Upper Etowah River Alliance

Life jacket worn, nobody mourns.
Please, please, wear your PFD.

🐍 August & September are considered "baby snake season" in Georgia for venomous snakes. A few things to note before everyone starts to freak out:

- Not every snake is a copperhead or cottonmouth
- It is illegal to kill non-venomous snakes in the state of Georgia
- Juvenile copperheads do not release more venom than adults, nor is their venom more potent. I know your aunt's great grandma said it's true, but it's a myth.
- You are most likely to get bit by a snake while trying to kill it. Snakes want to avoid humans as much as you want to avoid snakes. They do not chase people. No, they don't.
- You can spray a snake with water to get it to move along.
- Mothballs do not keep snakes away and are actually harmful for the environment.
- Just because you find a baby snake does not mean that more babies are nearby or that mama is close. Snakes typically disperse once they are born.
- Most egg laying snakes are non-venomous
- Copperheads have live births and are born with a bright yellow/green tail
- Patterns of juveniles can be different than how they appear as adults. *What kind of snake do you think is in this photo?
- NEVER try to determine if a snake is venomous by the head or pupil shape. Non venomous snakes can have a triangular head shape when in a defensive posture.
- All native snakes play a key role in our ecosystem.
- If you don't want your dogs to get bitten, keep your dogs on a leash so they are close to you and not getting themselves into trouble snooping around. 🐾
- Join this page so you can post and receive a quick, educated response on snake species when needed: https://www.facebook.com/groups/197457903938111/
- If you need to have a snake relocated, visit this page: https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=15dZE4rlRHqjb91yb6pKiI4ragG8DCtsz&ll=36.2931146484475%2C-95.11182142500003&z=3
- GWN does have a limited number of volunteer snake handlers. You are welcome to reach out to us but there is a larger population of people to assist in the groups mentioned above.

Photo from Reddit

RVS= Rabies Vector Species (bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes)

Did you know that an animal can carry rabies for years without ever showing symptoms? We get calls daily from people who have found cute little orphaned raccoons and they send us pics that show them holding or snuggling the babies.

You should never handle a rabies vector species animal without thick gloves, and even then, while using extreme caution. If you were to be bitten by a scared "cute baby raccoon", you would need to go through a series of expensive rabies shots and the animal would be killed to be tested for rabies. Rabies is a viral infection that spreads through the nerves and can cause fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Once a rabies infection is established in humans, there's no effective treatment and the disease usually causes death.

We are not saying that every skunk, raccoon, and fox has rabies; far from it actually. But we are saying that you should be cautious and be smart. Do not handle these animals like they are domestic kittens. Do not reach your hand into the crate to try to hand feed them or let your kids pet them. If you get bit, the animal dies even if it's not exhibiting symptoms, and you aren't going to be happy when you see the price tag on the shots that may save your life.

You're putting both of your lives in danger.

Laine Kirby Wood here's the shareable link https://www.facebook.com/share/YtSgCtM3qmFdnpwT/?mibextid=oFDknk

Congratulations to local hero Evy Leibfarth from Bryson City, who won an Olympic bronze medal today in women's whitewater canoe singles! Evy started first among 12 competitors in the final and dramatically hung on to secure the medal. Well done, Evy! This achievement is truly one for the books!

Evy Leibfarth's bronze is the first U.S. women's slalom medal in canoe or kaya in 20 years making it the first since she was born. 🤯

Hmmm...?

In summer 1967, eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) number 7 was marked at Powdermill Nature Reserve. This turtle wasn’t seen again until summer 2004 and summer 2009 when it was spotted in nearly the same place digging nests. Last week, the bird banding crew found her digging another nest almost exactly where it was reported in 2004 and 2009.

The crew carefully and quickly noted the turtle’s markings and were able to match it with the data from her initial marking, and left her alone to continue her egg laying activities.

In 1967, this turtle was aged as “22 +/- years old” indicating that she was probably already two decades old, and probably hatched in 1945. Although ~79 years old seems like a long time for a small animal to live, box turtles are reported to live longer than 100 years!

Getting toasty on a summer hike? Before you start wading into the water, think about the last time you applied bug spray or sunscreen to your feet and ankles. 🌊👣

While these can be helpful for us to use as we spend time outside, we don't want to have a fresh layer slathered on before we walk into a gorgeous lake. We wouldn't drink water flavored with sunscreen or bug spray, and the wildlife shouldn't have to either.

💦If you're wearing anything on your skin, consider using a rag and an empty bottle to carry a little water 200 feet away from the water source to give yourself a quick rinse before wading in. The fish will thank you! 💛🐟

Y’all pay attention and stay hydrated.

Register today for the 2024 Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup (GLAC) on 9/28 at https://lakeallatoonaassoc.com/

Thanks in advance to all our sponsors and volunteers who contribute to this great annual event to clean our lake and shoreline. ❤️

Clear your gear.

Here’s a great way to help your watershed.

Choose your cleanup on May 18th!

We need volunteers to collect samples from the local waterways. Last year as the Upper Etowah Watershed, we did a fantastic job with 13 groups consisting of about 60 people, 48 adopted sites and 250 monitoring events. But we can do more!
If you want to monitor but do not commit to a site, we have multiple sites that need monitoring. Switch up the sites you monitor each month to make things more interesting. Also, this is a great volunteer opportunity! Contact us if you are interested.

Why does Okefenokee deserve World Heritage status? No place on earth quite like the swamp Kim Bednarek moved from Jacksonville beaches to Georgia swamp to help Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge become a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Invasive Plant Public Service Announcement
Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)

Another one of Alabama's Top 10 Worst Invasives!
Loved by some for it's strong floral scent, and hated by others due to the seasonal allergies that it causes, Chinese privet, was intentionally brought to the United States from China in 1852 for ornamental purposes. It was initially planted as a hedgerow shrub and its cuttings were used in floral arrangements.

Unfortunately, Chinese privet proved to be highly invasive. Once it escaped from cultivation, it began forming dense thickets in various habitats, including fields, fencerows, roadsides, forest understories, and riparian sites.

The greatest threat posed by Chinese privet lies in its ability to modify ecosystems on a large scale. It competes successfully with native vegetation, displacing native plants. The shrub matures rapidly, produces abundant seeds, and also reproduces vegetatively through root suckers. Once established, it becomes challenging to eradicate due to its reproductive capacity.

Removal and Management information from the Alabama Extension here: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/control-options-for-chinese-privet/

It’s time to float! We are excited to see everyone this year!

BURN BAN BEGINS MAY 1ST UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH.
Georgia Environmental Protection Division Announces Annual Ban on Open Burning

Beginning May 1, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) open burning ban will be in effect for 54 Georgia counties. The open burning ban has been in place during the summer ozone season since 2005.
The ban prohibits citizens and businesses from burning yard and land-clearing debris during the summer ozone season, which runs from May 1 through September 30. This is in addition to the rule that prohibits the burning of household garbage. Burning household garbage is never allowed anywhere in Georgia. Recreational activities such as campfires and grilling are exempt from the open burning ban.
According to James Boylan, Chief of the EPD Air Protection Branch, “Small particles are released into the atmosphere during open burning. In addition, other air pollutants are released that can form ground-level ozone in the summertime. Particulate pollution can cause chronic heart diseases and ground-level ozone can cause inflammation of the lungs, especially in children and people with asthma.”

Citizens can access more information on the open burning ban by visiting https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia, or by calling the EPD District Office serving their area.

Mountain District Office (Cartersville): 770-387-4900 Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Floyd, Forsyth, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, and Walker counties.

For more information about alternatives to burning, such as composting and chipping, please visit https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia/alternatives-burning.

Do this. Every day.