Coastal Reptiles

I have been fascinated by reptiles, the great outdoors, and how it all works together since I was a young boy. I had fairly tolerant parents when it came to putting up with the creepy crawlies that so fascinated me. I was quite lucky in this regard as I was allowed to occasionally bring critters home with me. Snakes always seemed "neat" to me but it was more than just that. I think the fact that they were so misunderstood and that most people seemed to despise them, and even go out of their way to kill them, were other reasons that I decided to try and be an ambassador for the snakes of the world:-)

My Aunt Gale, however, was the one who really turned me on to reptiles in particular. She actually knew how to tell different species apart and had a good knowledge of our local snakes and also of our local wildlife. She is an artist by trade but she has the same "animal" bug that bit me so long ago. Aunt Gale is a very unique person and I appreciate the passion for the outdoors that she so willingly shared with me. I remember asking her one time, "Gale do you ever see any really BIG Black Rat Snakes around your house?" She replied "Well just a few days ago while working in my herb garden I noticed a Black Rat Snake that had to be around 5 feet in length sunning itself on top of the tin roof of the barn." "It was a very pretty one that was all shiny and looked like it might have just shed it's skin." "I watched it for a few minutes and then went back to what I was doing; I have not seen it since."

Now for those of you who just can't stand the sight of a snake must realize that my aunt Gale actually "enjoyed" that encounter.  Don't get me wrong, she does not for like the Black Rat Snakes to get into her bird feeders:-) To her it was a privelege to be allowed in on that little piece of nature, watching that shiny snake warm it's body temperature by basking in the sunlight. People like her make me smile. I feel lucky every time I get to see a snake or any other wild animal doing it's thing. Below is a picture of Gale with her granddaughter McKinley when they came to visit me in Florida. They are admiring a young Florida Pine Snake Pituophis melanoleucas mugitus.

 I am a husband and father as well. I have been married to my wife, Michelle, since October of 2003. We have Sam who is 3.5 years old and Tristan who is 11 now. My wife is not as passionate about the reptiles as I am but she does appreciate their beauty and mystery.

A picture of my family from the spring of 2007.