For me, it all started when I was a kid growing up in southern Ontario (a beautiful province in Canada).
One day, my dad caught a huge garter snake and put it in an empty gallon (4-litre) jug of vinegar. We carefully placed a Kleenex on top, held with a rubber band, so that the snake could breathe. But while I was gone for just a few minutes, the snake poked through the Kleenex and escaped!
This excitement sparked a lifelong passion for reptiles. I’ve since attended the International Herpetological Symposium, a meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and even the World Congress of Herpetology!
It’s amazing how one childhood moment can ignite a love for wildlife that lasts a lifetime.