Conservation is a long-term commitment, and recovery doesn't happen overnight. But every snake released, every habitat restored, and every partnership formed brings this remarkable species one step closer to recovery.

We've also helped lead efforts to restore Eastern Indigo Snakes to parts of their historic range in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Together with partners across the Southeast, hundreds of captive-raised indigo snakes have now been released back into the wild.

For nearly two decades, The Orianne Society has been working to conserve the Eastern Indigo Snake. From monitoring wild populations to researching habitat use and disease, our work is helping secure a future for North America's longest native snake.

Protecting Eastern Indigo Snakes means protecting an entire ecosystem. Healthy longleaf forests support hundreds of plants and animals that depend on them. By restoring these landscapes today, we're helping ensure they thrive for generations to come.

Today, that property has grown into The Orianne Society's Longleaf Stewardship Center: more than 2,500 acres dedicated to restoring #longleafpine habitat through #prescribedfire, invasive species control, habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and scientific research.

Protecting habitat has always been central to our mission. One of Project Orianne's first major #conservation efforts was establishing the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve in south Georgia—a permanent refuge for this iconic species.

One of the greatest threats to the #EasternIndigoSnake is habitat loss. These remarkable snakes evolved alongside the longleaf pine ecosystem, one of the most biologically diverse, and most endangered, ecosystems in North America. Today, only a tiny fraction of that landscape remains.

#OrianneSociety #WorldSnakeDay2026 #WorldSnakeDay #SnakeWeek #EasternIndigoSnake #Drymarchoncouperi #SnakeConservation #WildlifeConservation

Happy World Snake Day! 🐍 Today we're celebrating the Eastern Indigo Snake – the species that The Orianne Society was founded to conserve. Swipe through to discover some surprising facts about North America's longest native snake.

One question changed everything. More than 18 years ago, a young girl named Orianne held an #EasternIndigoSnake for the first time. When she learned the species was threatened, she asked her father a simple question: "Can we save it?" That moment inspired what would become The Orianne Society.

...Black-bellied Salamanders and Dwarf Black-bellied Salamanders. Dwarf Black-bellied Salamanders (Desmognathus folkertsi) are a primarily aquatic salamander endemic to the United States, and found in creeks and rivers of the northern Georgia and southern North Carolina mountains.

The 2026 interns have been busy at the Wharton Conservation Center! They completed their training - trekking through the woods, flipping rocks in the creeks, catching and learning how to identify local salamanders - and have begun formal surveys, taking measurements and tail clippings of...

We also collaborated with Univ. of Georgia Masters student Catherine Hanks on her presentation highlighting work on Snake Fungal Disease in Eastern Indigo Snake populations. The meeting provided a great venue to discuss ongoing conservation work with partners and colleagues from around the U.S.

Our Science Initiative staff recently attended the annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Andrea, Ben, and Houston all gave presentations discussing both our Spotted Turtle and Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander conservation projects.

After more than 150 episodes, Dr. Chris Jenkins sits down on the other side of the microphone for one final conversation. In this special farewell episode, Chris reflects on the experiences that shaped his life, career, and passion for reptile and amphibian conservation, and the journey...

Wharton believed that caring for the land, and the life it supports, is our shared responsibility. Today, that vision lives on through The Orianne Society's Wharton Conservation Center, where science, conservation, and education come together to protect the biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians.

We're excited to begin building that future together.

We envision a place where new discoveries are made, future conservation leaders are trained, and people from all backgrounds can develop a deeper connection to the natural world.

In the years ahead, this property will support scientific research, habitat restoration, student training, conservation education, and partnerships that strengthen conservation across the Appalachian Highlands.

The Wharton Conservation Center is more than our new headquarters, it is a foundation for the future.

Protecting places like this is about more than conserving land, it's about safeguarding the incredible web of life that depends on it. Learn more about The Orianne Society's Wharton Conservation Center: www.oriannesociety.org/conservation...

Let's give a warm welcome to Emma Jenkins, our Salamander Conservation Intern! A recent high school graduate, Emma will attend Hawaiʻi Pacific University in the fall, where she plans to major in Marine Affairs.

Happy 4th of July from all of us at The Orianne Society! 🇺🇸 We hope your day is filled with family, friends, and time in the great outdoors. As you celebrate, we also thank you for helping us protect the reptiles, amphibians, and wild places that make our country so special.

Let's give a warm welcome to Lillian Bard, our Salamander Conservation Intern! Lillian is a rising homeschool senior from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, whose passion for reptiles and amphibians began after attending a herpetology camp at Montreat College. She volunteers as...

Say hello to Ruby Karplus, our Salamander Conservation Intern! Now in her season with The Orianne Society, Ruby is a rising senior at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. She's helping conserve salamanders by surveying mountain streams and collecting data that supports conservation and research efforts.

Say hello to Brendan Loring, our Wharton Conservation Intern! Now in his second summer with The Orianne Society, Brendan is a biology student at the University of North Carolina who brings field experience from...

A surprise visitor greeted Dr. Chris Jenkins on the porch of our Wharton Conservation Center - an Eastern Black Ratsnake!

Today, Charlie Wharton's vision lives on at The Orianne Society's #WhartonConservationCenter. Through research, conservation, and education, we're proud to continue his life's work, helping people understand, value, and protect the Southern Appalachians for generations to come.

Wharton's landmark book, The Natural Environments of Georgia, became a cornerstone for conservation across the state. More than a field guide, it documented Georgia's diverse ecosystems and inspired researchers, educators, land managers, and conservationists for decades.

Charles H. Wharton was an ecologist, educator, and conservationist who dedicated his life to studying Georgia's remarkable landscapes, from mountain forests and rushing streams to coastal marshes and longleaf pine savannas. His work inspired generations to value the natural world.