Who are your herping heros?

[Ranger]

Hey folks,

Who do you really look up to in the herpetological and herpetocultural arenas?

Also, please give a little description of what you admire about them and their accomplishments.

Please make a separate post for each individual you describe, so it's easier to sort through for the readers. This thread could eventually serve as a "Who's Who" of sorts for newer herpers to learn about some of the "giants" of the field.

There are no right or wrong answers, just opinions about your personal role models, etc.

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[Ranger]

One of the people I have really come to admire is Vin Russo. After reading his book, The Complete Boa Constrictor I was inspired to become much more serious about maintaining pure bloodlines of known locality animals.

He has taken the subject of Boa Constrictors seriously enough to amass a vast amount of scientific knowledge as well as first hand experience in the various locales from which the different boas originate.

His advice on care, breeding, conservation, and responsible ownership is clear, thorough, simple to understand, and founded in real life, practical experience gained through years of study and observation.

He is one of the people who will help insure a longterm future for boa constrictors in the wild and in our collections.

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[RevMojo]

BW.

And I'm not just saying that so that he'll send me hot sauce (PM me for the address) this year. BW ain't the biggest guy in the business (short joke is coincidental), and he's more of an accidental (if not sometimes borderline miraculous) breeder, but the guy has passion. A lot of us talk about doing more to help...BW goes out and does. Look at his involvement with the Gopher Tortoise survey or Rattlesnake Rescue programs for examples. He doesn't ask for recognition or fame. He's relatively humble. He's willing to help, and usually mannerly enough that people will listen when he offers advice they didn't necessarily want to hear. Speaking from experience, he's a patient teacher. When I call up at 9:30 on a Friday night on my way to the middle of nowhere TX, he's willing to tell me all I need to know about what I might come across, and when he says "Don't call me back this weekend" I know it means "be careful" not "leave me alone."

Here's to ya, man.

[telefrag]

I'd have to say the people I look up to the most are people like:

Ray Ditmars
Harry Greene
Klaus Schultz
Richard Ross


There are lots of people worth looking up to, but people that have pioneered "cracking" the code of herps and trying to better understand overall animal ecology are real pioneers.

being the first to produce a "super hypo, bumblebee, pinstripe, pastel" name your snake don't really do much for herpetology, they just provide another animal for the "trade" which is fine and all, but it really doesn't add any value to the cause of overall vertebrate ecology.

	Hypomelanistic Hypomelanistic - a genetic reduction in the dark pigment Melanin.

[Hartsock]

For me right now, the "biggest named" person would be Bill and Kathy Love who do the cornsnakes. When I first started adding to my collection and picked up some corns, one started to regurg. I was a noob to the forums along with the snakes, and I hadn't really knew who Kathy Love was other than she bred corns and seemed to answer alot of questions on the forums and was well respected at cornsnakes.com. So I fired off a couple of question in a panic state in a pm. And she wrote me back, a couple of times, explaining what to do, asking me how the snake was and generally showed all around concern. It wasn't till later that I found out how big of a breeder she and her husband are and really how much they have contributed to cornsnake keeping. Had I known that to begin with I would have never even tried to get in contact with her because I wouldn't have expected them to "lower" themselves to deal with a noob and one little measely cornsnake that was sick.

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[amercnwmn]

I agree with Rev on BW, 110%
The rattlesnake roundups and the educational programs BW conducts, and the professionalism as well as humor make BW priceless to the herp world.
I have great respect for someone who can experience something as horrible as losing most of their collection to disease, and make sure it is something we ALL learn from.

I have quite a few people I am fortunate enough to call friends who have done tons of things for the herp community, in big ways and in small ways, and all of whom I've met from the online communities.

Ray Hunter for his willingness to stick his hand where no others would..lol

Scott Bice for his contributions to my education as well as others
Also for his Shish Kebabs...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmgood

Anja aka NajaAnja for her experience, friendship, cajones, knowledge, and willingness to help a fellow Arkansan out. She encouraged me to do what I wanted, within my limits.

Al Coritz, aka Viperkeeper, aka phobos, for his great YouTube videos despite the criticism from some Canooks. Also for answering every stupid question I've asked.

Kory Roberts (Pres of Arkansas Herp Society) for his dedication to educating fellow Arkansans about native reptiles & amphibians
Mark Guidotti (Pres of Arizona Herp Society) for his acceptance and friendship and dedication to education

Rob Olivier and John White for their mouthwatering photography and seemingly endless knowledge..
Gus (RioBravoReptiles) for his beautiful boas, mass information, knowledge, humor, friendship, and experience.
Matt (Telefrag) for his knowledge and willingness to share info on snakes I've never heard of..lol
Eric @ Northshore Reptiles for his willingness to share information, and for being a responsible seller
Morti & LadyDrgn for standing strong in the face of adversity, and remembering that the most important thing about our hobby is education..
Tamara (bleedingsarcasm) & AdryaWebb for being great friends, and great sources of knowledge and entertainment

The list can go on and on and on..There are a lot of people on this site alone who I have great respect for, and who seem to be endless with their knowledge, and caring.

Some of these people I've never met in person, but they continue to encourage, educate, and share knowledge and friendship..

I'll think of more as soon as I hit POST.

[Hartsock]

Originally Posted by VoodooChile

I'll think of more as soon as I hit POST.

Gee, Voodoo, I guess you thought of my name right after you hit post, huh? ROFL....

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[morti]

Dick Bartlett.

This is Reptiles Magazine's "About the Author" for one of his regular articles:

R. D. (Dick) Bartlett is the author of more than 500 articles and author or coauthor of 40 books, including titles on herp care and reptile and amphibian field guides. Two of the most recent titles are “Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: An Ecotourists Guide,” and “Florida’s Snakes: A Guide to Their Identification and Habits.”

Bartlett travels extensively, both to find and photograph herps in the field and to present multi-projector reptile and amphibian oriented screen tours. In 1970 Bartlett began the Reptilian Breeding and Research Institute (RBRI). Since its inception, more than 200 reptile and amphibian species have been bred at this private facility, some for the first time in the United States under captive conditions. Bartlett also leads herp photography trips to the Peruvian Amazon for Margarita Tours (www.amazon-ecotours.com)

[Smits]

I've always looked up to Vin Russo and Gus Rentfro.

Vin's book, pretty much says it all. And Gus (IMO) sets the standards for top notch locality boas.

But anyone who's in the hobby of conserving and protecting wildlife deserve recognition as well

[Ranger]

Originally Posted by ssjsmits

And Gus (IMO) sets the standards for top notch locality boas.

I fully agree. I didn't mention Gus earlier because he frequents the site and I don't want him to think we're sucking up (or to inflate his ego). Gus's animals speak for him. He consistently produces astonishing locality boas that are the best the locality has to offer. His frequently posted pictures (hopefully) inspire us all to respect and enjoy these animals as they have evolved in their specific locale. With all due respect to the "morphers," Gus and Vin's passion for the localities is going to make a long-term difference for the species. The morphers only make a difference in the economics of the hobby.

[mpgt]

Originally Posted by Ranger

... The morphers only make a difference in the economics of the hobby.

I used to believe that too. I hope nobody takes offense, and I know this might be O/T, but I have to say this right now. We can't completely dismiss contributions of those who breed and sell morphs. I'm no expert on the subject, but the ever increasing variety of morphs has advantages. It draws a lot of new keepers and breeders into the hobby. People who would've never tried it, find it lucrative or at least financially worthwhile to breed them. The things they learn about breeding snakes in general benefit us all. The selective interest in morphs and any new husbandry or breeding advances reduce demand for wild caught specimens. I may be out of line here so I'll step just a little further. I think cross breeding is more ill advised, and does threaten long term viability of locality specimens.

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[Ranger]

Originally Posted by mpgt

I think cross breeding is more ill advised, and does threaten long term viability of locality specimens.

My main point exactly. My comments on the morph issue was not "ant-morph." I simply meant that they are of little to no benefit for reintroduction into protected habitats, etc.

Within the hobby, I say the free market is generally a good thing, an will sort itself out.

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[mpgt]

That makes sense Ranger; thanks.

Steve Irwin is my hero in the hobby. His family and friends continue his work today. The passion he had, and the number of people he influenced were incredible. I really hope someone can fill his shoes one day as the reptile's greatest ambassador.

[telefrag]

sounds like some people need clarification


are we talking about "herpetoculture" or "herpetology" ???

they are very very different things.

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[mpgt]

Don't most of these people contribute to both?

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[mpgt]

Originally Posted by mpgt

Don't most of these people contribute to both?

Oops, on second thought that's probably wrong. I'm always hopeful that advances in one will affect the other. I'm sure that's not always the case.

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[Smits]

it took it as herpetoculture

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[Smits]

Originally Posted by Ranger

I fully agree. I didn't mention Gus earlier because he frequents the site and I don't want him to think we're sucking up (or to inflate his ego).

Whether it's taken as sucking up or not doesn't really matter to me. I think he does a fantastic job and I feel he should be noted.

but what you said in your post that I snipped also addressess other reasons for my decision

[amercnwmn]

Originally Posted by hartsock

Gee, Voodoo, I guess you thought of my name right after you hit post, huh? ROFL....

LOL!! Of course..
I just took the question to mean, the herp hobby as a whole..I wasn't thinking "celebrities" but those closer to home, and those I have immediate access to..

I did forget (other than Hartsock..lol) to add in the members/founders of the Southeast Hot Herp Society for their education and conservation programs, and the founders of Miami Dade Antivenin Unit, VenomOne for their work in a/v provisions and education, and their availability to help anyone in need.

[HavocovaH]

Okefenokee Joe ftw. He's "Swampwise."

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