Snake Talk

Latest Episodes:

110 | Kingsnakes and Milksnakes with Noah Fields Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

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.

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

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

109 | Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

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

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

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

108 | Chocoan Bushmasters Jul 12, 2024

Show notes

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.

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

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

107 | Save the Snakes Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

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.

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

106 | California Snakes and Live Streaming at a Snake Den Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Jenkins sits down with returning guest Dr. Emily Taylor to discuss some exciting new developments in the world of snakes. First, they delve into her new book, "California Snakes and How to Find Them," which explores each species in California and offers field herping advice for encountering the state's diverse snake population. Then, the conversation shifts to a Prairie Rattlesnake den and gestation site in Colorado. This site is home to thousands of rattlesnakes, and Emily is installing a live streaming camera that will enable viewers to observe the snakes in real time.

Connect with Emily at California Polytechnic State University. Purchase California Snakes and How to Find them. Check out Project RattleCam!

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.

105 | From Field Herping South Texas to Zoo Based Conservation May 31, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Clint Guadiana, Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians at Gladys Porter Zoo and one of the field herping experts for extreme south Texas, a region known for its unique biodiversity and a popular destination for field herpers. They discuss field herping in the region, the "Big 5" species for which the region is famous, the tin stacking technique that Clint developed (which significantly increases the number of snakes he finds) and the Gladys Porter Zoo, including its reptile and amphibian collection and the conservation work it focuses on.

Connect with Clint at the Gladys Porter Zoo.

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.

104 | Breeding Designer Ball Pythons May 17, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Justin Kobylka from Kinova Reptiles to talk all about breeding Ball Pythons. Despite catching wind of Justin's recent feature in the New Yorker Magazine, Dr. Jenkins wanted to have a more in depth conversation with him. In this episode the conversation spans Justin's journey to the top of the Ball Python breeding world, market insights, breeding processes, designer morphs, ethical sourcing, and the significance of captive reptiles in today's world.

Read the New York Magazine article.

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.

103 | The Road to Becoming a Snake Biologist May 03, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Peyton Niebanck to discuss the lengthy journey toward becoming a snake biologist. Peyton, a technician with The Orianne Society working on surveying Indigo Snakes, shares insights from the early stages of her career. They delve into Peyton’s college experience and the various activities she pursued to bolster her prospects in the field. They explore the peaks and valleys of her past four years, during which she has traversed the country, undertaking seasonal positions to accumulate experience. Finally, they examine her endeavors to secure a permanent position or gain admission to graduate school.

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.

102 | Armenian Viper Conservation Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Jeff Ettling to talk about the conservation of Armenian Vipers. They start with a discussion of vipers from the region and how there is relatively high diversity and endemism in this part of West Asia. They discuss aspects of Armenian Viper research including spatial ecology, prey availability, genetics, and the impact of human disturbance. Then they focus on conservation programs including the protection of land, captive breeding, and reintroduction. If you are a viper fanatic you are not going to want to miss this one!

Connect with Jeff at the Jacksonville Zoo.

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.

101 | A History of Snakebite Treatments Apr 05, 2024

Show notes

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.

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.

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