TURTLE TRACKS
"BONES TRACKS"
Bones in an adult male Eastern Box Turtle. He was found in July 2007 by Dr. Billy Hagler, a guest of Earthshine who found him in his barn a few miles from the lodge.
Bones made many friends in Billy's family including Alexander who lives in California.
Bones adopted "guardians" are the Hagler family and Carrie and Michael Arrowood.
In December the Haglers had some special signs made to warn drivers that Bones and his friends might be crossing the roads on the farm. (The horse asked to be in the photo)
If you have a high concentration of box turtles on your land signs such as this are a MUST to warn drivers to slow down and watch for them.
Bones' stats are as follows:
Found on 7-28-07
Location: Near Cedar Mountain, NC.
Weight: 485g
Maximum Carapace Length: 144mm
Total Plastron Length: 147mm
Age: 20+ years old.
Habitat where Bones was found: inside a horse barn on the edge of a pasture near a small stream bordered by White pine and Rhododendron.
ID marked marginals: BKL.
On September 1st Bones was fitted with an AVM model MP-2 radio transmitter. The radio transmitter was painted in the same colors and patterns as on Bones' shell. The goal was to camouflage the transmitter so that it matches the shell and does not attract interested creatures that might want to bother this old turtle.
On September 2nd Bones was released near the point of capture (see the map below) and he happily walked off into the woods. I will track his movements up to 3 times per week in order to attempt to determine his home range and habitat use. Since he was found very close to a busy road I moved him about 150 yards away from his point of capture. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to being moved that far from his discovery location.
To view Bones' tracking map in a new window with his past movements and current location just click HERE
NOTE: Distances and locations on the map are approximate. Exact location information will not be posted on this site due to possible poaching/trespass issues.
Observational data, movies and photos collected each time Bones is located will be posted through the link below.
Bones Tracks Tracking Logs
Click the photo link below to go to the BONES TRACKS track logs. Each tracking day has its own page for easier viewing. On each page you will find the detail data of each tracking day, photos and a short video of Bones position at the time of location. Logs begin with the most recent and progress to the oldest as you click through the links at the bottom of each days page.
Click the photo below to go to the latest Track Log.
To view the index of Bones previous track logs just click HERE
Read a semi-fictional story about the life of Bones the box turtle.
Please return often because as this study unfolds, I will update this page with more data, photos and movies documenting the journeys of Bones the Eastern Box Turtle.
Please contact us if you have found a box turtle local to the WNC area that is injured, sick, displaced or is in need of a little R & R or if you are interested in becoming a part of The Earthshine Turtle Tracks program.
If you are a Geocacher there is a new Bones Travel Bug you can look for and help in it's travels! Helping Bones the Travel Bug travel helps spread his word of wildlife and habitat conservation to all who find him. If you are not a Geocacher and are wondering what a geocacher is then check it out at Geocaching.
CLICK HERE FOR HOMEPAGE
Bones in an adult male Eastern Box Turtle. He was found in July 2007 by Dr. Billy Hagler, a guest of Earthshine who found him in his barn a few miles from the lodge.
Bones made many friends in Billy's family including Alexander who lives in California.
Bones adopted "guardians" are the Hagler family and Carrie and Michael Arrowood.
In December the Haglers had some special signs made to warn drivers that Bones and his friends might be crossing the roads on the farm. (The horse asked to be in the photo)
If you have a high concentration of box turtles on your land signs such as this are a MUST to warn drivers to slow down and watch for them.
Bones' stats are as follows:
Found on 7-28-07
Location: Near Cedar Mountain, NC.
Weight: 485g
Maximum Carapace Length: 144mm
Total Plastron Length: 147mm
Age: 20+ years old.
Habitat where Bones was found: inside a horse barn on the edge of a pasture near a small stream bordered by White pine and Rhododendron.
ID marked marginals: BKL.
On September 1st Bones was fitted with an AVM model MP-2 radio transmitter. The radio transmitter was painted in the same colors and patterns as on Bones' shell. The goal was to camouflage the transmitter so that it matches the shell and does not attract interested creatures that might want to bother this old turtle.
On September 2nd Bones was released near the point of capture (see the map below) and he happily walked off into the woods. I will track his movements up to 3 times per week in order to attempt to determine his home range and habitat use. Since he was found very close to a busy road I moved him about 150 yards away from his point of capture. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to being moved that far from his discovery location.
To view Bones' tracking map in a new window with his past movements and current location just click HERE
NOTE: Distances and locations on the map are approximate. Exact location information will not be posted on this site due to possible poaching/trespass issues.
Observational data, movies and photos collected each time Bones is located will be posted through the link below.
Bones Tracks Tracking Logs
Click the photo link below to go to the BONES TRACKS track logs. Each tracking day has its own page for easier viewing. On each page you will find the detail data of each tracking day, photos and a short video of Bones position at the time of location. Logs begin with the most recent and progress to the oldest as you click through the links at the bottom of each days page.
Click the photo below to go to the latest Track Log.
To view the index of Bones previous track logs just click HERE
Read a semi-fictional story about the life of Bones the box turtle.
Please return often because as this study unfolds, I will update this page with more data, photos and movies documenting the journeys of Bones the Eastern Box Turtle.
Please contact us if you have found a box turtle local to the WNC area that is injured, sick, displaced or is in need of a little R & R or if you are interested in becoming a part of The Earthshine Turtle Tracks program.
If you are a Geocacher there is a new Bones Travel Bug you can look for and help in it's travels! Helping Bones the Travel Bug travel helps spread his word of wildlife and habitat conservation to all who find him. If you are not a Geocacher and are wondering what a geocacher is then check it out at Geocaching.
CLICK HERE FOR HOMEPAGE
Bones adopted "guardians" are the Hagler family and Carrie and Michael Arrowood.
In December the Haglers had some special signs made to warn drivers that Bones and his friends might be crossing the roads on the farm. (The horse asked to be in the photo)
If you have a high concentration of box turtles on your land signs such as this are a MUST to warn drivers to slow down and watch for them.
Bones' stats are as follows:
Found on 7-28-07
Location: Near Cedar Mountain, NC.
Weight: 485g
Maximum Carapace Length: 144mm
Total Plastron Length: 147mm
Age: 20+ years old.
Habitat where Bones was found: inside a horse barn on the edge of a pasture near a small stream bordered by White pine and Rhododendron.
ID marked marginals: BKL.
On September 1st Bones was fitted with an AVM model MP-2 radio transmitter. The radio transmitter was painted in the same colors and patterns as on Bones' shell. The goal was to camouflage the transmitter so that it matches the shell and does not attract interested creatures that might want to bother this old turtle.
On September 2nd Bones was released near the point of capture (see the map below) and he happily walked off into the woods. I will track his movements up to 3 times per week in order to attempt to determine his home range and habitat use. Since he was found very close to a busy road I moved him about 150 yards away from his point of capture. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to being moved that far from his discovery location.
To view Bones' tracking map in a new window with his past movements and current location just click HERE
NOTE: Distances and locations on the map are approximate. Exact location information will not be posted on this site due to possible poaching/trespass issues.
Observational data, movies and photos collected each time Bones is located will be posted through the link below.
Bones Tracks Tracking Logs
Click the photo link below to go to the BONES TRACKS track logs. Each tracking day has its own page for easier viewing. On each page you will find the detail data of each tracking day, photos and a short video of Bones position at the time of location. Logs begin with the most recent and progress to the oldest as you click through the links at the bottom of each days page.
Click the photo below to go to the latest Track Log.
To view the index of Bones previous track logs just click HERE
Read a semi-fictional story about the life of Bones the box turtle.
Please return often because as this study unfolds, I will update this page with more data, photos and movies documenting the journeys of Bones the Eastern Box Turtle.
Please contact us if you have found a box turtle local to the WNC area that is injured, sick, displaced or is in need of a little R & R or if you are interested in becoming a part of The Earthshine Turtle Tracks program.
If you are a Geocacher there is a new Bones Travel Bug you can look for and help in it's travels! Helping Bones the Travel Bug travel helps spread his word of wildlife and habitat conservation to all who find him. If you are not a Geocacher and are wondering what a geocacher is then check it out at Geocaching.
CLICK HERE FOR HOMEPAGE
If you have a high concentration of box turtles on your land signs such as this are a MUST to warn drivers to slow down and watch for them.
Bones' stats are as follows:
Found on 7-28-07
Location: Near Cedar Mountain, NC.
Weight: 485g
Maximum Carapace Length: 144mm
Total Plastron Length: 147mm
Age: 20+ years old.
Habitat where Bones was found: inside a horse barn on the edge of a pasture near a small stream bordered by White pine and Rhododendron.
ID marked marginals: BKL.
On September 1st Bones was fitted with an AVM model MP-2 radio transmitter. The radio transmitter was painted in the same colors and patterns as on Bones' shell. The goal was to camouflage the transmitter so that it matches the shell and does not attract interested creatures that might want to bother this old turtle.
On September 2nd Bones was released near the point of capture (see the map below) and he happily walked off into the woods. I will track his movements up to 3 times per week in order to attempt to determine his home range and habitat use. Since he was found very close to a busy road I moved him about 150 yards away from his point of capture. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to being moved that far from his discovery location.
To view Bones' tracking map in a new window with his past movements and current location just click HERE
NOTE: Distances and locations on the map are approximate. Exact location information will not be posted on this site due to possible poaching/trespass issues.
Observational data, movies and photos collected each time Bones is located will be posted through the link below.
Bones Tracks Tracking Logs
Click the photo link below to go to the BONES TRACKS track logs. Each tracking day has its own page for easier viewing. On each page you will find the detail data of each tracking day, photos and a short video of Bones position at the time of location. Logs begin with the most recent and progress to the oldest as you click through the links at the bottom of each days page.
Click the photo below to go to the latest Track Log.
To view the index of Bones previous track logs just click HERE
Read a semi-fictional story about the life of Bones the box turtle.
Please return often because as this study unfolds, I will update this page with more data, photos and movies documenting the journeys of Bones the Eastern Box Turtle.
Please contact us if you have found a box turtle local to the WNC area that is injured, sick, displaced or is in need of a little R & R or if you are interested in becoming a part of The Earthshine Turtle Tracks program.
If you are a Geocacher there is a new Bones Travel Bug you can look for and help in it's travels! Helping Bones the Travel Bug travel helps spread his word of wildlife and habitat conservation to all who find him. If you are not a Geocacher and are wondering what a geocacher is then check it out at Geocaching.
CLICK HERE FOR HOMEPAGE
Found on 7-28-07
NOTE: Distances and locations on the map are approximate. Exact location information will not be posted on this site due to possible poaching/trespass issues.
Location: Near Cedar Mountain, NC.
Weight: 485g
Maximum Carapace Length: 144mm
Total Plastron Length: 147mm
Age: 20+ years old.
Habitat where Bones was found: inside a horse barn on the edge of a pasture near a small stream bordered by White pine and Rhododendron.
ID marked marginals: BKL.
On September 1st Bones was fitted with an AVM model MP-2 radio transmitter. The radio transmitter was painted in the same colors and patterns as on Bones' shell. The goal was to camouflage the transmitter so that it matches the shell and does not attract interested creatures that might want to bother this old turtle.
On September 2nd Bones was released near the point of capture (see the map below) and he happily walked off into the woods. I will track his movements up to 3 times per week in order to attempt to determine his home range and habitat use. Since he was found very close to a busy road I moved him about 150 yards away from his point of capture. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to being moved that far from his discovery location.
To view Bones' tracking map in a new window with his past movements and current location just click HERE
Observational data, movies and photos collected each time Bones is located will be posted through the link below.
Bones Tracks Tracking Logs
Click the photo link below to go to the BONES TRACKS track logs. Each tracking day has its own page for easier viewing. On each page you will find the detail data of each tracking day, photos and a short video of Bones position at the time of location. Logs begin with the most recent and progress to the oldest as you click through the links at the bottom of each days page.
Click the photo below to go to the latest Track Log.
To view the index of Bones previous track logs just click HERE
Read a semi-fictional story about the life of Bones the box turtle.
Please return often because as this study unfolds, I will update this page with more data, photos and movies documenting the journeys of Bones the Eastern Box Turtle.
Please contact us if you have found a box turtle local to the WNC area that is injured, sick, displaced or is in need of a little R & R or if you are interested in becoming a part of The Earthshine Turtle Tracks program.
If you are a Geocacher there is a new Bones Travel Bug you can look for and help in it's travels! Helping Bones the Travel Bug travel helps spread his word of wildlife and habitat conservation to all who find him. If you are not a Geocacher and are wondering what a geocacher is then check it out at Geocaching.
CLICK HERE FOR HOMEPAGE