Earthshine Mountain Lodge
Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter
Fall 2008 Issue 1 Page 3
TURTLE TRACKS UPDATE: Long Winters Nap
October 25th, 2008.
The 2008 Turtle Tracks season is coming to a close. All of the turtles are going into hibernation now and will be sleeping for several months until the spring of 2009. We here at Earthshine greatly enjoyed turtle tracking with many of you over this past year. Not only did we have a good time looking for Mojo, Catherine and Jimmy Irwin but we also collected some great data on box turtle movements that will help our special friends survive. We also learned allot about the box turtle and his place in nature as well as some of the other animals and plants that he shares his habitat with and how important all of nature is to all of us--wildlife and humans included. And on top of all that we also had some great Earthshine fun! We here at Earthshine thank you all for helping us to make this wonderful wildlife program a reality and we hope you come back in the future to enjoy the mountain!
For more information on the Earthshine Lodge Turtle Tracks program please check out the
Turtle Tracks website.
WILD NOTE: Box turtles are not able to adapt to the world of humans so we humans must adapt to the world of the box turtle. The more we know about the secret life of the Eastern box turtle, the more we will be able to help them survive.
EARTHSHINE SPECIAL OFFERS
Thanksgiving at Earthshine!
Thursday November 27th, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Reservation only--spaces are limited. Call to reserve your dinner at (828) 862-4207
Fly Thru the Treetops at Earthshine!
Take a ride on Earthshine's 7 stage zipline course this fall and winter. Bring a group of 4 and the 5th person rides for free!! Ages 10 and up.
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My Guestbook
View My Guestbook
Fall 2008 Issue 1 Page 3
TURTLE TRACKS UPDATE: Long Winters Nap
October 25th, 2008.
The 2008 Turtle Tracks season is coming to a close. All of the turtles are going into hibernation now and will be sleeping for several months until the spring of 2009. We here at Earthshine greatly enjoyed turtle tracking with many of you over this past year. Not only did we have a good time looking for Mojo, Catherine and Jimmy Irwin but we also collected some great data on box turtle movements that will help our special friends survive. We also learned allot about the box turtle and his place in nature as well as some of the other animals and plants that he shares his habitat with and how important all of nature is to all of us--wildlife and humans included. And on top of all that we also had some great Earthshine fun! We here at Earthshine thank you all for helping us to make this wonderful wildlife program a reality and we hope you come back in the future to enjoy the mountain!
For more information on the Earthshine Lodge Turtle Tracks program please check out the
Turtle Tracks website.
WILD NOTE: Box turtles are not able to adapt to the world of humans so we humans must adapt to the world of the box turtle. The more we know about the secret life of the Eastern box turtle, the more we will be able to help them survive.
EARTHSHINE SPECIAL OFFERS
Thanksgiving at Earthshine!
Thursday November 27th, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Reservation only--spaces are limited. Call to reserve your dinner at (828) 862-4207
Fly Thru the Treetops at Earthshine!
Take a ride on Earthshine's 7 stage zipline course this fall and winter. Bring a group of 4 and the 5th person rides for free!! Ages 10 and up.
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
October 25th, 2008.
The 2008 Turtle Tracks season is coming to a close. All of the turtles are going into hibernation now and will be sleeping for several months until the spring of 2009. We here at Earthshine greatly enjoyed turtle tracking with many of you over this past year. Not only did we have a good time looking for Mojo, Catherine and Jimmy Irwin but we also collected some great data on box turtle movements that will help our special friends survive. We also learned allot about the box turtle and his place in nature as well as some of the other animals and plants that he shares his habitat with and how important all of nature is to all of us--wildlife and humans included. And on top of all that we also had some great Earthshine fun! We here at Earthshine thank you all for helping us to make this wonderful wildlife program a reality and we hope you come back in the future to enjoy the mountain!
For more information on the Earthshine Lodge Turtle Tracks program please check out the
Turtle Tracks website.
WILD NOTE: Box turtles are not able to adapt to the world of humans so we humans must adapt to the world of the box turtle. The more we know about the secret life of the Eastern box turtle, the more we will be able to help them survive.
EARTHSHINE SPECIAL OFFERS
Thanksgiving at Earthshine!
Thursday November 27th, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Reservation only--spaces are limited. Call to reserve your dinner at (828) 862-4207
Fly Thru the Treetops at Earthshine!
Take a ride on Earthshine's 7 stage zipline course this fall and winter. Bring a group of 4 and the 5th person rides for free!! Ages 10 and up.
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
For more information on the Earthshine Lodge Turtle Tracks program please check out the
Turtle Tracks website.
WILD NOTE: Box turtles are not able to adapt to the world of humans so we humans must adapt to the world of the box turtle. The more we know about the secret life of the Eastern box turtle, the more we will be able to help them survive.
EARTHSHINE SPECIAL OFFERS
Thanksgiving at Earthshine!
Thursday November 27th, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Reservation only--spaces are limited. Call to reserve your dinner at (828) 862-4207
Fly Thru the Treetops at Earthshine!
Take a ride on Earthshine's 7 stage zipline course this fall and winter. Bring a group of 4 and the 5th person rides for free!! Ages 10 and up.
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
WILD NOTE: Box turtles are not able to adapt to the world of humans so we humans must adapt to the world of the box turtle. The more we know about the secret life of the Eastern box turtle, the more we will be able to help them survive.
EARTHSHINE SPECIAL OFFERS
Thanksgiving at Earthshine!
Thursday November 27th, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Reservation only--spaces are limited. Call to reserve your dinner at (828) 862-4207
Fly Thru the Treetops at Earthshine!
Take a ride on Earthshine's 7 stage zipline course this fall and winter. Bring a group of 4 and the 5th person rides for free!! Ages 10 and up.
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Thanksgiving at Earthshine!
Thursday November 27th, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Reservation only--spaces are limited. Call to reserve your dinner at (828) 862-4207
Fly Thru the Treetops at Earthshine!
Take a ride on Earthshine's 7 stage zipline course this fall and winter. Bring a group of 4 and the 5th person rides for free!! Ages 10 and up.
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Reservation only--spaces are limited. Call to reserve your dinner at (828) 862-4207
Fly Thru the Treetops at Earthshine!
Take a ride on Earthshine's 7 stage zipline course this fall and winter. Bring a group of 4 and the 5th person rides for free!! Ages 10 and up.
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Fly Thru the Treetops at Earthshine!
Take a ride on Earthshine's 7 stage zipline course this fall and winter. Bring a group of 4 and the 5th person rides for free!! Ages 10 and up.
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Available by reservation only, please email or call for more information (828) 862-4207
Offer expires March 31, 2009.
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Three generations zip through the trees!
Check out this new video of The Flight Thru the Treetops Zipline!
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Check out this video of the zipline in Winter!
Earthshine Staff Corner
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
FOOD FAVORITES: Earthshine Granola Recipe from Marney and Nick
Mix together:
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
1 1/2 lbs. of oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped nuts
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
2 tbs, vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
1/2 cup corn oil
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg. for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown. Stir every 15 minutes while baking.
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
After baking add: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut. Mix well and enjoy a taste of Earthshine.
Julie's Remedies
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Introducing a new column about edible & medicinal plants that give us health.
--from Julie, Earthshine's herbalist!
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
The Giving Plants
Autumn is a time of year when many plants are dropping seeds and fruits all around us. With a little knowledge and some company, a short walk outside could send you home with handfuls of healthy, delicious, and free food & medicine. This month, take some time to recognize & taste the medicine we call Rosehips.
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Rosehips are those beautiful red berries covering the wild rosebushes in the fall. Many consider Rosa canina (the wild rose) to be invasive, but so many plants labeled "bothersome weeds" contain healthy food & medicine, so if you lucky enough to stumble upon these nutritious fruits, dig in! Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. They also contain iron, vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids, and more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries. Rosehips have traditionally been used a food source by all of the people who lived where the rose grew, as well as a mountain remedy for coughs.
Here is an easy way to incorporate a wild food into your diet this fall:
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Collect rosehips when they are dark red, and separate easily from the stem. You can wash & dry these to save them for the whole winter! (If you collect them too early or too late, it will not do you any harm, but this is when they taste the best & are at their highest medicinal potency.) Take a big handful of rosehips & boil them until the water turns pinkish red, adding more rosehips if needed. Strain out the rosehips after the tea has cooled a bit, add fresh honey to sweeten & enjoy hot or iced anytime for an immune boost, or drink daily to nourish the urinary system.
Rosehip Cough Syrup (a family favorite)
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Gather as many rosehips as you can, and get some friends to help pick them from the stems. Put all your rosehips into a pot and cover them with water plus an inch. Boil them until they are soft & then mash them. There will be lots of little seeds! Strain out the plant material & seeds so that you have a really red, smooth liquid. For every 2 cups of rosehip syrup left in your pot, add 1-2 cups of sugar. It is a lot of sugar, but it will preserve the syrup if you want to can it for later (use the same method you would if you were canning preserves). If you want to use less sugar, you will have to keep your syrup in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. A spoonful or two of this syrup will replace those coughs with a big smile!
--Julie
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
What is the Earthshine Staff Reading?
Celena--"The Language of Goldfish" by Zibby O'Neal.
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Marney--"War Diaries"
Lisa--"The Mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Amy--"The Lost Boys" by Orson Scott Card
Steve--Books: "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne. Magazines: National Geographic, Discover, Wildlife in North Carolina and the Wildlife Warriors Newsletter--Warrior Times(thanks Cathy!).
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Paul--"Citizen Hearst: A biography of William Randolph Hearst" by W. A. Swanson.
Gene--"John Quincy Adams" by David McCullough and "The Story of the Plott Hound: Strike & Stay" by Bob Plott.
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Julie--"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.
How you can help box turtles survive.
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Two of the turtles that live at Earthshine Lodge were donated to us by caring folks who wanted to help them survive.
Rose covered with dirt after coming out of hibernation in early spring of 2008.
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
ROSE
Rose was given to us by Austin who visited Earthshine with his class last fall. Austin and his mother found Rose in the road after she had been hit by a car. Her shell was cracked and, unknown to Austin and his mom, her pelvis was broken and right rear leg was dislocated but visibly she seemed OK other than the loss of a small amount of blood around her tail and the crack in her shell so they didn't feel a visit to the veterinarian was needed. They took her home, fed her well and cared for her and she healed but was unable to close her shell completely. Three years later Austin came to Earthshine and saw how we are helping box turtles and decided to donate her to us.
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Austin donating Rose to Earthshine.
Our veterinarian examined Rose and said that even if Austin had taken her to the vet when he found her, there was probably nothing that could have been done to repair her injuries. By keeping her safe from predators and feeding her a good diet her life was spared--she is a very lucky turtle thanks to Austin and his mom! Due to her injuries, which make her very vulnerable to predators, Rose will have to live out the remainder of her life in the Earthshine turtle enclosure where she will be safe from harm and help educate visitors on the secret and special life of the Eastern Box Turtle.
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Meredith
Meredith was given to us by fellow friend of turtles Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC. Charlie nursed her back to health after someone dropped her off after being hit by a car.
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Her "rescuers" did a great thing by helping her but unfortunately they did not remember her place of origin so she will not be able to be released back into her home in the wild. Meredithis a lucky turtle because soon, after she wakes up from her hibernation next spring, she will get to live free as a box turtle should. Normally this could be a bad thing for a relocated turtle because of their homebody ways but in Meredith's case she will be constantly under our watchful eyes after she receives a radio transmitter and joins Mojo in the Turtle Tracks project. It is our hope that she will be able to adapt to life on the mountain as Mojo seems to have done. Data from her tracks will further our knowledge of what happens when a healthy adult turtle is relocated to an area of suitable habitat. Should she show signs of stress such as rapid weight loss and strange movement patterns she will be returned to the Earthshine turtle enclosure.
Sadly, displaced turtle stories like Rose's and Meredith's happen to countless turtles all over the county and is very unfortunate--especially when the turtles are female. Not only does one less female in the wild means a reduced reproductive capacity for the local populations of box turtles but box turtles also possess a strong homing instinct that causes them to want to be near their home where they were born. Because of this fact a box turtle that has been moved far from its home may instinctively try to walk home. This can put the turtle in great danger as it crosses roads, rivers and fields, encounters predators, diseases and other unknown dangers.
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Herpetologists--scientists that study reptiles and amphibians--are still studying the homing ability of box turtles (as we are doing with Mojo and Meredith) in order to learn more about their homing instincts when taken far away from their home and you can help too! If you find an injured box turtle please take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian and PLEASE remember to write down the EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned to its home after it heals. If its home has been destroyed by development or you found the turtle in an area that just doesn't seem like a place turtles would live--like in the middle of a city--then it is a good bet it was released by someone and it is trying to get home. The best thing for a turtle in this kind of situation would be to take it to a nature center, wildlife park or zoo (or Earthshine if you find it in western North Carolina or upstate South Carolina) where it will be able to live out the remainder of its life with the special care it needs to survive. Box turtles have very strict dietary and housing requirements so they do not make good pets unless you are willing to invest a lot of money and time to take care of them. It is best to let them live wild and free unless there is no other option.
Turtles that survive humankind's onslaught of development often die while trying to cross roads in search of mates, food, water or a new home. Due to the increase in residential, commercial and road development box turtles may be forced to wander out of their ever shrinking isolated habitats into lands used by humans. Here they are at a far greater risk from death directly related to the activities of humans such as being hit by cars, mowers, tractors and other farm equipment. Many box turtles also die in backyard fishponds that do not have escape ramps or in leaf piles that are raked up and later burned without being checked for sheltering wildlife. Please consider the impact to wildlife when you install a pond or pool--a simple ramp will save many lives. Burn your leaves soon after raking and better yet, rake them into a remote corner of your property, add some rocks, sticks and brush and create a brush pile for wildlife--they will thank you for it.
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Another problem the Box turtle faces is the pet trade. Taking just one box turtle from the wild to be sold or used as a pet can be decimating to local populations. Although a female box turtle will lay hundreds of eggs over her long lifespan, less than a handful these will survive to be a reproducing adult turtle! In a healthy habitat this small number of offspring will survive to replace their aging parents and the population will stay stable. However, if the adults are removed both by being taken as pets or accidentally killed, the number of breeding adults will drop and the entire population will soon suffer.
If you find a box turtle crossing a road, move it to the side of the road that its head is pointing toward--because it really does know where it is going.
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
You may also help Earthshine's box turtles by sponsoring them with a monetary donation or a donation of supplies. If you would like to learn how you can become a part of the Turtle Tracks program please click the photo link below.
Check out "Box Turtles Need Our Help"--A video by Earthshine's Resident Naturalist Steve O'Neil.
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Worldwide Wildlife News
Please help save Steve's Place
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
From the Save Steve's Place website: "The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (SIWR) is a wetland conservation property and a tribute to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The 135,000 ha (hectare) property, in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is home to a set of three important spring fed wetlands which provide a critical water source to threatened habitat, provide permanent flow of water to the Wenlock River, and is home to rare and vulnerable plants and wildlife. The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is being threatened by strip mining. Cape Alumina Pty Ltd has lodged mining lease applications which include approximately 12,300 ha of the Reserve. Cape Alumina company documents indicate an intention to mine 50 plus million tons over a 10 year period commencing 2010. The greater part of this mine is on the SIWR. The proposed area for mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve contains the head waters of irreplaceable waterways and unique biodiversity which will not recover after mining operations are finished."
Please consider signing the petition to stop the mining operation and save Steve's Place.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Thank You!
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Check out the Global Reef Expedition: Science without boarders.
As their website states: "Protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is an urgent issue. Coral reefs are highly valued for their biological, cultural and economic resources, as well as their aesthetic qualities. They provide food, employment, building materials, recreation, coastal protection and medicines. They sustain livelihoods and economic development. According to one estimate, coral reef ecosystems provide approximately US$375 billion per year in goods and services."
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Quote of the Issue
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. ~James Bryant Conant(1893 - 1978)
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Jimmy Irwin--named after Jimmy Buffett and Steve Irwin.
The Turtle
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
I saw it this morning just wandering around,
It was the first turtle that I'd ever found.
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
It sat very still like no one was there,
He finally came out and gave me a stare.
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
We sat like two statues this turtle and I,
All you could hear were the birds in the sky.
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
His shell was like armor all shiny and new,
And wrinkles on his legs--there were more than a few.
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
I saw many colors all over this fellow,
Hi eyes were red, on his body was yellow.
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
He crawled so slow he could have been caught,
My decision was clear after some thought.
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
I left him alone where he needed to be,
This turtle was happy, this turtle was free.
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
--Bonnie, 4th grade.
Sign up for the Earthshine Nature Notes and Turtle Tracks Newsletter and receive regular email updates on all of the nature related events at Earthshine as well as updates on the status of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks research project...and trivia and wildlife news from around the world! Newsletters will be in the form of a periodic email with a link to this web based newsletter so sign up now!
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Questions or comments or to add or remove your name from our mailing list, please CLICK HEREThank You!
Please sign the gusetbook--thanks!
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook
Sign My GuestbookView My Guestbook