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The Orianne Society
@oriannesociety.bsky.social
The Orianne Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of imperiled reptiles and amphibians and the habitats they need to persist.

Learn more at www.orianne.org.
New research brings hope for one of the Southeast’s most imperiled amphibians!

In this month's Science of Scales, Houston Chandler breaks down how habitat restoration is helping Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders rebound on Eglin Air Force Base: www.oriannesociety.org/science-of-s...
Recovering Flatwoods Salamanders Through Habitat Restoration
Long-term research and habitat restoration efforts are helping recover Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders on Eglin Air Force Base.
www.oriannesociety.org
November 30, 2025 at 6:15 PM
#PhotooftheMonth: Herper Tingkun Luo takes us deep into the remote Guizhou Plateau of China, where he discovered a stunning, and uniquely dark, female Jerdon’s Lancehead Viper.

Read more about Tingkun's adventure and see the full photo: www.oriannesociety.org/photo-of-the...
November 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Just two days left!

The Orianne Society’s 2025 Giving Tuesday Raffle & Auction for Conservation is live! Every bid and ticket supports real herp conservation, and you could win something amazing.

Get your tickets and bids in now through Dec 2 at 4pm ET!
www.oriannesociety.org/news/2025-gi...
November 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Have you ever wanted to spend a day in the field with a biologist? Maybe even a full-time field herper?

If so, this might be your moment! We’re thrilled to once again team up with Noah Fields of @NKFherping for our GivingTuesday raffle grand prize...
November 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
A creature as wonderful as it is bizarre, the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is our largest Appalachian salamander. These giants depend on cool, rocky rivers with pristine water, making them powerful indicators of stream health.
November 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Originally released in 2020, this fan-favorite Snake Talk episode returns for 2025—one of our most downloaded conversations and every bit as fascinating today as when it first aired. Dr. Steven Beaupre joins Dr. Chris Jenkins for a deep dive into the world of Timber Rattlesnakes, sharing...
November 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Wishing you a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Orianne Society. We’re grateful for everyone who helps protect the wild places and wild animals we all cherish.
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Where do your donations go when you support The Orianne Society?

Directly to the ground, into real conservation work that protects reptiles, amphibians, and the ecosystems they depend on across the U.S. and around the world.
November 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Want to make an impact for conservation and take home something amazing? Visit our #GivingTuesday Auction page and explore a curated selection of rare books, one-of-a-kind art, and exclusive gear that support The Orianne Society’s work across the U.S. and around the world.
November 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Woodland Salamanders (genus Plethodon) such as this Southern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon serratus), are critical to the health of our eastern forest ecosystems.

Woodland Salamanders can occur at incredible densities, with their total biomass in some areas being comparable to...
November 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Why does The Orianne Society matter?

Because reptiles, amphibians, and their habitats are in crisis across the United States and around the world—and many species are vanishing before most people ever have the chance to know them.
November 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
#TimberRattlesnakes are synonymous with the wild, rugged landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. Unfortunately, these shy and misunderstood #snakes are often needlessly persecuted.
November 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Did you know Georgia is home to 50+ salamander species, some found nowhere else on Earth?

Enter our GivingTuesday Raffle & Auction to support their conservation. Our raffle grand prize: a field herping adventure for two, led by Noah Fields and Ben Stegenga!
November 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Want to make an impact for conservation AND take home something amazing? Visit our Giving Tuesday Auction page and explore a curated selection of one-of-a-kind art, exclusive gear and rare books that support The Orianne Society’s work across the U.S. and beyond.
November 20, 2025 at 7:51 PM
We have a new publication in the journal Ecological Research. Research was led by David Tevs and the McBrayer Lab at Georgia Southern University and quantified how Florida Scrub Lizards, Six-lined Racerunners, and Green Anoles responded to unpaved roads in Florida scrub and longleaf pine ecosystems.
November 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The genus Desmognathus contains 39 recognized species, all of which occur in the Eastern U.S. Close to two-thirds of these Dusky Salamanders, such as the Cherokee Black-bellied Salamander (Desmognathus gvnigeusgwotli), occur in the Appalachian Mountains, making up a significant portion...
November 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Meet Ashlynn Canode, whose Orianne-supported work is shedding light on pathogen presence in the Red Hills snake community. Her research included sampling 750+ snakes to better understand emerging disease risks in longleaf pine ecosystems - critical insight for conservation across the Southeast.
November 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Today’s the day! The Orianne Society’s 2025 Giving Tuesday Raffle & Auction for Conservation is live. Your participation directly supports critical reptile, amphibian, and habitat conservation, plus you might walk away with something unforgettable.
November 18, 2025 at 9:30 PM
It’s officially here—our 2025 Giving Tuesday Raffle & Auction for Conservation kicks off NOW! From once-in-a-lifetime experiences to rare collectibles, there’s something for everyone. Visit our website to enter the raffle, browse the auction, and make your impact.
November 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Stan Lake to discuss his new book, Toad in a Glass Jar. Their conversation follows two intertwining paths — Stan’s experiences serving in the Army in Iraq and his life as a naturalist and content creator passionate about reptiles and amphibians.
November 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
We often don’t do much #SpottedTurtle work in the fall and winter, however, this year is different. All the hard work Ben and Kira did tracking female turtles this summer eventually paid off, and we ended up finding 14 nests (32 eggs).
November 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A couple of years ago we were asked for input from the US Fish and Wildlife Service on whether including constructing wetlands as part of a #habitatrestoration project would benefit Wood Turtles. These artificial oxbows were created in late 2024, and in early 2025...
November 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Bryan Fry for a conversation about some of the world’s most venomous snakes. Bryan dives into his studies on venom, from how it evolved, to why it varies across a species’ range, to the medical challenges posed by these differences.

www.oriannesociety.org/snake-talk/
November 7, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Conducting research in a fire-adapted landscape has its challenges. On Ben’s last visit to collect hydrology data from flatwoods salamander ponds, one of our PVC wells had melted in a recent prescribed fire. He replaced it, but it was a small price to pay for biodiverse, fire-maintained wetlands.
November 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reminder for grad students working on herps in the Southeast!

The Orianne Society’s Grant Program for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation in the Southeast is accepting applications until 5PM EST, 21 November 2025.

Scan QR code or click here for details: www.oriannesociety.org/science-init...
November 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM