In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Henry Mushinsky, Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida, for a deep dive into his career. They explore his early passion for herpetology, shaped by his childhood adventures catching watersnakes in the bayous of Louisiana. However, a move to Florida and the region's development pressures shifted his focus toward conservation biology. Dr. Mushinsky shares compelling stories from his time in Florida, including his efforts to conserve gopher tortoises in rapidly developing landscapes and his collaboration with Disney to protect rare sand skinks.

Connect with Henry at the University of South Florida.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with returning guest Noah Fields to talk about “flashy” colubrids. They start by discussing the colorful, large, and awe-inspiring characteristics that draw people to some of these snakes. Then, they delve into both kingsnakes and milksnakes, including their distribution, species vs. subspecies, and natural history. The conversation transitions from Scarlet Kingsnakes in unusual places to milk snakes living in the North. They finish the episode by focusing on Eastern Kingsnakes, specifically field herping for them, their natural history, and their conservation status in the Southeast.

Connect with Noah on YouTube.

Check out Noah’s photos 1, 2 and 3 of the Eastern Kingsnake feeding on the Eastern Ratsnake, referred to in the podcast.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Bob Ashley of the Chiricahua Desert Museum to discuss his recent book titled A Photographic History of Snakebite Treatments: Bad Medicine, Snake Oils, Potions, Elixirs and Kits. They talk about Bob’s collection of snake bite kits and the experiences that led up to the idea for the book. They then break down how the book is structured discussing each section. Finally, they talk about the content of the book including an overview of the history of snake oils, snakebite kits, and antivenoms. 

Listen to Bob's first episode on Snake Talk: 58 | Bob Ashley, Snake Entrepreneur and Founder of the Chiricahua Desert Museum.

Purchase A Photographic History of Snakebite Treatments here and here.

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The Walking Dead is an “Apocalyptic Soap Opera” where humans are trying to survive after a virus has turned most people to walkers (i.e., zombies). Kim Mross is a snake wrangler for the Walking Dead where she sweeps sets by temporarily removing snakes before shoots, temporarily removes snakes encountered during shoots, and educates crew and cast. Listen to Chris and Kim discuss stories ranging from the details behind the Snake Eating Scene in the Walking Dead to how her counterpart in Wife Swap reacted to walking into Kim’s home for the first time to find it was filled with snakes. Kim also talks about the set of the Walking Dead and how various actors feel about snakes. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Chris talks snakes with Zack Dalton, Director of Sales for Sage, Redington, and Rio products. This is the first of many podcasts where Chris will talk with people who are not snake experts but are in a field that brings them in contact with snakes in the wild. Tune in to hear a unique perspective on the perception of snakes, strategies for communicating to the fishing community about snakes, and the ecosystem based conservation ethic in the fly fishing world. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Illegal trade is one of the greatest threats to wild snake populations. Chris discusses the issue with Craig Hoover, Executive Vice President of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. They discuss Craig’s career in combating the wildlife trade in various roles including law enforcement, policy, and administration. Listen and learn more about the factors driving the skin trade, the species and regions it impacts most, and Craig’s thoughts on what needs to be done to conserve wild snake populations. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Noah Fields is a Field Herper who makes his living by field herping almost every day and posting content on YouTube. Tune in to hear more about field herping, Noah’s YouTube channel, and an interesting discussion around the changes in the field and relevant ethical issues. Chris and Noah also talk about field herping in Georgia and West Texas including snake diversity, regulations, and techniques. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Field Herping is a rapidly growing form of recreation where people go into wildplaces and look for reptiles and amphibians (especially snakes). You can think of Field Herping as being analogous to birding but with the big difference in that most of time it is possible to catch the snake. Field Herping is exciting and most of us do some form of it but it is important to develop an ethic around your practices. In this podcast Chris talks with Houston Chandler and Kiley Briggs about Field Herping and potential issues that everyone should consider before recreationally looking for snakes. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

We are in the midst of a Global Snakebite Crisis, where people living in poverty in regions with high numbers of venomous snakes are dying from snakebites at a high rate. Chris talks with Jordan Benjamin about the Snakebite Crisis and the efforts of the Snakebite Foundation to turn around that trend. They discuss strategies that include developing snakebite clinics, training, and providing antivenom in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa. They also discuss topics such as the various types of venoms and everything you wanted to know about antivenom. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Bushmasters are giant – egg laying vipers of Latin American Rainforests. Chris talks with friend Dr. Andy Whitworth about these amazing animals including their reproduction, predators, feeding, habitat, and conservation. But the conversation starts with stories of Pumas in the front yard of Andy’s remote rainforest home. They also discuss conservation of rainforests in Costa Rica and the nonprofit Osa Conservation’s role.

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Vipers are one of the most endangered groups of snake on the planet. Chris joins Drs. Stephen Spear and Jesus Sigala to discuss the IUCN Viper Specialist Group. They also discuss research and conservation of viper species across Central America including Bushmasters and Mountain Island Rattlesnakes.

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The Eastern Indigo Snake is listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. Part of the recovery plan specifies restoring populations in part of the range where they have been extirpated. The Orianne Society and Central Florida Zoo pattern to run a dedicated Eastern Indigo Snake Breeding facility to supply snakes for reintroductions. In this podcast Chris is joined by Fred Antonio and Michelle Hoffman to discuss the history of the facility, the indigo snake breeding program, and the role of captive husbandry in conservation.

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In this episode we are joined by Dr. Beaupre from the University of Arkansas. Dr. Beaupre is a physiological ecologist who has spent his career studying Timber Rattlesnakes. We start the episode by talking about his path to becoming one of the world’s leading experts on Timber Rattlesnakes. We discuss all aspects of Timber Rattlesnake biology including topics such as their physiology, the function of the loreal pits, and how our knowledge of Timber Rattlesnake physiology and ecology can inform conservation.

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For the 100th episode of Snake Talk, Dr. Jenkins interviews Harry Greene, author of Snakes: Evolution of Mystery in Nature, a book that significantly influenced Dr. Jenkins' choice to work with snakes. In this episode, we trace Harry's career path from his childhood adventures of discovering lizards on his family farm, to his military days studying snakes in European museum collections, and ultimately to his esteemed position as a professor at Cornell University. Don't miss Harry's captivating tale of encountering a truly colossal snake in the wild!

Connect with Harry at Cornell University.

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The Eastern Indigo Snake is the ruler of the forests in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. In this episode we discuss this magnificent animal including its distribution and ecology. We also discuss the Orianne Society, including the organizations history and its origins focused around conserving Indigo Snakes and their habitats. As this is our first episode, we knew there was no greater snake to launch Snake Talk.

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Did you know that snakes are one of the most persecuted groups of animals in the world? Unfortunately, most snakes that encounter people end up dead, but the Snake Talk Podcast is dedicated to changing that. Join me, Dr. Chris Jenkins, as we bring you the world’s foremost experts on snakes and the issues they face. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dustin Smith from the North Carolina Zoo to discuss a conservation program for Virgin Island Boas. They begin by discussing Dustin’s career trajectory and the dedication required to succeed in the zoo field. Next, they delve into the natural history of Virgin Island Boas, covering aspects such as their distribution, habitat, reproduction, diet, status, and threats. Then, they explore a comprehensive program aimed at conserving the boas, which includes field surveys and monitoring, captive breeding and reintroduction, as well as the control of invasive predator populations.

Connect with Dustin at the North Carolina Zoo.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Stephen Mullin to discuss his career as a herpetologist. While many academics concentrate on specific questions in science, landscapes, or species, Steve has chosen to be a generalist, exploring various questions in diverse landscapes and species. The conversation delves into the distinctions between being a generalist and a specialist. They also cover stories and research projects involving a broad spectrum of species, including hognose snakes, kingsnakes, and mangrove snakes.

Connect with Stephen at the Mullin Herpetology Lab. 

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Jake Socha from Virginia Tech University to delve into the biomechanics of flying snakes. They begin the discussion by exploring how certain flying lizards inspired Jake to embark on the study of snakes. They discuss the general natural history of flying snakes before delving into the specifics of their biomechanics. The biomechanics discussion encompasses everything from launch to landing. You won't want to miss this one!

Connect with Jake at The Socha Lab.

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Chris discusses Pygmy Rattlesnakes with Dr. Terry Farrell, a professor at Stetson University in Florida. Drawing on his extensive 30-year experience in studying the ecology of Pygmy Rattlesnakes, Dr. Farrell shares information about this common yet understudied snake. Their conversation encompasses various aspects of natural history, including habitat, diet, movements, venom, and more. Additionally, they talk about long-term population monitoring in Florida. Dr. Farrell also shares his personal experience, detailing how his prolonged interaction with the snakes led to the development of a sensitivity and allergy to their venom.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Blake Adams and Caleb Goldsmith. Blake and Caleb work for The Orianne Society where their primary focus is on the restoration and management of snake habitat. The discussion kicks off with an exploration of the Longleaf Pine ecosystem that dominates the southeastern coastal plain. The natural disturbance regimes that historically preserved this ecosystem have been disrupted, necessitating active management to sustain snake habitat. They delve into the restoration of native grasses and forbs, and the crucial roles played by prescribed fire and forestry in maintaining snake habitat in the region.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Alison Rabosky, the Curator of Herpetology at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, to talk about museum collections of snakes. They begin by talking about Alison’s research on color patterns and mimicry in lizards and snakes. They delve into the acquisition and management of museum collections, and highlight a recent acquisition that now positions the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology with the largest collection of snakes in the United States, if not the world. The conversation also addresses criticisms faced by natural history museums, emphasizing their significant contribution to understanding snake biology and conservation.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Jenna Palmisano, a Ph.D. Candidate studying parasites in snakes. Focusing on pentastomes, they discuss the species native to North America and how they are different from the exotic invasive pentastome found in Florida. The parasite is thought to have come into North America from exotic snakes that are spreading across Florida, but the parasite has been found much farther north than the snakes that may have brought them in. They discuss how human activities have likely facilitated the move north and ways to potentially deal with the issue. You are not going to miss this one, these parasites have the potential to impact snakes across North America.

Connect with Jenna at the University of Central Florida and read more about her research.

 

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. James Bogan, Director of the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation and Central Florida Zoo. They have an in depth discussion of Cryptosporidium (Crypto) in snakes. First, they talk about the disease itself and how it impacts snakes. Second, they discuss how to test for it and treat it. They also discuss how Crypto has been found in the captive population of indigo snakes that is being used for their conservation and how they have effectively managed it to prevent its spread within the captive colony and into the wild. If you are interested in snakes either in the wild or captivity, or if you are interested in conservation or diseases this is one you don’t want to miss.

Connect with James at the Central Florida Zoo.

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Join Dr. Jenkins as he sits down with Michael Ring from the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary. Discover the inspiring journey from their humble beginnings as the Phoenix Herpetological Society to their growth into a renowned sanctuary. Learn about their core mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming reptiles, and explore their extensive animal collection, including one of the world’s most comprehensive crocodilian collections and a large population of Sulcata Tortoises.

This episode delves into their dedication to education, teaching people about suitable reptiles for pets, and the importance of conserving native reptiles. Michael and Dr. Jenkins discuss the Sanctuary’s vital role in conservation, from maintaining assurance populations of rare species to conducting field research with local reptiles. Packed with valuable insights and fascinating information, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Connect with Michael at the 

Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Matt Buehler, a Ph.D. Candidate studying indigo snake genetics. They begin with how Matt found himself working with indigo snakes and cover some interesting steps in his career including studying Sea Kraits. They start the discussion of indigo snake genetics by talking about what has already been done, including a study using mitochondrial data that showed there are two clades of Eastern Indigo Snakes and a second study showing that there is gene flow between the clades. They talk about Matt’s research, including looking at population structure of indigo snakes and understanding the indigo snake genome. The results from all these studies are important for developing reintroduction strategies.

Connect with Matt on his website.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Matt Patterson from New Hampshire. Matt is an incredible artist that focuses primarily on reptiles, especially turtles. They discuss how Matt’s interests in reptiles and art developed simultaneously. They talk about becoming a wildlife illustrator and aspects of having a career as a freelance artist. Matt also speaks about how he spends time in nature near his home, as well as afar, where he gains the inspiration and materials to develop his illustrations. Finally, they go through multiple books that he has illustrated and how you can purchase them.

Connect with Matt and see more of his work on his website.

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Mike Pingleton returns to Snake Talk to discuss one of the greatest field herping destinations in North America, Snake Road. Dr. Jenkins has wanted to do a place-based field herping episode but had concerns about increasing visitation to sites or ‘spot burning’. Ultimately, Snake Road was the perfect destination to discuss, as it is widely known by field herpers and the general public alike. Mike and Chris talk about the landscape and the species of Snake Road, as well as the regulations in place that will keep this place such a special destination into the future. If you want to learn about this area and the unique ‘field herping camp’ feeling of Snake Road, you are not going to want to miss this episode!

Connect with Mike on his website, So Much Pingle.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Joseph Gordon to discuss snakes in the Bible. When most people think of snakes featured in the Bible, the narrative of Adam and Eve and snakes portrayed in a negative light come to mind. But there are actually almost 60 mentions of snakes throughout the Bible and many of them are not as negative as you might think. Joe and Chris go through the story of the snake and the ‘fall of humanity’ in Genesis to the stories of snakes in Revelation and everything in between. 

Dr. Jenkins on Episode 88, “As someone who wasn't raised with a religious background, this was a fascinating episode for me and I am eager to learn about the depiction and interpretation of snakes across various religions.”

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Bruce Young to talk about some fascinating topics in Snake Biology. These are also some of the most frequently asked questions at our educational programs. Can snakes control how much venom they inject? Do young snakes inject more venom? Can snakes hear? Where are a snake’s ears? This is an episode you do not want to miss!

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Bruce Kingsbury to talk about his career and work with watersnakes. They start by discussing the Environmental Resources Center at Purdue Fort Wayne that Bruce founded. Then they do a deep dive on Copperbelly Watersnakes in a highly fragmented landscape. They discuss their movements, habitat requirements, foraging, reproduction, and overwintering. They finish the episode with an interesting discussion on living a more balanced and full life - they both discuss how they have shifted their lifestyles and identities to include more than just work.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Xavier Glaudas to discuss his career studying vipers. Xavier was born in France but has spent his career moving around the world studying viper populations. They discuss Xavier’s time in the United States studying Cottonmouths and Speckled Rattlesnakes, adventures in Africa with Puff Adders, Russell’s Vipers in India, and using videography to study vipers in Brazil.

Connect with Xavier on his website.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Mark O’Shea to discuss his adventures in snake exploration and research. They start off talking about the show O’Shea’s Big Adventure including the amazing locations and species they filmed. They then talk about global snake exploration more broadly and spend some time focusing on the snakes of Papua New Guinea. They dive into many more topics including naming species, snake stories from around the world, and his many books. You are not going to want to miss this one!

Connect with Mark at the University of Wolverhampton.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Michael Schaer to discuss everything about snakebite in dogs. They talk about what you should do if your dog is bitten and what the treatment will be once the dog arrives at the vet. They also go in depth on the vaccine for dogs and whether it is useful and why or why not. Chris and Michael explore all kinds of additional topics from misconceptions people have about snakebite in dogs to comparing how dogs, cats, and horses respond differently and require different treatment. If you own a dog in snake country you are not going to want to miss this one.

Connect with Michael at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

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In celebration of World Snake Day 2023, we’ve put together a collection of our favorite Snake Stories from our podcast guests over the years!  Featuring Dr. Matt Goode (Ep 53), John Jensen (Ep 59), Rulon Clark (Ep 12), Dr. Emily Taylor (Ep 23), Gowri Shankar (Ep 62), Craig Hoover (Ep 9), Dillon Perron (Ep 34), Dr. Bruce Means (Ep 61), Dr. Charles Smith (Ep 29) and Melissa Amarello (Ep 14), as well as a snake story from Dr. Chris Jenkins. 

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

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Join Dr. Jenkins as he sits down with María Elena Barragán-Paladines from the Quito Vivarium to explore the remarkable work being done in education, outreach, and conservation. Dive into the world of one of the planet's most fascinating creatures, the Chocoan Bushmaster, as María Elena provides an in-depth look at the Choco region and the distribution of these elusive snakes.

Learn about the challenges facing the bushmaster and the broader natural environment in the region, particularly in Ecuador. They discuss the general ecology of bushmasters and a groundbreaking new project aimed at understanding the species' ecology. Discover how you can get involved and support their vital conservation efforts. 

Connect with María Elena at Vivarium de Quito. 

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with David Moscato from the Gray Fossil Site and Museum, to talk about snake paleontology. They discuss a wide range of topics including what the fossil record tells us about the evolution of snakes, legs on snakes, titanaboa, and much more. David also discusses his interest in and the importance of communicating science. They discuss his podcast called Common Descent which we encourage everyone to check out, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with David at Gray Fossil Site & Museum, and listen to Common Descent.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Harold Heatwole, who has arguably spent more time among sea snakes than any snake expert in the world and literally wrote the book on sea snakes. They discuss interesting aspects of sea snake ecology and natural history ranging from taxonomy, biogeography, habitats, feeding, adaptations to marine life, venom, and diet. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Heatwole weaves in stories of adventure diving with these amazing species. You are not going to want to miss this 88 year old legend in snake biology.

Connect with Dr. Heatwole at NC State University.

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In this episode, Dr. Jenkins moderates a panel of snake experts from the Pacific Northwest. The panelists include Lisa Hallock, Herpetologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Dede Olson, Research Ecologist with the Forest Service; Lameace Hussein, former WA resident and current PhD student; and Dr. Steve Mackessy, Professor, Northern Colorado University. Each panelist focuses on a particular area of future research and conservation, discussion areas include Natural History, Snake Fungal Disease, Education/Outreach, and Venomics.

Connect with the snake experts at Northwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

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This episode is also available on YouTube! 

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Brian Halstead to discuss one of the most beautiful snakes on the planet. Brian is a researcher with the United States Geological Survey in California where he works on multiple species of gartersnakes. They talk about San Francisco Gartersnake natural history covering a range of topics including movement, habitat, reproduction, diet and much more. They also talk about their status, threats, and the research and conservation projects being used to recover the species. Finally, they spend some time discussing another California Gartersnake, the Giant Gartersnake, discussing their interesting connection to hydrology and the related efforts to recover the species.

Connect with Dr. Halstead at the US Geological Survey.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Jason Tesauro, who runs an independent company doing a great deal of work with rare turtles. They start by talking about four freshwater turtles in the Northeast that are of conservation concern including the interesting aspects of how they typically occupy different habitats within the same landscapes. They get into Bog Turtles, talking about their distribution and status, movements, habitat use, and reproduction. Finally, they talk about the threats Bog Turtles face and the work that partners are doing to try and recover their populations.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Sean Foley, Curator of Herpetology at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. They talk about career trajectories in the zoo field and then give an introduction to Riverbanks. They spend time talking about the new Darnell W and Susan F Boyd Aquarium and Reptile Conservation Center at the zoo including going through many exhibits and a wide range of species from anacondas to timber rattlesnakes. Riverbanks works on a wide variety of conservation projects but has a special focus on the conservation of local amphibians. They discuss Riverbanks involvement in Gopher Frog conservation in South Carolina.

Connect with Sean at Riverbanks Zoo.

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Jason Clark, President of Southeastern Reptile Rescue. They start discussing his interesting transition from being a police officer to running one of the most successful snake companies in existence. Jason has been in many movies including series on Netflix and Animal Planet. They talk about Southern Reptile Rescue and their work in outreach, rescue, aversion training, working on transitioning rattlesnake roundups, and their Youtube channel. Make sure you stick around for his snake story (teaser: Sir Anthony Hopkins is involved!).

Connect with Jason at Southeastern Reptile Rescue.

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Note: Our apologies for the intermittent interference on Jason's audio - it becomes unfortunately frequent between the 20-minute and 40-minute mark, but is much improved towards the end! 

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Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Lora Smith to talk about her research program at the Jones Ecological Research Center. They start by discussing her interest in tortoises and her adventures studying one of the most endangered turtles in the world in Madagascar. They then talk about Ichauway and the Jones Center which was created by Mr. Woodruff, former CEO of Coca-Cola. Lora’s research includes long-term monitoring of upland species and many focal animal studies. They discuss research projects on species such as Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes, Florida Pine Snakes, and Timber Rattlesnakes.

Connect with Lora at The Jones Center at Ichauway.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

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Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Bob Zappalorti to talk about his long career in herpetology. They start with his early days working at the Staten Island Zoo and talk about his adventures in the field with Carl Kauffeld. They discuss his consulting company, Herpetological Associates, and the various snake and turtle projects they have been working on throughout the Northeast. Finally, they go in depth on his decades-long research program on Northern Pine Snakes in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, discussing everything from nesting to the artificial hibernacula they use to monitor them. This episode is full of herpetological history and in-depth knowledge on multiple snake species.

Connect with Bob at Herpetological Associates.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Robert Hill, Curator of Herpetology at Zoo Atlanta. They discuss his path to getting to where he is today and about how people can get into working in the zoo field. They talk about Zoo Atlanta including their reptile facility and the animals you might expect to encounter there. Finally they discuss the wide array of education and conservation projects the Herpetology Program works on, including declining amphibians, Eastern Indigo Snakes, and Guatemalan Beaded Lizards.

Connect with Robert at Zoo Atlanta.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Michael Starkey, Founder and Executive Director of Save the Snakes. They begin the discussion by talking about Michael's path to conservation - it is an inspiring story that is somewhat different from most. They then delve into the work of Save the Snakes, focusing on conserving snakes around the world using a combination of conservation science, outreach, education, and community conservation. If you are interested in snake conservation, you will not want to miss this episode.

Connect with Michael at Save the Snakes. 

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Neil Cox and Phil Bowles from IUCN to talk about the recently completed Global Reptile Assessment. They talk about the need for the assessment and go in detail on one of the primary tools, the IUCN Red List. They also discuss the assessment process and how they gather and analyze the information to determine each species status. The results show that a significant percentage of reptile species are threatened with extinction but also that there are many species that are data deficient and cannot be assessed. Finally they compared the results of the reptile assessment to those of other wildlife groups such as amphibians, mammals, and birds.

Connect with Neil and Phil on IUCN or at IUCN Red List.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Caesar Rahman to talk about Burmese Pythons - not to discuss them in Florida where most people in the United States think of them, but instead to talk about them in their native range. Caesar runs a nonprofit called Creative Conservation Alliance that works to conserve rare and endangered wildlife in Bangladesh. They discuss the ecology of Burmese Pythons including habitats, movements, and reproduction. They also talk about Pangolins which may be the Gopher Tortoises of Asia, and they talk about efforts to conserve critically endangered turtles in Bangladesh. You are not going to want to miss this one.

Connect with Caesar at Creative Conservation Alliance.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Kiley Briggs to discuss the ‘Big Four’ of freshwater turtle conservation in North America. The discussion starts with an overview of the four, Bog, Wood, Blanding’s, and Spotted Turtles. They go into particular depth on the ecology and natural history of the Wood Turtle, including many stories from the field. Finally they give an update on Orianne’s work to conserve wood turtles in Northern New England.

Connect with Kiley on Instagram.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.