Welcome :)
Please forgive any cyber dust as the site is still a work in progress.
About me:
Well, what can I say. Ive worked with reptiles my whole life. One of my earliest memories I was, I think, three years old catching a garter snake. Anyway, Ive always had a reptile of some kind. Over the years I've worked with so many different kinds I feel fairly confident in saying that Ive probably housed, wrestled, rehomed, rescued, operated on, or bred just about anything you can get ahold of.
After I graduated from school, I took residency at the Reptile Zoo in Monroe, WA. I learned a lot about how to work with the more dangerous animals there. I received a fair amount of medical training for reptiles here in Washington, but my favorites memories from this time in my life include the first time I ever wrestled an alligator, getting reticulated python teeth removed from my shoulder, and learning what not to do in a rattlesnake pit. Ahh good times. |
After that I obtained permits from the state of Washington and through the Seattle Reptile Rescue I opened my home to dangerous reptiles in need as a runoff shelter. Essentially I took in the venomous or otherwise dangerous animals the state would confiscate from others who did not have permits, or did naughty things with them. Although I had very good protocols for venomous animals, I did nearly lose my left thumb after getting bit by a misidentified stiletto snake. It's still pretty stiff, but as any one who has kept "hots" can tell you, that's really nothing to complain about. I learned a lot from this time though. Working with mostly hots (venomous animals), large constrictors, and monitors (large carnivorous lizards). |
This time frame enabled me to use a lot of the medical skills I learned previously in order to save a fair amount of animals that would have otherwise died. I should probably mention here that I'm not a licensed veterinarian in the state of Alaska, but I did work under one for quite some time in Washington and that knowledge and learned skills don't leave your memory just because the state you live in doesn't grant you those credentials. I never use these skills for profit, I always refer out to local veterinarians first, and wont do anything I wasn't already trained to do, but I wont turn a blind eye from an animal that doesn't have any other options. Mostly, when I use these skills its for very simple stuff. I perform my own fecals, basic wound care, assist feeding, gastric tube feeding, parasite and incomplete shed care, MBD treatments, trimming beaks/nails respiratory infections, shell/mouth rot, euthanasia & necropsy, but every now and then I have to do something a little more involved like clearing intestinal blockages, or removing retained eggs. I think the one i'm most proud of was clearing an ocular abscess in an amazon tree boa that had already received a death sentence. The process was photographed below.
s I got older I became less interested in working with the dangerous species, and more and more interested in rescue / education / and healthcare for my local community of Kenai / Soldotna. I wanted to help spread the passion for reptiles to my home so I again obtained permits and began helping local people acquire the types of reptiles they wanted to get from the states. Along with this I started training others, and began holding classes on large constrictor / crocodilian/ venomous animal safety along with care and breeding classes for all levels of herpers. Herping in Alaska has unique challenges not present to those that live in the states, so I've had to become very creative with cage building and automation. Cost and diet availability are always difficult hurdles, but make no mistake Alaskan herpers are every bit as dedicated and tough when it comes to the care of their animals as they are in every other aspect of their lives.
Although I owe much of my training to people in Washington, its really the people of Alaska that taught me dedication. There are no shortcuts here, no easy way, no special tricks. If you are a herper in Alaska, you have to have the passion. It's in you, otherwise you just wont do it. We are a tough breed, dedicated in all ways. There are no "impulse" animals, no throw aways. Not here, at least not like it is in the states (no offense intended).
After the birth of my children my priorities had changed. I no longer work with large constrictors, venomous, crocodilian, or otherwise dangerous animals. Its not because these animals can not be safely and responsibly kept by parents ( they certainly can if one is dedicated to responsible caging and safety protocols) but simply because I fell in love with safer reptile species and have dedicated my available space to them. Even though I work only with "children friendly" species these days in my personal collection, I still help out others where I can.
Although I owe much of my training to people in Washington, its really the people of Alaska that taught me dedication. There are no shortcuts here, no easy way, no special tricks. If you are a herper in Alaska, you have to have the passion. It's in you, otherwise you just wont do it. We are a tough breed, dedicated in all ways. There are no "impulse" animals, no throw aways. Not here, at least not like it is in the states (no offense intended).
After the birth of my children my priorities had changed. I no longer work with large constrictors, venomous, crocodilian, or otherwise dangerous animals. Its not because these animals can not be safely and responsibly kept by parents ( they certainly can if one is dedicated to responsible caging and safety protocols) but simply because I fell in love with safer reptile species and have dedicated my available space to them. Even though I work only with "children friendly" species these days in my personal collection, I still help out others where I can.