Houston recently participated in the Eastern Indigo Snake Reintroduction Committee’s annual meeting, where he serves as co-chair alongside Robert Hill from Zoo Atlanta. This meeting brings together stakeholders from a variety of organizations to discuss...

This summer, Orianne Society intern Brendan Loring immersed himself in salamander conservation in the Appalachian Highlands. From surveying and restoring habitat at the Charles H. Wharton Center for Conservation, to...

A few months ago we shared news of a newly discovered population in Georgia, thanks to technician Emma Kendrick. Since then, she’s found a second population at another site! By placing transmitters on these turtles, Emma has been able to track their movements through the wetlands...

While checking up on the recently released rehab Wood Turtle that was hit by a car last year, Kiley also snapped this cool photo of the turtle reaching up to poke his nose out of the water for a breath of air.

Florida remains the toughest state for finding Spotted Turtles. At the southernmost edge of their range, turtles are sparse, and vast wetlands make every capture a game of luck. This season, Orianne technician Delana Gonzales covered...

The Orianne Society has renewed its commitment to conservation in the Appalachian Highlands, focusing on our flagship species, the Eastern Hellbender. This summer, we’ve been surveying rivers and creeks in western North Carolina, searching for these giants of the salamander world.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Christian Cox, Associate Professor at Florida International University, about reptile evolution, anole lizards, and how wildlife adapts to sudden environmental shifts.

We have a new publication in the journal Community Ecology. This work examines Gopher Tortoise burrow use by other species on a modified landscape. Research was led by Dr. George Brooks (Univ. of Wisconsin, formerly Virginia Tech) and involved collaborators from Virginia Tech.

This underwater photo of a Wood Turtle’s foot was an autofocus error, but we really like it and wanted to share this happy accident.

Our most productive state for Spotted Turtle captures this spring? Georgia! Technician Emma Kendrick visited 12 sites, set 285 traps and conducting 141 visual encounter surveys. Along with our volunteers, she spent 128 hours covering 61 miles in search of these elusive turtles.

What can tiny island lizards teach us about surviving a changing world? Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Christian Cox, Associate Professor at Florida International University, about reptile evolution, anole lizards, and how wildlife adapts to sudden environmental shifts.

Meet this baby Gopher Tortoise—one of the Southeast’s most important little diggers! These small but mighty reptiles are a true keystone species: their burrows provide shelter for more than 350 other kinds of animals, from snakes and frogs to small mammals and insects.

While checking up on a recently released rehab Wood Turtle, Kiley spotted this adult male in the stream and took this photograph. Equally adept to survival on land as they are in water, this photo captures the duality of a Wood Turtle’s life.

An invasive parasite is spreading through Florida’s snakes, and it could soon reach Georgia. In his latest Science of Scales, Houston Chandler explains how the snake lungworm Raillietiella orientalis is threatening native species like the Eastern Indigo Snake...

On #SnakeTalk, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Jimmy Stiles to talk about Alabama's rich ecosystems and incredible snakes. They go deep into Eastern Indigo Snake reintroductions, venomous snake trainings, and how education and outreach are shaping the future of conservation.

Houston recently met with a private landowner in southern Georgia to talk about managing habitat for two of the Southeast’s most iconic species, the #GopherTortoise and the #EasternIndigoSnake.

Since March, Ben and Kira have been working hard tracking Spotted Turtles and protecting nests for a new research project. With the nesting season winding down, the months of fieldwork have begun to pay off in a big way.

Fieldwork is never short on surprises! In her latest Herp Journal, Andrea shares icy trap checks in South Carolina, turtle-tracking mishaps in Georgia, and an exciting find in Florida. Along the way, she encounters rattlesnakes, woodpeckers, and the challenges of long eDNA sampling treks.

Meet the Supatá Golden Poison Frog, a dazzling jewel of Colombia’s Andes, and our August Photo of the Month! This critically endangered species shows remarkable parental care, with males carrying tadpoles on their backs in search of a safe place for their offspring to grow. But...

Attention graduate students! The Orianne Society’s Grant Program for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation in the Southeast is now accepting applications.

We’ve seen plenty of #WoodTurtles with a serious case of “slug face,” but this one might just take the cake!

Alabama is a hotspot for snake diversity—and Jimmy Stiles knows it better than almost anyone. In this episode, Dr. Jenkins talks with his friend and colleague, a PhD candidate at Auburn University, about the state’s rich ecosystems, herpetologists, and the incredible snakes that call Alabama home.

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene posed major challenges for our burn crew this season, from clearing firebreaks to managing heavy downed fuels.

Our 2025 spring Spotted Turtle surveys wrapped up just in time to beat the heat! These wetlands typically lose significant amounts of water—or dry up completely—once summer arrives, making trapping ineffective. This year, South Carolina got a head start with an unusually dry spring.

This one-eyed #WoodTurtle is on the move! So far in 2025, he’s traveled ~3.5 miles—almost a straight line, mostly on land. That’s the farthest in 3 years Kiley has been tracking his journey. Here he is mid-snack with a mouthful of slug goo, as a mosquito dives in for a landing.

Have you listened to the latest #SnakeTalkPodcast episode yet? Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Hiral Naik, Research and Conservation Manager for Save the Snakes, for a fascinating discussion on venomous snakes and human-wildlife conflict in South Africa.

Ben recently teamed up with Orianne Society alum Dirk Stevenson on a Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle sampling trip. This multi-year project works to mark turtles in south Georgia’s waterways, helping scientists estimate how many remain.

Kiley recently joined Lindsay Charlop to track Blanding’s #Turtles as part of The Wetland Trust’s nest protection efforts. Along the way, he spotted — and snapped — this gorgeous female sporting an uninvited guest: a mosquito perched right on her cheek! #wildlifeconservation

Dr. Chris Jenkins monitors Timber Rattlesnake gestation sites in the mountains of northern Georgia and North Carolina every summer. Recently, our interns had the chance to join him in the field, along with special guest Dr. Joe Gordon from Tennessee!

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Hiral Naik, Research and Conservation Manager for @savethesnakes.org, for a fascinating discussion on venomous snakes and human-wildlife conflict in South Africa.

Meet the Spiny Softshell Turtle! Caleb and Darrian recently spotted this unique freshwater turtle at the Longleaf Stewardship Center. The turtle looked like she may have just finished nesting in the sandhill and was making its way back to the water when they crossed paths.

While tracking juvenile Blanding’s Turtles with Lindsay Charlop from The Wetland Trust, Kiley snapped this shot of one poking its face through a layer of duckweed and watermeal. #OrianneSociety #Turtle #BlandingsTurtle #Emydoideablandingii #Wildlife #Conservation

After a #turtle's radio transmitter stopped working, Kiley got some help from the NY-NJ Trail Conference conservation detection dog team. While the search continues, it was great to team up with Arden and her dogs! Peat the #dog is a hard worker, and absolutely adorable in his protective eyewear.

Here's a peek at our Photo of the Month: Calvin Vick takes us to St. Lucia in search of one of the Caribbean’s rarest and most endangered snakes—the St. Lucian Lancehead. Read about his adventure, the island’s unique snake fauna, and the threats these vipers face.

In this episode of #SnakeTalk, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Laurie Vitt, Emeritus Curator at the Sam Noble Museum, for a fascinating journey through a career spent exploring some of the most remote and biodiverse regions on Earth.

This month on Lighting a Match, Caleb reflects on this year’s fire season, sharing the total number of acres successfully burned. He also takes a moment to thank the many partners, crew members, and landowners who helped make the season a success.

When a young boy found an injured #WoodTurtle on the side of the road, his family's quick thinking saved its life. Nearly a year later, he was there again—this time to return the turtle home.

Houston, Andrea, and Kiley recently attended the 23rd Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of #Tortoises and Freshwater #Turtles in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This international gathering brings together biologists from around the world to share research and...

Light at the end of the tunnel! After months of hard work, we’re finally nearing the end of storm cleanup on the Longleaf Stewardship Center.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Laurie Vitt, Emeritus Curator at the Sam Noble Museum, for a fascinating journey through a career spent exploring some of the most remote and biodiverse regions on Earth. From encounters with Alligator Lizards and Bushmasters to...

Our North Georgia interns have been busy surveying #salamanders in the Appalachian Highlands! From misty forests to mountain streams, they’re gaining hands-on experience identifying species, taking photographs, and recording location data.

While out tracking turtles, Kira recently spotted this unusually colored Katydid! This individual has a rare condition known as #erythrism, which causes an abundance of pink and red pigments, giving it this unusual color!

2025 Burn Season Summary 🔥 We wrapped up another successful season with 8,208 total acres burned, including 3,906 acres on private land across 98 burn operations. That’s 34 landowners and 22 first-entry burns working toward healthier habitats.

Have you seen the new special issue of Northeastern Naturalist? This issue focuses on the Biology and Conservation of Emydine Turtles, a group that includes Spotted Turtles, Blanding's Turtles, and Wood Turtles among others.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Graham Reynolds to explore reptiles, tropical ecosystems, and island biodiversity. Dr. Reynolds shares stories from his work on Caribbean boas, including the discovery of new species and insights into their ecology and conservation.

Show your love for one of the Southeast’s rarest rattlesnakes! In celebration of #WorldSnakeDay, #SnakeWeek and the #YearoftheSnake, we’ve designed Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake merch for the whole family—t-shirts (adult & youth sizes), hats, and tote bags—available in a variety of colors.

#SnakeWeek may end, but our work never does! The Orianne Society works every day to conserve some of the world’s most misunderstood—and important—animals: #snakes, turtles, salamanders, and other #reptiles and amphibians.

MYTH: If it has a triangular head or slit pupils, it’s venomous. FACT: That’s not a reliable method! The best way to stay safe is to avoid touching or harassing any wild snake, and learn how to identify the venomous snakes in your area from trusted sources.

MYTH: The only good snake is a dead snake. FACT: Snakes are incredibly important to healthy ecosystems. They are essential predators, prey, and pest control experts. Some even contribute to medical research, and life-saving medicines have been created from their venom!

🐍 Happy World Snake Day! 🐍 Did you know that rattlesnakes are amazing moms? After giving birth, female rattlesnakes remain with their newborns, guarding them through their most vulnerable days.