Dr. Jenkins sits down with James Lewis and Dr. Jeanne Tarrant to talk about the landscapes that support the heart of snake biodiversity. First, they discuss the importance of rainforests around the world, the crisis we are facing as we lose incredible amounts of these forests every day, and how important these ecosystems are for maintaining snake biodiversity. Second, they discuss the mission and work of Rainforest Trust and how they are working to conserve rainforests and other ecosystems aroun...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 43
Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Kevin Messenger to talk about snake diversity in China. A unique opportunity first brought Dr. Messenger from his home state of North Carolina to a remote region of China. Listen as we learn about China’s ecosystems and climate and how similar they are to the United States, as well as the widely variable diversity of snakes in the country - ranging from no species in the high western deserts to over a hundred species in the tropics. Finally, discover more about the...
Dec 31, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 42
Dr. Jenkins sits down with Adeline Robinson to talk about Art and Snakes. She talks about growing up in a reptile household and how that fueled both of her childhood interests in animals and art. They go through the process of how she develops a piece, all the way from how she sets up her work space to the final step. They also discuss her business and how you can contract her to develop art for you or your company and how you can buy her original art pieces. Finally they talk about the role of ...
Dec 17, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 41
Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Steve Reichling to talk all about Louisiana Pine Snakes. They go in-depth into the species’ natural history and what makes it different from other Pituophis species. They also talk about a diverse partnership of stakeholders that have come together to try to save the snake from a probable extinction. If you are interested in large colubrid snakes or comprehensive conservation programs, this is the episode for you. Find out more about Dr. Reichling at the Memphis Zo...
Dec 03, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 40
Dr. Jenkins sits down with Parker Gibbons to learn about how his interests and adventures in field herping have transitioned into pursuing a career in Herpetology. A recurring theme in his life is how influential his grandfather has been in getting him to where he is today. Parker’s grandfather, Dr. Whit Gibbons , is one of the most accomplished herpetologists of recent times. This story inspired Dr. Jenkins to interview Whit as well, to show you the story of a family legacy from both sides. Con...
Nov 19, 2021•50 min•Ep. 39
Dr. Erika Nowak is a Snake Ecologist from Northern Arizona University. She has spent much of her career exploring the impact of translocations on snake ecology. Snake translocation has become such a common practice, but most people do not think about the potential consequences of their actions. Erika and Chris go through translocation approaches and how snakes respond to things such as distance moved, time of year, whether they are gravid, and much more. Listen in to gain the knowledge you need ...
Nov 05, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 38
Dr. Jenkins has had a long-standing interest in snake bite treatment and frequently speaks on the subject of treatment in wild settings. He welcomes Dr. Spencer Greene to Snake Talk for a deeper discussion on the subject of treating snake bites. They talk about the field of Medical Toxicology, what to do (and not to do) when treating a snake bite, and they go into treatment of pregnant snake bite victims. Chris introduces his friend Lisa Damron who reveals her life changing experience of receivi...
Oct 22, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 37
Dr. Jenkins sits down with Jeff Corwin to discuss the fascinating topic of Media, Snakes, and Conservation. They go through the early years when Chris and Jeff took Herpetology together in the 1990s and discuss how Jeff’s interest in both snakes and media developed over time. Jeff talks about his most successful shows, the genesis of each and what happened behind the scenes. They also discuss the importance of media in the conservation of snakes. Finally, Jeff talks about the project he is curre...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 36
Dr. Jenkins sits down to speak with Nicholas Hess who is a student, field herper, and photographer. They discuss the ethical considerations of photographing snakes and go into depth on different photography techniques such as macro, snakes in landscape, in situ, and underwater. If you’re looking for gear tips and advice on how to get into photography with snakes, this episode is for you. Connect with Nicholas on Instagram or on his website . Connect with Chris Jenkins on Instagram or at The Oria...
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 35
Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dillon Perron , owner of the Animals at Home Network , to discuss everything about keeping snakes in captivity. They talk about the number of households in the US with snakes as pets, captive bred vs. wild caught, “designer” snakes, and the issues with keeping large species. They also spend time conversing about the various components of husbandry that are important for keeping snakes. Finally, they cover the Animals at Home Network and the various podcasts and Youtube...
Sep 10, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 34
Dr. Jenkins meets with Gary Williamson who had the opportunity to know and snake hunt with Carl Kauffeld. They go in-depth about Carl including his career, personality, and how he worked in the field and the zoo. They also talk about Gary’s book The Kauffeld Letters which chronicles years of written correspondence between Gary and Carl right up until Carl’s passing. This is a unique episode that gives a deep look into one of the biggest names in snakes. To get a signed copy of the book, email Ga...
Aug 27, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 33
Dr. Jenkins sits down with Cody Will, owner of Rattlesnake Ready - a company in the Phoenix area that specializes in training dogs to avoid venomous snakes. They go in-depth about the dog training process. Chris and Cody also discuss why this training is important, the kinds of snakes that Cody uses, how effective the training is, as well as the snake vaccine for dogs. Connect with Chris on Facebook , Instagram or at The Orianne Society . Connect with Rattlesnake Ready on Facebook . Shop Snake T...
Aug 13, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 32
Join Dr. Jenkins as he speaks with the owner of both the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns professional soccer teams, Merritt Paulson. Chris and Merritt, also an Orianne Society board member, have known each other for many years and share a love of snakes and traveling far and wide to see new species. Discover how Merritt got to where he is today as the owner of professional sports teams. Listen to their conversation about “flashy” colubrids and how this mismatched group of snakes captivates ...
Jul 30, 2021•57 min•Ep. 31
Chris Urban is the Chief of the Natural Diversity Section for the Pennsylvania Boat and Fish Commission. In this episode, Dr. Jenkins and Mr. Urban talk about the history of Timber Rattlesnakes in Pennsylvania. They discuss how active management techniques such as a regulated hunting program have resulted in the population rebounding, making the Timber Rattlesnake populations in Pennsylvania some of the strongest in any state. Read more about Timber Rattlesnake Conservation and Management . Conn...
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 30
Chris talks about Copperheads with Dr. Charles Smith , a professor at Wofford College in South Carolina. Dr. Smith has been working on the ecology of Copperheads for over 20 years, and shares the information he has learned about this common but understudied snake. Dr. Smith also spends a great deal of time in the desert Southwest researching rattlesnakes and working on books. This episode was created at the request of our listeners who wanted to learn more about Copperheads! Tune in to learn abo...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 29
Dr. Andrews lives in Coastal Georgia and runs a University of Georgia research lab focused on the applied ecology of many species including Gopher Tortoises, crocodilians, and snakes. Kimberly discusses the challenges of developing a career as a venomous snake ecologist especially during a time when there were few women in the field. Chris and Kimberly discuss the movement ecology of snakes with a focus on the impacts of roads and other forms of fragmentation. They also go in depth into her stud...
Jun 18, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 28
Dr. Matthew Allender is a Professor of Veterinary Clinical Medicine and Director of the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at the University of Illinois. He documented the first case of Snake Fungal Disease in Snakes. Chris and Matt discuss Snake Fungal Disease including its potential origins, specific case studies, variation in disease among snake species, and the most pressing research needs. They also discuss Ranavirus which is best known as a disease in amphibians but has also been shown to impact re...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 27
Dr. David Steen works for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission where he leads amphibian and reptile research efforts. Chris and Dave talk about how persistence and hard work led to a diversity of experiences and jobs as he worked towards his current position. They talk about some of the species that his group prioritizes and how they develop those priorities. Dave also has created a Foundation called Living Alongside Wildlife and they discuss the grant-making approach the founda...
May 21, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 26
Dr. James Wellehan is an Associate Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. Chris and Jim discuss the evolution and ecology of animal diseases with a focus on snakes. They go in depth into various types of diseases that affect snakes, as well as how diseases are often complex, involving multiple components that can affect the impact on the animals. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you...
May 07, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 25
Chris talks snakes with Steve Friedman, Director of Real Estate for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Chris and Steve talk about the importance of land conservation for combating habitat loss and fragmentation as one of the greatest threats to snakes. They also talk about the primary land conservation tools and how they work. Finally, as an example, they go through a large effort in Georgia to protect Gopher Tortoises and many snakes, by protecting hundreds of thousands of acres.Conne...
Apr 23, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 24
Dr. Taylor is an accomplished Reptile Physiological Ecologist that has dedicated her career to studying aspects of snake ecology such as thermal biology and physiological adaptations to desert environments. Chris and Emily discuss the research and students in her lab, and focus on translocation. They also go in depth into Central Coast Snake Services which is Emily’s company that provides communities with tools to help them live safely in snake country without needing to harm the snakes. Finally...
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 23
Ben Stegenga is a herpetologist that works for the Orianne Society on a variety of species projects in the Longleaf Savannas. Ben is the field ecologist who runs our indigo snake and eastern diamondback monitoring programs in Georgia. He joins Chris to talk about the natural history of these amazing animals and give us an update on how the monitoring season is going so far.Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hea...
Mar 26, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 22
Donna Kalil is a Python Elimination Specialist that spends her days searching for Burmese Pythons in South Florida. Chris and Donna discuss the biology of invasive pythons, how these snakes are spreading, their ecological impacts, the efforts to eliminate them, and how the public is responding. Donna also talks about how they catch the snake including an exciting story. Finally, Donna discusses the Everglades Avenger Team of volunteers who work with her to catch these invasive snakes.Connect wit...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 21
Rich Baxter is a Director of a new organization, the Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance or IOTA. IOTA is focused on the conservation of Giant Tortoises in the Indian Ocean and is based in the Seychelles. Chris and Rich discuss Rich’s path to becoming a tortoise biologist, Global patterns in Giant Tortoise distribution, Ecology of Aldabra Tortoises, and IOTA. Listen in as both Chris and Rich tell stories of their experiences with these amazing animals.Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at T...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 20
Chris talks snakes with Dr. Bryan Maritz, who is a professor at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. Bryan is deeply interested in natural history and has worked on many species across Africa. Chris and Bryan talk about global patterns in viper diversity, pythons, stiletto snake, and go in depth into the natural history of the Namaqua Dwarf Adder. Tune in to learn about the Snakes of Africa.Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch....
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 19
Johnny Carrol Sain is a writer, editor, and deep thinker of everything related to nature and rural culture. Johnny joins Dr. Jenkins to discuss the disconnect between culture and nature and then the even deeper disconnect between nature and snakes. They also discuss the importance of people having at least a base understanding of ecosystems and the interconnectedness of nature.Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been...
Jan 29, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 18
Herpmapper is a tool that allows users to record data on snakes they find in the field using an App on their phone. Herpmapper allows users to catalogue all of the data they collect overtime but more importantly links those data to wildlife management and conservation organizations. Chris talks with Mike and Don about the history, how to, and uses of Herpmapper as well as talking about snakes in the Midwest region they call home.Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society...
Jan 15, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 17
Dr. Dan Natusch is a herpetologist, Director of Epic Biodiversity, and chairman of the IUCN Boa and Python Specialist Group. Dan joins Chris to discuss everything pythons from where you find them in the world, their biogeography in Australia, to the phenomenon of vary color morphs in young Green Tree Pythons. They also discuss an event that has been in the news where a python attempted to eat a person. Dan talks about this particular event as it was one of his study snakes that attempted to eat ...
Jan 01, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 16
Julia Duin is a journalist and writer who recently published a book on religious snake handlers titles, ‘In the House of the Serpent Handler’. As part of her research for the book Julia has spent extensive time in Appalachia at the churches and with the people in the serpent handling culture. Join Dr. Jenkins and Julia as they talk about religion, snake handling practices, and her book. They also go in depth on the National Geographic show Snake Salvation and the people featured in the show.Conn...
Dec 18, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 15
Melissa Amarello is the Executive Director of Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP). Tune in to hear about her research on social interactions in snakes, ranging from how snakes care for their offspring to who snakes are “friends” with. ASP uses these types of studies on snake behavior to implement education programs geared to changing the public’s perception of snakes. Melissa also discusses how ASP works in the advocacy arena using their work on Rattlesnake Roundups as an example. Check out A...
Dec 04, 2020•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 14
