in the spring.

In early May Splinter was released and radio tracking has commenced.

Lately Splinter has been spending lots of time in and around the buildings on campus. He is frequenting attics crawlspaces of unused and used buildings as well as large, hollow habitat trees. I believe he is using these areas as foraging, thermoregulating and sheltering sites.

Watch the most recent field report videos from Splinter’s Tracks below.

Video Field Report Day 6: Today we found Splinter on the move and weighed him.

If the video does not play try following this link to watch the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSJ3URiCo5w

Video Field Report Day 7 and 8: Today we find Splinter in the attic of an old cabin.

If the video does not play try following this link to watch the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_TdyPC3UWA

Video Field Report Day 9-12: Over these four tracking days we find Splinter moving between several buildings and a large den tree. This is a longer video than most but it is well worth the watch.

If the video does not play try following this link to watch the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NfJz5ZQQJs

Where will Splinter go next?

Follow this blog to stay up to date with the adventures of Master Splinter the ratsnake.

THANK YOU ALL!

Thank you all for making the Snake Tracks and Turtle Tracks wildlife conservation projects possible. Thank you for continuing to support Earthshine Nature Programs over the last seven years. If the turtles and snakes could speak they would thank you even more than I because due to your support they will in turn be supported through the efforts of science being put to use in the areas of wildlife and habitat conservation. Thank you also to the land owners in the community where these turtles and snakes live. Thank you for taking care of these highly misunderstood but yet oh so important parts of a healthy ecosystem.

The story continues…

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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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TURTLE TRACKS: Jimmy’s Tracks for June/July 2014

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Stevo

This is a video field update for Jimmy Irwin for mid summer 2014.

If you visited Earthshine during June or July of 2014, and you went turtle tracking with me–then this video is for you–enjoy!

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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Our Muddy Fundraiser was a Great Success!

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Stevo

Yes, our spring 2014 fundraiser–the Mad Mountain Mud Run–was a great success.

enn1

It was a success in many ways.

We ran through mud and it was fun!

We beat our last year’s time by almost 30 min! WOW!

One of our three teams even took 2nd place overall!!!! Way to go Turbo Turtles team 2!

But best of all we raised funds to keep our wildlife rehabilitation, conservation and nature and science education programs and projects running. These projects and programs are making a difference not only in the lives of individual animals we have rescued and released back into their native habitats, but also in how people view wildlife, our shared Earth and our connection to all living things!

We could not have done this without YOU! Thank you to EVERYONE who sponsored us in our quest to complete the Mad Mountain Mud Run and thank you to the runners who volunteered their time and energy to join us in this monumental muddy challenge!

As promised I filmed the entire event with my helmet mounted GoPro camera (see in pic above) and with two other cameras stationed along the route to get different angles of our challenge. With that footage I produced an epic video of the race for all to experience with us–just without the mud, sweat and tears of joy 🙂 The soundtrack for the video is provided by local Masters of Musical Mud Ten Toe Turbo who we owe a huge amount of muddy thanks for providing the awesome tunes for this video and for the mud run! Keep watching at the end of the video for Ten Toe Turbo performing at the mud run.

Enjoy!

The Nature Nerds and Turbo Turtles will return to the mud in 2015!

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Hands On A Child’s Gallery for making the mud run possible. Pardee for taking the amazing photos and the following individuals and organizations that sponsored us in this amazing community fundraiser event!

ENP is not affiliated or responsible for ads that may appear below this line

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Ratsnake Tracks Field Report Days 1-4

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Stevo

This is an update on ENP’s newest reptile conservation and research project Snake Tracks: Ratsnake Tracks. This project is being conducted at The Academy at Trails Carolina by Steve O’Neil and his natural resource and conservation management and wilderness therapy students as part of Steve’s ongoing reptile focused wildlife conservation citizen science projects.

In early May Splinter was released and radio tracking has commenced.

Watch all the field report videos from Splinter’s Tracks below.

Video Field Report Day 1: Discovery and transmitter implantation surgery

If the video does not play try following this link to watch the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMDNL8zpGj0

Video Field Report Day 2: The release and first day of tracking

If the video does not play try following this link to watch the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrXEIjUTkMU

Video Field Report Days 3 and 4: Forest trek

If the video does not play try following this link to watch the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQN5J_BAQqY

Follow this blog to stay up to date with the adventures of Master Splinter the ratsnake.

THANK YOU ALL!

Thank you all for making the Snake Tracks and Turtle Tracks wildlife conservation projects possible. Thank you for continuing to support Earthshine Nature Programs over the last seven years. If the turtles and snakes could speak they would thank you even more than I because due to your support they will in turn be supported through the efforts of science being put to use in the areas of wildlife and habitat conservation. Thank you also to the land owners in the community where these turtles and snakes live. Thank you for taking care of these highly misunderstood but yet oh so important parts of a healthy ecosystem.

The story continues…

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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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Please Support Earthshine Nature’s Mud Run Fundraiser–Tomorrow!

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Stevo

That’s right folks! Tomorrow, Earthshine Nature Programs Executive Director Steve O’Neil and Team Earthshine Nature Nerds will be running again this year in the Mad Mountain Mud Run 5K in Hendersonville, NC on Saturday May 31st, 2014!

The Nature Nerds are (left to right);

Steve O’Neil (captain),

Will Thomas,

Jason Alfrey,

Steve Atkins

(Hog not included and no animals will be harmed during the mud run)

For 2014 the Nature Nerds will be sharing the muddy trail with The Trails Turbo Turtles! The Turbo Turtles consist of several students and staff of The Academy at Trails Carolina and Trails Carolina! Captain Steve will be overall captain of both the Nature Nerds and the Turbo Turtles.

Many of the Turbo Turtles are experienced runners, hikers, Mtn. bikers and climbers so do not let the name fool you–the Turbo Turtles are a force of nature and may just take overall best time in the Mud Run!

Our nerdy nature goal is to run representing Earthshine Nature Programs as our 2014 primary fundraiser. To do this we need sponsors that are willing to support Earthshine Nature Programs with a pledge. Your pledge will provide direct and 100% support to our environmental science education and wildlife rehabilitation and conservation programs and projects.

Our muddy community goal is to run in support of the Hands On A Child’s Gallery based in Hendersonville, NC and Trails Carolina/The Academy at Trails Carolina with our afternoon of challenging obstacles and muddy fun!

As I write this we are working with the coordinators of the Mud Run to plan and construct one of the obstacles that will be used in the race! More on this later!

Take a look at the course map from last year for a taste of what we may have in store for us this year! The Nature Nerds and Turbo Turtles constructed a special obstacle for the Mud Run this year–it is #18 on the map–the Turbo Turtle Towers! It should be a muddy fun challenge!

Sponsor Awards

Those who sponsor ENP with $50 or more will receive your business logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website, in a posting in this blog (to be updated after the race), on the back of our custom mud run t-shirt that we will proudly wear during the race, and a custom designed ENP Medici Lighted writing Pen from Myron.com.

Those who sponsor us for $100 or more or more will receive your business logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website, in a posting in this blog (to be updated after the race), on the back of our custom mud run t-shirt that we will proudly wear during the race and two custom designed ENP Medici Lighted writing Pens from Myron.com.

Those who sponsor us for $500 or more will receive your business logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website, in a posting in this blog (to be updated after the race), on the back of our custom mud run t-shirt that we will proudly wear during the race, four custom designed ENP Medici Lighted writing Pens from Myron.com, your own custom mud run t-shirt, and one “Honored Supporter” custom made (by Steve) award which includes a certificate of appreciation and small glass vial filled with a small amount of the actual mud from the race course that we will run through on May 31st!

Those who sponsor us for $1000 or more will receive will receive your business logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website, in a posting in this blog (to be updated after the race), on the back of our custom mud run t-shirt that we will proudly wear during the race, six custom designed ENP Medici Lighted writing Pens from Myron.com, your own custom mud run t-shirt, and one “Honored Supporter” custom made (by Steve) award which includes a certificate of appreciation and small glass vial filled with a small amount of the actual mud from the race course that we will run through on May 31st! On top of all that Steve and his animals will come to you and present a private Misunderstand Wildlife animal show with live animals and a didgeridoo concert at your birthday party, school or other gathering!

*You can opt-out of having your personal/company information publicized on our shirts/websites if you choose.

A great muddy moment from the 2013 Mud Run!

The nitty gritty muddy dirt of the sponsorship (rules)

After the Earthshine Nature Nerds/Trails Turbo Turtles team completes the race–all sponsored pledges will be collected from the sponsors by June 15th, 2013. Supporter awards will be awarded within 60 days following the race.

If the Earthshine Nature Nerds/Trails Turbo turtles does not complete the race–no donations will be collected unless you choose to support us despite the fact.

If the race is cancelled due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control you may choose to honor your sponsorship agreement or not. 100% of all donations will be used to provide direct support to our environmental science and wildlife rehabilitation/conservation projects and programs.

You may earmark your donations to the following projects:

Project A: Turtle Tracks Eastern Box Turtle radio telemetry project: currently radio tracking four wild Eastern box turtles at Earthshine Discovery Center and The Academy at Trails Carolina. Two of these turtles are part of the ongoing (since 2008) Turtle Tracks project at Earthshine Discovery Center in Lake Toxaway, NC. The other two turtles are part of a hands-on wildlife science class led by Steve for the Academy at Trails Carolina and Trails Wilderness students.

Project B: Snake Tracks Timber Rattlesnake radio telemetry project: currently radio tracking two wild Timber rattlesnakes near Earthshine Discovery Center.

Project C: Ratsnake Tracks is a radio telemetry project that will begin tracking one ratsnake at The Academy at Trails Carolina in April of 2014. This will be part of a hands-on wildlife science class led by Steve for the Academy at Trails Carolina and Trails Wilderness students.

Projects A-C are most important wildlife science and conservation projects seeking to learn as much as possible about the natural movements of some of nature’s most misunderstood creatures. Data collected during these projects will directly benefit the greater understanding and conservation of not only box turtles and rattlesnakes but all reptiles for many years to come. These projects also directly benefit the continuing hands-on education of middle and high school age youth and accompanying adults–the future of all wildlife conservation.

Project D: Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation: ongoing support of our wildlife rescue and rehabilitation activities that works primarily with the Eastern box turtle and Opossum.

Project E: General program support. Examples include–animal care, habitat construction and project support: this covers all costs that are not directly part of or that cross over between all of the above listed programs. Example: radio telemetry equipment, foods, housing, vitamins, and medications for our resident and rehab animals, rechargeable batteries, camera equipment etc.

If you do not earmark your donation it will be used where it is most needed in one or more of the above programs.

If you would like to sponsor our team please contact me and we will make arrangements or feel free to donate now via the Earthshine Nature Pay Pal account.

You may sponsor us with either monetary pledges or supplies. If you would like to pledge supplies please contact us for a list of our current needs.

No matter if you choose to support us or not, please do come out to Berkley Park and watch all of the mud runners get muddy and have fun for a couple of great causes–the education of children and conservation of wildlife and nature!

If you know anyone who may like to support ENP with a sponsorship or donation please forward this post on to them–THANK YOU!

After last years Mud Run we were all smiles–it was great fun!

NOTE: The Nature Nerds will video/photograph their perspective of the race using the latest technology including an HD GoPro camera and several volunteer friends with cameras stationed around the race course so that this years nerdy muddy experience will be able to be shared by all! A few weeks following the race look for the video to be posted here on the ENP Nature Blog!

Take a look at last years race video below!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

That’s all for now…I need to go train!

Steve O’Neil, ENP Executive Director and Mad Mountain Mud Runner

Earthshine Nature Programs is not responsible for or affiliated with ads that may

appear below this line.

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