Since the previously written biographies were lost in "The Crash", I thought it might be nice to re-write them. Bios help us get to know one another and develop a sense of community. I'll go first...

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My name is Cole Grover. I was born, raised, and currenlty reside in Billings, Montana. I'm married and have a daughter. My interest in natural history, especially herpetofauna, stems from early childhood when I'd often accompany my father on fossil hunts, on which live reptiles and amphibians were often found. This, naturally, became my focus. My folks were very accomidating of my growing interest, and encouraged my learning process by allowing a few captive pets and helping me build a small library of herpetological books and field guides.

Myself and a big, bitey Pantherophis


Coluber constrictor


My interest continued to grow through grade school, junior high, and high shool, where I elected to take advanced courses in biology and chemistry. Following high school, I persued a degree in organismal biology, with an emphasis on the mechanics of evolution and biochemistry. My research interests focused on the reproductive ecology in Phrynosoma hernandesi and Thamnophis elegans.

Following school, I accepted a position as a field scientist at an environmental consulting and engineering firm. My primary area of work is the bioremediation of chemical contamination, so herp-related work has been mostly moved to hobby status.

I try to spend as much free time as I can in the field, but I also keep and breed a collection of locality-specific North American Colubrids. In addition to herps, I have more than a marginal interest in invertebrates and fish, enjoy good beer, and love cigars.



-Cole

Hey guys,
I'm only 17 so my biography is a bit shorter, but just as exciting. (At least I think it's exciting but I am a bit biased.)
I was born in Yuma AZ where if I got away from my parents and waddled outside, after learning to walk, I would get 2nd degree burns on the bottom of my feet from the sidewalk. Shortly after that we moved to Boise, ID and a couple years later to Farmington, New Mexico where I currently reside. I started getting interested in herps when I was about 10 I would say. Catching garter snakes in my backyard was a favorite summer activity. I would watch an episode of the Crocodile Hunter and then go charging out into the yard to find 'dangerous' snakes. It wasn't until maybe two years ago that my interest morphed into photography of these creatures. I am not going to school for biology and don't plan to work with herps, but I plan to stay very active in it as a hobby.

Cheers,
Travis

The name is Jamison...like the Irish whiskey. Dad claims that its “magical powers” played a significant role in my conception. Thus began my life of awe and passion for all of nature’s creatures. I focused all of my energy as a child, on ignoring household chores, homework, and personal hygiene, in an effort to spend more time outside turning over logs and rocks, sticking my arms into unidentified burrows and summiting everything climbable, (usually small hills or cherry trees) in hopes to witness nature's fascinating animals. I loved all the critters I found, and to my mother's horror, brought most of them home. Mom is still adamant that it was my fault she got stung on the butt by a bumble bee. For the record, I side with the bee. Though I was interested in, and read everything about bugs, birds, mammals, and amphibians, I have always been obsessed with reptiles. As a youngster, I aspired to become a snake doctor, but as I grew into adulthood, I came to realize that snakes' HMO plans suck, and I couldn't make a living curing "bad scale days" pro bono. To this day, I still harbor an unquenchable affinity for snakes (especially venomous). Darwin's theory would have been proven multiple times already, but for his fatal flaw of wildly underestimating the determination of a controlling wife in preventing her loving, if somewhat reckless husband, from doing ANYTHING fun or moderately life-threatening.
I enjoyed grade school and took great pride in my ability to win the occasional spelling bee. High school was equally rewarding, but finally granted me the ability to be recognized for my athletic prowess. I’m not generally one to brag, but it is not every day that you will meet someone with a complete collection of “Most Improved” trophies in Basketball 4 years in a row, without ever making the varsity team. Upon graduation, I tooled around Germany for a couple of years. I “returned with honor” and then spent the better part of a decade in college. I started up in Logan at USU, where I successfully demonstrated why they call their mascot "Big Blue". I will fill you in, when the statute of limitations has been exceeded, but suffice it to say, he now lives up to his name. In my spare time (about 16.4 hours a day) I conned lots of young, impressionable and occasionally not-hideous female students, that in exchange for home-cooked meals, I could grant them access to a specific rite of passage only fully understood by other True Aggies. I then got serious about my education and transferred to the U of U, where I adopted the mantra, “C's get degrees and tuition reimbursement”.
By trade, I have been an Investment advisor rep for a very large brokerage firm. I have pushed pencils, counted beans and received daily affirmations that everyone in the world has more money than I do. After more than a decade with the company, I was rewarded with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience with what is known as a “reduction-in-force”. I now work for a small Web development firm selling web sites for the time being. I still strive to earn employment with an advertising company, where creativity is encouraged and appreciated, and that hopefully has hired lots of extremely short people, so that I won’t habitually be picked last for the company picnic volleyball game
When unable to participate in my seasonal “snake trips” you can find me on the golf course (what I lack in talent, I compensate for in swearing), fly fishing, taking photographs, or writing. I recently wrote a children's book that I hope to get published while my kids still qualify as children. My publisher and I are currently, hopelessly dead-locked in regards to whether “Vitamin Pee” crosses a line for young readers. I imagine his mother likely raised him using car seats, bicycle helmets and MSG free foods.
I especially enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife Tiffany and my kids Lauren, Everett and Brooklyn. Family is vitally important to me, and I attribute all my motivation, success and happiness to being able to share my time with them, and provide them with the quality of life they deserve.

Rob here from Colorado. Most herpers seem to recognize the name smetlogik, probably from my videos online. I started throwing up vids on youtube for grins; if they helped a few folks get off the couch and go outside, mission accomplished.

I grew up in southern Arkansas and got into field herping at a young age. It was a great way to grow up and I haven't looked back since. My son, Nicholas (age 13), has been hanging in the field with me since age 3. We've traveled the US in search of herps and I have to say, Colorado is still one of my favorite places. I get to hang out with some of the best field herpers in the world, with the likes of Joe Farah, Tim Warfel, Matt Cage, Joey Kelner, and C.J Vialpando to name a few.

I've met a lot of incredible people, been on some amazing herp trips, messed up a few vehicles, shot some cool footage, spent quality time with my son, camped in places most normal people would never dream of setting foot in, and found many treasures in this giant treasure hunt we call field herping.

Look forward to meeting more of you out in the field!

Thomas here AKA t3ch. Been into herping since I was little but I used to be to afraid of snakes to really pursue it. Used to go fishing a lot with my uncle and I would lose interest in the fish and wonder off looking for garters and toads. Been serious into herping now for about 5 years. I was born in KY and grew up between there and Florida, both great for herps. I remember the first time I ever kept a snake was a small scarlet king snake we found outside of our house in FL. I have an interest in all animals, but herps, snakes and turtles more specifically, take the cake at the top of my list.

Now I'm in Fremont County, CO and enjoying it though I wish it had a beach. Been here for about 10 years now and have done quite a bit of herping. Found some cool things and looking forward to finding more.

Here are a couple pics.

Old herping grounds:


New herping grounds:






A couple herps from both.

Corn snake - Released after a couple days.



Angry bull

My name is John Ruyak, I currently live in Colorado Springs. My obsession started when I was 4 years old when my parents moved our family to Buffalo, NY and I found a garter snake in the back yard the first day we moved in. Ywo years later we moved to Orchard Park and the house was a block away from a creek! The next ten years were basically spent searching the 8 or so miles of that creek that was easily accessible. What Western New York lacks in variety in certainly made up in volume. Water snakes, garters and ribbon snakes, brown and red-bellied snakes were generally easy to find and in fairly large numbers. Finding a milk snake was usually the highlight of a season. Upon approaching college my mother asked me if I wanted to get a recommendation to McGill University (they kept sending me propaganda) from John Behler (co-auther of the Audobon Society Field Guide). He was curator of the Brooklyn Zoo Reptile House at the time and was my uncle's brother-in-law. I foolishly said no and went to on to study chemical engineering for all of 5 semesters before dropping out. Flash forward 4 years and I was managing a McDonald's in Baltimore where I met my wife of 23 years. She is very afraid of snakes; probably due to the fact that Copperheads were the invisible Boogie Men in the backyard of her rural Baltimore County home though I never saw any there. Herping took a back seat for about 12 years while raising 3 boys but as they got older, and even with Sharon's fear of snakes (she routinely steps right over them without seeing them), our general love of the outdoors took us out into the forests of the Chesapeake Bay area where Black Rat Snakes ( I can't find the pic a 6 footer we found) and Ringnecks were regular finds and the itch was coming back! In 2001 we decided to move to Colorado. The opportunity to find species that I had only read about and seen pictures of really got me back into it. I purchased the Hammerson guide and the addiction had then fully set in. Its been extremely fun for my and my youngest, Ryan who is now 15, to get out into the Colorado that few people know about and find these beautiful animals. About once a year we do the 'big trip' and go to AZ and NM for a week. We were not able to this year because of a broken leg sustained while playing hockey, my other passion. I play year round on 2 teams. My other interest is homebrewing. Its always a relief and validating to see and read about people that are as passionate about these animals as I am and it would be great to get out in the field with them, although at this point looks like it'll have to wait until next year. I'll post some pics as soon as I can figure it out. I tried but it said that it was the wrong file format (I thought JPEG was universal).
I am adding some pics with some help from Rob...

Still angry even though we saved him from the cattle truck 100yds behind us


My laptop wallpaper


The 6 footer


My karma snake. I took a wet bite from one 3 years ago. Ever since I seem to have a very easy time finding them.

Hello all,
My name is Josh Dustin. I was born and raised in Southern Calif, and got into herping there at a young age.
My parents were also very understanding and supportive of my interest. My mother especially deserves some type of award for patience.



My family and I now live in Utah county UT, where I enjoy occasionally running into some of the local herps when the opportunity allows.
Working as an Information Security person for a software company, I struggle to find the time to get my family our herping. But my work is within only a few minutes of some great areas, allowing me to take quick herping trips during breaks, as conditions allow.






I also keep and breed a small group of locality rosy boas.
I started and manage the locality rosy boa image project, which is an ever growing collection of hundreds of pictures (currently +700) of locality rosy boas from all across their range.

Hello everyone,

My name is Jason Hull. I was born in Reno NV where I still reside thirty six years later. I am married with two sons, six and two yrs old, and I work for a landscape construction company here in town.

I have been interested in herps and other wildlife for as long as I can remember. My first experiences involved chasing frogs and garter snakes around my grandparents home circa 1980. My involvement in this hobby has changed over the years however. It has gone from being a fun pastime when I was young, to literally non existent during high school, and now something that I can not do without.

The majority of my field herping time is spent in N. Nevada and the N. Sierras. I also try and make a couple of trips a year to Southern CA,UT, and AZ .


Living in Reno puts me about as far west as one can be and still be part of this chapter. I hope this does not keep me from being able to participate in some of the events that may take place. I am willing to help out and contribute any way I can.

Please feel free to look me up if you happen to be in the area and would like to check it out.



Myself enjoying one of the finer things in life.

Holiday Cheers, all...

My name is Terrence Cox (Terry), aka, TC. I am retired to Southern AZ, as of 2.5 years ago, and grew up mainly in MI. I've been involved in herpetology all my life and currently am interested in NAFHA, herpetological consulting, writing, conservation, education, and maintaining a collection of mostly ratsnakes. I'm also the Education Specialist and Forum moderator for the AZ Chapter/NAFHA and past president.

I'm joining the Rocky Mountain Chapter because I would like to do some herping in your area, and because of a strong interest in participating in other Chapters besides my home Chapter. Also, I've met some herpers from your area and would like to continue meeting folks and making new friends. There are special and interesting herps from all over North America which we need to learn about, and I think we could do a lot to help conserve the habitats of these herps, so that they'll be around for a long time, and be there for our kids, grandkids, etc.

This is a bit of an odd pic of me with my first ever indigo snake south of San Antonio, TX, back in 2006....

Me in Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, doing what I like best, herping and birding...

Front yard.....

I like to do a series on the forum having to do with herping in our yards. It's called Backyard Herping...haha.

Here's a couple herps. This is an Emory's ratsnake from Western CO that I found last spring...

I accidentally found this milksnake too, so got a couple lucky pics....

This midget faded got hit right in front of me while on the spring field trip for the Rocky Mtn Chapter...bummer, bummer...

This was a great field trip and hopefully I'll be able to make others through the years. The habitat is awesome, as well as the company.

Happy Holidays....Terry

Hi all,
My name is Jeremy and I have been catching snakes and lizards all my life. I am from Salt Lake City, Utah.
I studied Wildlife Biology/Ecology at Utah State University with emphasis on Herpetology and Mammalogy. I worked at Utah's Hogle Zoo for a year, and currently work for Scales and Tails Utah doing reptile education. I also work at Mad Science of Greater Salt Lake teaching science in after-school programs.
I have been lucky enough to work on a few films as an animal rangler. I worked on "127 Hours" starring James Franco and had Kingsnakes, Gopher snakes, Spiny lizards, Leopard lizards, horned lizards, side-blotched lizards, sagebrush lizards, Kangaroo rats, giant ants, scorpions, tarantulas and desert centipedes on set and on location in Canyonlands, Utah and outside Moab, Utah. unfortunately all that made the finished cut were the giant ants and a lizard and a Raven my friend from the Zoo Steve brought. I also worked on the film "17 Miracles" and did Great Basin Rattlesnakes, Prairie rattlesnakes, and gopher and Bull snakes for that one. Our albino Burmese Python is in the film "Gentlemen Broncos." No matter what I am doing, I spend most of my free time in the field and reptiles are my first love.
I work with the Biologist and Rangers at Timpanogos Cave National Monument and help with their bat mist net capture survey looking for white nose fungus every year. I am a member of the National Speleological Society. I also have done volunteer interpretive biological tours on Antelope Island state park. I teach primitive ballistic weapons such as knife and tomahawk throwing, archery, spear and atlatl for the Boy Scouts of America and have been a merit badge councilor for several merit badges including Reptile and Amphibian Study. I enjoy mountain man/fur trapper historical reenactments, and drawing, painting and reading. I am an avid outdoor recreationalist and enjoy backpacking, camping, rock climbing, caving, hunting and tracking.


~late edit: it appears all my pics vanished so I put some back up~

a few more pics

well a couple more why not

last one

Hello,

My name is William Huntsman. I grew up in Owensboro Kentucky, and moved to Colorado in 2000. I have an associates degree in Welding Technology, and hope to find related work. I am also considering going back to school for a natural science. In Kentucky I started to develop an interest in snakes, but I was afraid to get close to them. When we moved to Colorado I just got hooked on reptiles! I have kept many different species of snake over the years, and I tend to like the snakes that no else does. I been working with Coachwhips for several years now, and I have had luck breeding them. I don't keep too many snakes these days, but I do have a small collection of snakes for the reptile programs I do. I do reptile talks at the Nature & Raptor Centers of Pueblo; I have been doing these programs for 2 years now and they are going quite well! I am also writing a book on the Snakes of Eastern Colorado, and it should be finished by the spring of 2012. I have also been doing some survey work with Bob Macey - A published professor of biology at Berkely, and we have been working on acquiring tissue samples of all the reptiles and amphibians of Eastern Colorado. He is in the process of setting up a genome lab, and we will be evaluating these species based on in depth DNA analysis. I try my best to contribute to the collection of data, and recording range extentions and county records. I am not a local-specific herper; I enjoy herping anywhere in our great planet!
I look forward to meeting new people and sharing new herp adventures!
William Huntsman - Southeast Colorado

My name is Bryan Hamilton. I work as a wildlife biologist at a national park in Nevada and am a PhD candidate in biology at Brigham Young University. I am mostly interested in rattlesnake ecology, small mammal communities and conservation biology.

I got to see combat in rattlesnakes last year which was the first time I’ve seen it in the field.



I also work with Sonoran Mountain Kingsnakes in eastern Nevada and host annual surveys. We’ve learned a lot from these surveys which wouldn’t have been possible without volunteers.



I’m originally from Ohio but love the Great Basin and the opportunities to work here.



I’m married and have two kids. I enjoy guitar, sports, and photography. I’ve really enjoyed visiting with chapter members in the field and on the forums.

Oh boy, I get to write a biography and introduce myself...

My name is Michael Baker I was born in Moville Iowa, which is something like 30 minutes east of souix city. I was raised in a small little farm town where everyone knew eachother, and even from a very young age, I was allowed to go run around and explore. Around age 5 I first started collecting various snakes I would catch; which where mostly just garters and the occasional cottonmouth, and keep them in the shed in our backyard. I stayed there until I was around 10 years old and we packed up and moved here to Colorado Springs. While moving sucked, and I lost all my friends, I was however excited by the prospect of the number of snake species here in CO, and was super excited when we got here, only to be told I wasn't permitted to go hunt for snakes because "the rattlesnakes might get you".

I spent a few years keeping various species from pet stores and whatnot, reading, studying, but never being allowed outside I eventually let the hobby die from me. I spent 3-4 years wrapped around video games like other teenagers. Around my 18th birthday I started getting back into herps, I had nothing left in my collection so I decided to purchase a nile monitor and get myself going again. I enrolled in the zoo-keeping technology program at Pike's Peak Community College where I've been for almost 3 semesters now. I got back into herping, catching all sorts of awesome colorado wildlife, and even keeping some species. Summer is coming up and I'm super excited, joined by my awesome girlfriend Michelle (soon to be fiance ) who's equally into the herps as I am.

I currently keep 3 monitors, 2 bearded dragons that I'm rehabbing, and a variety of snakes at any given time, I'm also out of work and taking the summer off from school, so it should be a fun few months. Looking forward to meeting some of you.
-Mike

Hi all,

Ian Jessup is the name (as if we all couldn't figure that out by looking to the left ). I've been a reptile crazed lunatic since the age of 7. Now with 22 years under my belt, a college degree later this month, and a direction in life to follow, I'm really just starting to come into my own. I'm originally from Maryland, but I was an Army brat growing up, so I've been all over the East Coast at one point in time or another. Moved to Colorado in '96 and fell out of field herping until just a few years ago. I retired from my first "official" career in 2005, which was working formally in the pet industry. Pretty much got sick of it and ended on a high note.

I've been attending college at Metropolitan State College of Denver since spring of '05. I've been a "poor starving college student" since, and can't wait for those days to come to an end... sometime. I'm a double major in Biology and Chemistry at Metro, my emphasis is Cellular & Molecular Biology, and I have a keen interest in protein chemistry. The plan right now is to work towards a PhD in Biochem/Cell/Molecular Bio and do work in the field of Toxinology, more specifically drug design and delivery from snake venom origins. I've been doing some research work on the venom of C. v. viridis for the last year. I wish I could say something productive about it. But alas, research is a frustrating affair, and I was not able to complete it to a point of relative satisfaction (for numerous reasons I will leave unspoken, but I can always be asked about them in person). However, rest assured fellow Crotalus aficionados I will not leave this particular line to lay incomplete. I'll carry it with me as I continue on and will complete it somewhere else along the line. I'm the kind of person that cannot leave something unfinished... EVER!

I'll come back to the C. v. viridis in a moment. First, I'll delve into some background on my specific herp interests. Presently, I am the vice-chairperson for the http://www.ratsnakefoundation.org, an international non-profit dedicated to the conservation and dissemination of husbandry information there of. I've held multiple roles for the RF, and it was a rat snake that set me on this journey back when I was 7 years old. Pantherophis obsoletus obsoletus, to be exact. Since those summer days in the Catoctin Mountains of MD I have played with keeping a lot of reptiles. But I have come back to my roots... sort of. I'm presently and permanently enamored of the Asian rat snakes belonging to the Orthriophis taeniurus species complex, and am the responsible party for the June article in Reptiles magazine. Outside of rat snakes; I am also a huge fan of Varanids, particularly the dwarf and arboreal species, Psammophiine snakes of Africa, the "common name" rat snakes of South America, and Poison Frogs.

When it comes to field herping, though. My true passion is in the search of Crotalids. I love Rattlesnakes like it is no one's business. Ever since my first experience with a Timber in the Catoctin Watershed, I have been hooked. To this day, the Timbers of my homeland still hold near mythological status in my mind. I spent some time last summer getting reacquainted with these rattlesnakes of my childhood. I joined up with Rattlesnake Biologist, William H. "Marty" Martin for several days worth of "Timber counts." The man has a magical quality for finding Timbers, which comes only from having studied them for a helluva lot longer than I've been alive.


Marty is the short guy in the middle, I am standing behind him, my father is on the far left. It was an unbelievable experience, and I'd do it again without a moments hesitation, no matter what kind of hell I'd have to bushwhack through.


Female Timber, waiting patiently in line to deliver her brood at a log where...


...this particular female was still in the process of delivering...


...these neonates!

That first female was, in fact, no more than 3 or 4 feet away. I sat between the two of them and shot photos. They had the most spectacular NON-reaction to our presence I've ever seen in a Rattler. Both were completely nonplussed by our presence. This particular area was littered with numerous gravid females, all within a 20-30 yard region in the woods. I believe we counted 8 or 9 in total! Just a taste of what I saw that summer, as there were many more sightings, like this...


...the trophy animal of the trip. A gravid female, dark- or black-phase Timber! She was magnificent. And also found in an area with multiple gravid females, postpartum females, a couple of males, and a couple of copperheads. All, literally, within spitting distance of each other!!! We almost tripped over, or fell on top of, some of these snakes!

(Just a quick FYI, the smaller images in the above series are not mine, but were taken by Jeff Hall, the guy standing between my dad and Marty in the group photo above. My images of those particular animals aren't as awesome as his due to my lens fogging up from the extremely high humidity on those days. The larger images, however, are mine)

But getting back to herping in the Rocky Mountain Region, and my research with C. v. viridis. I began the research last summer. The previous summer I had gone out with a new friend, and fellow herper, and done some excellent photography with the snakes of a particular area not-so-far from the Denver-metro area. As a matter of fact, I know that there are several individuals on this forum who know EXACTLY where these research animals of my personal interest can be found. I've grown quite fond of them. So much so, that I am saddened by activities carried out by others, including fellow field herpers (I'm being too generous, of course. Raping and pillaging the landscape is an insult to field herping), that I have observed in this area.








I consider this my personal best! This snake is responsible for igniting my research interest. It was a real trooper when it came to photography. The first Prairie I had ever encountered.

Sadly, this is my last year in Colorado. I'm leaving for the east coast this fall/winter to continue on my chosen career path with a small side venture prior to graduate school, and that oh-so-illustrious PhD I seek. I'm going to miss these viridis. I've learned a great deal about them, and from them. I have several hypotheses about elements specific to their own evolution, particularly venom composition, from observations I've made in the field.

With that said, there are a few things I'd REALLY like to accomplish before I bid my farewell to Colorado. First, I'd like to locate and photograph S. c. edwardsii in the field before I leave (this trip has been planned, and it will be the one trip I will definitely make, if I only manage to make one last trip in Colorado). The second, and the one I will need the most help to achieve is to locate and photograph C. o. concolor. That trip is gonna require a run out to the extreme western part of the state, and I presently have no clue how I am going to accomplish that AND locate and shoot the Midget-faded through my lens. Maybe someone can assist me in this goal.

No worries though. I'm still going to be around this community. I'm glad to be here, even if I am really new. And I can't wait to contribute from the other regions I will undoubtedly be spending time.

hi...my name is Ian Breland and i live near Denver CO. i am thirteen, and love art, herping, and photography. i live near Denver, but i also live near the forest. i can herp all the time, but usually only come up with bulls, thamnophis, and lined snakes. i have lived in WY, CA, and UT. here are some pics, but they might not turn out too well. usually they are too big or too small. but here it goes....

w. terrestrial garter


my pet snake, phoenix




me when i was little with a retic


a beautiful bull i found this summer




nice thamnophis in my yard. she was kinda pissy




another w. terrestrial


thanks for lookin,
-Ian

My name is Matt Fouts. I live in Sandy, UT and am new to the forum, hopefully the Chapter, and field herping. My son is hooked. He is determined to follow in the footsteps of so many other starving herpetologists on this site and pursue his passion, so I'm helping. In the process I've developed an unexpected passion for the whole thing. The rest of the family (My wife and total of 4 kids) enjoy herps, but Jake is the leader. We keep a Red Tailed Boa, a Paraguayan Rainbow Boa, and a Crested Gecko at home...my son could give you genus and species, I'm not that cool. I love the outdoors, love going where the crowds don't, and love nature. As a kid I lived in Oregon in logging country. I remember lifting the plywood cover off a cement culvert used to shelter some plumbing in my grandmothers field and seeing dozens of snakes at the bottom. None of us kids could reach them, so my brother volunteered me to go in and pass them back out. He being 5 years older than me, I was inclined to comply. I ended up covered in garter snake poo. I've been drawn to herps ever since. I love science but didn't have the confidence in my ability to earn $$ in the field to pursue it, so I stuck with what I know. I still wish I had taken that risk and followed the dream in college. It's never too late, and here I am.

I work in Supply Chain and Logistics as a Project Manager and get to do some world traveling. I intend to take better advantage of that travel, should the opportunity arise, with the things I hope to learn from this group. I look forward to meeting you, sharing adventures, and helping my boy accomplish his dreams. Just so you know, this forum has launched me to instant hero status. "Dad, it is SOOOO cool that you actually KNOW guys who do this stuff!" I don't figure I do yet, but I will and he'll be joining your ranks soon enough. Get ready for a little hero worship, if you can handle it.

Hi Matt,

A quick "welcome aboard" as I scarf lunch and get back to work. See you around; maybe you all can make the late May field trip out to the west desert. See the sticky on that topic.

How old's the boy? OK to play hard outside yet, or still a major threat to his own safety? And where in OR are you from?

Cheers,
Jimi

Thanks Jimi. PM sent so as not to hijack the thread.

My name is Luke A. I live in Utah County of Utah. I have always been interested in Herpetology and love to go herping. I caught my first lizard, a green anole, when I was only 3. In 2009 at the age of 10 I was bit by a Arizona Black Rattlesnake and took 32 vials of antivenin. I still love them though. I recently moved to Utah from Arizona. I am still looking for herping spots if you have any suggestions could you help me. My dad supports me in my interests. I hope to be a evolutionary herpetologist specializing in lizards.








Arizona Woodhouse

My dad and I















Utah Woodhouse

Welcome to the chapter Luke. You've got some nice herp pics there. I'm glad to hear the bite has not dissuaded you from herping. Please attend one of our field trips with your dad, I suspect you guys will have a good time.

edit

My name is Jerry Hartley. I’m the founder of LocalityRosys.com. I live in Fernley, NV with my wife and children. We have some acreage her with horses, dogs, a cat, a pot belly pig, and of course some herps. As you can see by my web-site my passion is with Rosy Boas. Over the course of the last couple of years my interest have branched out to locality Cal Kings and locality Gopher Snakes due to my sons interest in them. This new interest has led to some amazing time in the field with my family as well as good friends. Its amazing how spending time in the field with family offers the very best quality time and memories. Though my collection is Rosys, it is still magical to look in other types of habitat with family and friends. I plan on retiring and spending the rest of my days with my wife on our little slice of heaven watching our children and grandchildren grow and enjoy the country life the way we do. Like Cole, I love hand made cigars too, particularly the Nicaraguan origin ones. My other passion is Monster Trucks. This also provides me and my family with some amazing quality time together. I’d love to visit some of you in the UT area for some new adventures in the field, and if you are ever in my neck of the woods, look me up.

Jer

Welcome Jerry!

You should consider coming over to eastern Nevada for the annual kingsnake surveys in late May. Its a fun time time.

I know Jason goes with you, so maybe I will tag a long some time. I'd like to talk to you about Cal Kings and how far east you have seen them in NV.

Jer

Hey everyone,

My name is Andrew Corbin, and I was born and raised near Dallas, Texas (GO MAVERICKS, COWBOYS and RANGERS!!) (BOOO SPURS, HEAT, THUNDER, REDSKINS, and especially YANKEES) where I met my wife Lacey. I'm an undergraduate zoology student at Weber State University in Ogden Utah. I am currently conducting a bee survey of Snow Canyon State Park. I am also investigating the genetic dynamics of a couple of herp hybrid zones in Utah (unfortunately, I can't tell you where or with which herps, but if we find what we expect to find, I will give you all of the details (with pictures)). I love all desert animals and plants. I have a passion for fishing, herping, birding and insect collecting. I also enjoy taking money from friends after beating them at a game of billiards . I'm new to the region, so I get excited by regionally common herps (i.e. sideblotched lizards & whiptails). I'm pretty easy-going, so feel free to e-mail me about anything, especially constructive criticisms.

Thanks Ya'll,
Andrew

Hi everyone,

My name is Janine McCabe and I now reside in Tucson, AZ. I grew up in Minnesota; however, after 22 years of winters there I finally got wise and got out of there. After college I passed the days climbing rocks. My boyfriend at the time (now husband) and I took a rock climbing trip to the southwest. After this trip I knew I was home. It just so happened that we ran out of money in Tucson, had to get jobs, and we fell in love with the sonoran desert.



I put my degree to work with the National Park Service, which then led to 10 years of field biology work primarily in the Southwest. I have had so many incredible experiences in the wilderness during those years. From tracking Marbled Murrelets on the coast of California, to meeting Jane Goodall at 2 am on the back country roads of Nebraska while tracking Sandhill Cranes, to having a Coachwhip slither a complete circle around where I sat in Western AZ, to leaning up against a sandstone bluff the morning after a huge monsoon rain only to find a Gila Monster basking 4 inches away from my wrist, exploring the Yuma Dunes tracking Fringe-toed lizards. From bear encounters in Idaho to bear encounters in AZ. Drama, drama, drama. It's been a great life so far.



Feeling like settling down in one spot for a while I shifted careers to botany. I now work at a Desert Survivors native plant nursery as a plant propagator. Luckily for me we have great snakes and lizards at the nursery. I have also enjoyed trying to revegetate my yard and create more habitat for herps, birds, and pollinators. I am getting good stuff reproducing in the yard now.





Although I live in AZ, I do hope to travel throughout the Rocky Mountain Region, especially New Mexico. So perhaps I will get a chance to meet some of you all.

I'm Isaac originally from Southern California and now living in Las Cruces, NM. I'll be out here for a few years and looking forward to herping the land of enchantment! I have yet to run into anyone down here, so it looks like I have the whole southern section of the Rocky Mtn Ch. to myself!! I'm hoping to contribute some nice pictures and data base entries. Here is Pyro I found in the Black Range or the Gila Nat. Forest and one of many Gopher Snakes I've seen! -Isaac



I also spend a lot of time in SE AZ in the Chiricahuas. Here is a pic and and one of my sons in the background during Dave Weber's AZ monsoon outing.

Good afternoon everyone! My name is Mike Currie, my girlfriend's name is Lisa, and we recently just moved to the Denver area from Pennsylvania. I have been a member of the Northeast chapter for some time now and a contributer to the N.A.H.E.R.P. database just as long. I work from home and Lisa previously worked for an AZA acredited reptile zoo back in Pennsylvania and she wants to eventually work for the Denver zoo so we packed up and headed out West and haven't regretted it since.
While my work does not involve reptiles, the animals, or the environment in any kind, I am a reptile/amphibian enthusiast with interests in conservation, education, and civilian science. I have been herping for as far back as I can remember, growing up in Massachusetts, and spending every warm day in the neary swamps and ponds. I have never grown out of this passion, although I definitely go about my herping in a more eco friendly, hands off, and systematic manner. Just a few days after arriving, we had a beautiful Saturday and went to a local park in Adams County, CO and turned up 2 species (both lifers) and 13 individuals. 8 Plains Gartersnakes and 5 Lined Snakes. One of the loose pieces of concrete turned up 5 of those Garters and 3 of the Lineds (Image below: NOTE - some of the snakes slithered away before capturing this terribly blurry shot taken with my phone)

What was very exciting, other than finding the two lifers in October, was that no one had posted any entries for Lined Snakes in Adams County.
Other interests: herpetculture, gaming, hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, movies.
Do any of you attend the Colorado Herp Society meetings on Sunday nights?

Welcome Mike.

Hopefully you guys find both winters and summers in CO more agreeable than those back in PA. You can probably hook up with some of the Front Range crew and some of the Wasatch Front folks can meet you all in the middle come spring. Those are the 2 main population centers in the chapter.


That seems odd, but good for you!

Say, you didn't have much luck with smooth greens back in PA did you? That animal is something of an enigma out here - it could really use some attention, particularly from someone who already "gets it". Just hopin'....

Cheers,
Jimi

I thought it was strange too, given that they are locally abundant. I chalk it up to a lack of searching in Adams County and not a lack of presence. I'd like to check out more of the county to verify just how regionally common they are in Adams.
The Smooth Green snake. We did not have them in my immediate area, but I was able to get a few spots and habitats down a couple hours east where they were fairly common. Searching in the right habitat is absolutely key. I would definitely love to see what I can turn up for this chapter.
I also plan on helping fill in some of those "empty counties" next season.

Greetings All,

My name is Steve Stocking, and I've been a reptile enthusiast and conservationist for more than 30 years. Born and raised in Albuquerque, I cultivated my interest in Herps with the New Mexico Herpetological Society. I went to college at the University of Arizona in the 80's where I had the pleasure of taking their Herpetology course taught by the late Dr. Charles Lowe. Since the Navy paid for college, I owed the Navy 4 years of active duty; well 24 years later I retired, last September. It wasn't all work, although some jobs left me little time to pursue herping, but I've been able to keep my interest in Herps alive as a hobby- and the Navy has taken me to some interesting areas around the world, and around the U.S. I've been stationed in San Diego, Point Mugu, CA, Las Vegas, NV, DC, Portland, OR, and my last duty station before retiring- Miami. I moved back to Las Vegas in November, via Albuquerque where my parents are still alive and well, and I was able to re-connect with the NMHS.

My Herp interests are varied- lizards, snakes, turtles, and amphibians. I still have a Collard Lizard caught in 2004 when I was living here in Vegas- he, along with another Collard and 2 Leopard lizards made 3 military moves, all the way to Miami. The other Collard and 2 Leopards both passed away in 2013 in Miami- the male Leopard Lizard I caught in June 2003 as an adult lived 10 years in captivity. I also have an avid interest in Chameleons- from a 2003 trip to Hawaii where I found a few Jackson's, and 2006 visits to SW Florida where I found my first Veiled. Living in Miami piqued my interest in invasive exotics (I found giant Amevias 2 blocks from my office in Doral, reported them on EDDmaps) as well as Florida's unique native herpetofauna, and I joined the South Florida Herp Society while there. I currently have 4 Veiled Chameleons, an Oustalet's Chameleon, a Tegu, a Madagascar Giant Day Gecko, a Yellow Rat snake, Corn snake, Desert Kingsnake, and juvenile Dumeril's Boa.

Now that I'm settled back in Las Vegas, I'm looking forward to hiking, camping, and herping (responsibly of course) throughout the Southwest, exploring points north in Nevada/Great Basin that I've never been, visiting family and friends in New Mexico, southern Arizona where I haven't visited since college, good old SOCAL where I still have Navy friends, and even back to Florida as time permits.

My name is Sheri Monk. I live in Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada outside of town on a large property.
I have been field herping for nine years, and I do not keep any captive snakes. My main interest is in in situ photography of venomous snake species, although I like all herps, and nature in general.

I usually herp Arizona once a year.
This year I have been to SoCal for C. ruber and C. o. helleri, and to Oregon for C. o. oreganus - all three were lifers.
Later this year I am going to Arizona for a few days, then West Texas, then to Florida and up to West Virginia before going home. It's a long shot, but I am really hoping to find C. adamanteus and C. horridus, and if I can see C. atrox and C. viridis on the same trip, I think I might actually faint. (After I take photos, of course.)

I recently spent a week camping beside several C. viridis hibernacula in Canada, and it was by far the best field experience I have had yet. I was by myself, had to haul my gear in a mile from the road to set up camp, and I learned more about this species (and the others that share its habitat) than I have in my previous eight years of herping. I didn't touch my hook the entire time, and a little exploring revealed 20 new (to me) hibernacula that I will be able to visit in the future. It was wonderful.

There are very, very few field herpers in Canada, and fewer still in my region. It's nice in some ways, but lonely in others. It's a real treat when I get to go somewhere and herp with other people who are into the same things I am. I can't overstate how much I value the relationships I have made through this passion, and how generous people have been with their friendship and their time when I come to herp their state.

I am a single mom of two boys, ages 11 and 14. I took them herping to Arizona last year for the first time, and I will be taking them this year on our big trek. I have several captive tarantulas and one dog, and I am a journalist and opinion columnist specializing in agriculture, livestock economics and international trade. More recently, I have started to transition into more outdoors-geared writing, and have started working with a couple of hunting magazines. I hope to expand in this sector into travel and adventure writing so that by the time my kids are done school, I am able to travel and adventure freely while I earn my living. Currently I work from home, operating as my own business, so that has provided a lot of opportunity for travel and flexibility. Whenever I can, I use my existing platforms to promote conservation in the agricultural sector. I am currently working on an assignment about C. viridis for a national magazine in Canada, and I am looking very forward to seeing it published.

I would be seriously thrilled – THRILLED – one day to host herpers in Canada. I have tossed around the idea of getting a group together to see the massive Thamnophis dens in Manitoba before heading west to see C. viridis in numbers at the very northern edge of their range. If you're ever in the area, drop me a line. My door (and my house) is always open to those who are traveling through.

Similarly, I would be very happy to meet field herpers from Montana, and other nearby states. I am about 30 minutes away from the U.S. border, so weekend trips are entirely possible.

Welcome Steve and Sheri!

I for one would love to see the the Thamnophis dens and Canadian viridis. We should try to incorporate that as a chapter field trip.

Hello, my name is Gavin. I was born and raised in California, but have lived in Davis County, Utah for the last 9 years. I've always loved animals, and as a kid, I would catch frogs and toads daily in the Summer, and roll every log I could to see what was underneath. I am fascinated with all animals, but have a special affinity for the smaller ones (reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates - especially arachnids.)



I'm not new to finding "critters", but I am new to the social / community aspect of this whole thing. My approach to field herping is to encounter animals, document with photography, and let them be on their way; I never collect. Recently, I've been trying new methods to improve my photography. This year I started trying my hand at macro work. Also this year, I've found a love for Utah's West Desert, and I've been trying to explore out there every opportunity I get.

A little more (perhaps unnecessary) info about me: I am married and have 3 kids (well, that number should be accurate in a matter of hours; currently 2 kids). It's been fun teaching them an appreciation for all living things. I am a filmmaker by trade, and I will soon try to incorporate some of this into capturing the behavior of local wildlife.

A few of my favorite recent shots:



I'm always looking to connect with local people to further my understanding and appreciation of the amazing wildlife we have right here in Northern Utah, so feel free to introduce yourself.

Glad to see you made it onto the forum, Gavin. There's a good group of people in the Rocky Mountain Chapter. Looking forward to more of your awesome photos!

Rye

Hello all,

The name is Daniel Lindhardt. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City. Currently live in Tooele, Ut. I've always had a fascination with reptiles, snakes in particular. I lived next to a field where I could catch all the garter snakes I wanted, along with the occasional yellow bellied racer. Anytime I could while camping/exploring I was catching something. I'm married with 3 kids. Two of which love herping with me. The other I'm sure will be when she's old enough. I've just started getting more seriously into herping due to the interest of my kids resparking mine. While I have accidentally come across several species of snake while out and about, I've gained an interest in searching specific species just this year. Thanks to Chris York for directing me to the forum and for providing me another source for helpful herping info. Hope to see you all out exploring sometime.

Welcome, Daniel. I go out into the field just West of your neck of the woods as often as I'm able. Maybe we'll catch up out there next Spring.

Good to meet you all...maybe someday in the field. (I've stumbled into more than one forum member while out road cruising and field herping.)

Quick Intro: My name is Jeff. I live in West Jordan, UT. I grew up in Saudi Arabia and was born with a fascination for reptiles and amphibians. At recess in elementary school, I'd be looking under bushes for skinks, geckos and agamas while my friends played tetherball and tag. I've retained this love through all of my adult life. I like to enjoy animals in their native element, so I don't personally collect or find much excitement attending herp shows, although I'm not necessarily opposed. Candy cane corn snakes in tupperware don't excite me nearly as much as an old, scarred, bland-looking one moving through the trees. On a personal note, I'm currently married with two (almost 3) kids, and I do marketing for a software company.

Hi everyone, I'm Sean. A few years back a few folks started calling me Roki after a trip in Nepal...so the name just stuck. I got into the love of wildlife when I was young growing up in Tennessee. Back then I really didn't appreciate the diversity I had all around me. Once I got older and moved out west I quickly came to realize how much I missed the herp diversity I had been so used to. That said, I love the west. I work as a wildlife biologist and am in the field regularly. Unfortunately I mostly do bird work, but hey, at least I'm out getting my boots dirty and get to chance upon the occasional thing or two. I do try to take a big trip once a year somewhere warm and usually get into the bush looking for critters quite a bit. Luckily my family tolerates it fairly well. I hope everyone has been having a great year thus far and enjoying the snow.
Cheers,
Sean/Roki

Long-tailed in VA by https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/, on Flickr

Thinking by https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/, on Flickr

Tiny slimy climby by Sean Kite, on Flickr

Welcome, Roki! While the Chapter covers a large area, there are several others here in the Salt Lake area, including myself.

You mentioned doing field biology- If you don’t mind sharing, where are you working?

Hi Gbeck,
I work throughout the western United States. I'm based in Salt Lake City, but most of my work is in Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon, California, some in Colorado, and a little in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Last year I also got into West Virginia and Virginia for one project.

Hi everyone. My name is Joseph Eguizabal. When I was in the Army, most people butchered my last name, so I went by as "Eggy" I am somewhat new to the Reno area, and would like to meet new people in the area, and elsewhere that share this interest. My primary interest is entomology, but it coincides with herping as everytime I'm out collecting bugs, I always run into lizards, snakes, or amphibians. I got into field herping more when I was stationed in Ft. Campbell, KY. There are a ton of frogs and salamanders in the spring, and snakes and lizards in the summer. We also had a lot of Eastern box Turtles and other turtles in and around the base. I also did some herping in the Land Between the Lakes area in Northern TN and western KY. After 5 years active duty, and a medical discharge, I have come and settled in Reno, NV. This is a new place, and I would love to explore it some more. Apart from herps and bugs, I am really into fishing, some hunting, birding, camping, and spending time with friends and family. Well, I'm happy to have run into this forum, and I hope to chat and possibly meet some new peeps on here.