Mark O'Shea Q&A 5th Installment!!!

July 8^th, 2004

It would be worth mentioning that I did not know these questions existed and am answering them immediately. My apologies to anyone who has waited for a reply. Mark O'Shea
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Snake17
Hey Mark. No butt kissing for me just my best opinion: I love your shows, they`ve inspired me a lot, got me interested in herps. I`m 17 and live in Romania. It`s a country with scarce financial possibilities for anyone, non the less a herpetologist. I`m gonna attend biology college and give my masters and doctorates in snakes. I think my doctorates paper will be on the taxonomy of the Vipera ursinii complex. I just wannt to thank you for everything and to ask you if you won`t be doing any shows in Europe. If you want Vipera ammodytes come here. I`m your guy. I love theese snakes and caught all 3 valid subspecies in the wild(ammodytes, montandoni and meridionalis-Greece). I think you could get realy cool shows here too. Thanlks again for everything. I hope I`ll get to meet you face-to-face one day. Warm greetings from Romania, Alex S.

Thank you for your praise from Romania. Europe is the continent on which i have worked least. I have sought out snakes in England, Spain and Portugal and that is it. I tried to interest the film company in a European herp series but they would not go for it. I explained that it is not necessary to be big or dangerous for reptiles to be interesting, there are many fascinating small species in Europe but so far no luck with the series. I think you should work on the V.ursini complex, many of the races, subspecies and complex members are rare, even endangered. My old friend Tony Phelps works on V.ammodytes as well as other European and African vipers and another friend from the BHS, Dave Bird, studies V.ammodytes in the Balkans.
Mark
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Hello Mark,
I was wondering how potent the venom of a Asian Green Vine Snake is. Also, Which of the green vine snakes is the one that has the patterning on it?

The Asian genus of vinesnakes Ahaetulla (formerly Dryophis) is not considered dangerous to man, though it works on small lizards well enough.
There are possibly as many as eight species and most are fairly variable in colouration and to a lesser degree patterning. We found the long-nosed vinesnake (A.nasuta) in the West Ghats of India (Cobra Revenge) and near Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka (Venom) while we turned up several oriental vinesnakes (A.prasina) including a yellow specimen, on the Phetchaburi River, Thailand (Siamese Crocodile).  You might be thinking of the brown vinesnake (A.pulverulentus) which may be spotted.

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Wheela on 2003-11-15
I've heard it is very hard to get a Gaboon and Rhino Viper to breed...How hard is it to get a gaboon/rhino cross

I do not believe in hybridising snake species. It happens in the wild from time to time (hopefully the offspring are 'mules'  and unable to reproduce) but that does not make it right, in my opinion, to try and cross-breed species in captivity.

Report of for natural hybrid of gaboon viper and rhinoceros viper:
Hughes B.  1968 An unusual rhinoceros viper, Bitis nasicornis, from Ghana, West Africa. Zoologische Mededelingen 43(9):107-115.
Report of for natural hybrid of gaboon viper and puff adder:
Broadley D.G. & R.H.Parker 1976 Natural hybridization between the puff adder and gaboon viper in Zululand. Durban Museum Novitates 11(3):77-83.

Mark
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insane_gaboonviper on 2003-11-02
hello mark i am a 14 year old living in the mojave destert in california.I have had a great interaest in snakes since i was a kid and soon i hope to catch venomous snakes.out here we have the mojave rattlesnakes,weastern diamondbacks and red diamond backs.would my age now be a good chance to learn how to catch venomous snakes?pleas anwer me.

Dear Insane - gaboonviper, there is a very short answer to your question and I'm afraid that answer is No, you are not old enough yet.
You are still legally the responsibility of your parents until you are 18 and you should bear that in mind and leave venomous snakes until you are older.
You have plenty of years of venomous herping once you are a little older so hold on there and wait a while.

Mark

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moondust on 2003-10-22
Hi mark i think your shows are the best. my favorite is cobras revenge it was brilliant.  I have now been thinking about owning my own snake. I think a corn snake would be suitable. Is there any advise you can offer me please. Keep up the good work mark.

I was also very pleased with Cobra's Revenge. Although I had some experience with king cobras in captivity it was my first chance to catch them in the wild because most of my research fieldwork prior to going onto television had been in Latin America, Papua New Guinea and Africa. I had been within king cobra range before, twice in Nepal and once in Borneo, but had not found one. We are all waiting for the revision of the king cobra complex which my friend Indraneil Das has been working on for some years. Expect more than one species in the future.
Cornsnake, good choice. by now you will probably have one and lots of experience so I will say no more.

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BANDITCHASER on 2003-10-07
I have been a Herp for many years 30 of my 45 years...I have enjoyed lecturing to children / adults through schools, Library's, Colleges etc....The number one question most people have is which is the most venomous snake..Anybody in the field could put a list of the Top 5...Your 2 Herp friends on Animal Planet (Jeff) & (Steve)..Claim its the Fierce Snake ? Isn't that a true Taipan.....Back in the Mid 70's I had a privllege of meeting Bill Haas at the Miami Serpentarium...I asked him ..Do you have a "Taipan" part of the collection ? He then pointed to a skeleton of one in a case! WOW that was cool ! Mark what's your opinion ?

What some people call the fierce snake was also called the small-scaled snake because any earlier scientific name was Parademansia microlepidota, the last part of which means 'small scaled'. Due to its similarity to the taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus, it was moved to that genus as O.microlepidotus and there is remains.
A good paper on the subject is:
Covacevich J., S.B.McDowell, C.Tanner & G.A.Mengden 1981 The relationship of the taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus, and the small-scaled snake, Oxyuranus microlepidotus (Serpentes: Elapidae). Proceedings of the Melbourne Herpetological Symposium. 160-168.
I prefer the common names coastal taipan and inland taipan respectively, with New Guinea taipan for the subspecies O.s.canni.
I also remember meeting Bill Haast in 1980 and again in 1981. He is a great man and meeting him was a highlight of my Florida trips.

Mark
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Burhan on 2003-10-01
Hi Mark, I'm from Jayapura - Papua, Indonesia. I were collected herps at Raja Ampat Island (Vogelkop area). And one specimen snake probable Toxicocalamus, but the scales of this spesimen, different than key identification from your book (A Guide to The Snake of Papua New Guinea). It's possible a new species? please answer me, Thanks...

I know that Ken Aplin at the Western Australian Museum and Steve Donnellan at the South Australian Museum were going to describe some new Toxicocalamus species and I am absolutely certain that there are new species aplenty still to find so you could well have a new species.
I would be very interested to know what the scale counts are because this is a very interesting and overlooked genus.
Try to post again

Mark

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Anonymous on 2003-09-27
I am a mother of a 20 month old son who loves to play outside. Today my husband came across what we beleive to be a Timber Rattlesnake.  Does this mean there will be more in the same area?  If so what can we do to get rid of them?  We do not know very much about snakes so any information would be greatly appreciated.

Dear worried mother.
If you have found timber rattlers and you have children I can understand your concern and I praise you for not simply reaching for something heavy.
My advice would be to contact the local zoo or wildlife office and see if it is legal and possible for someone to relocate the snake. It would have to be done with full official consent because I am sure there are state and federal laws affecting the disturbance of this endangered species. That said, nobody can expect you to risj your child being bitten playing in the garden.
Mark

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hoip1chiggs on 2003-09-25
Yo Oshea Dude Whattup!!
My name is Hoip Chiggs. I'm ready for any Big Adventure. I keep more'n a dozen venomous snakes. I got snakes tattooed on my body. I'm a musclebound truck ready to go thru any rainforest. I got myself immune to snake venom by lettin em bite me repeatedly. Consider me your right hand man if ya need any help. Thanks fer listenin..

Hey Hoip, you think you're Bill Haast or someone, letting them bite you to get immune ?!
I know if worked for him but it may not work for you.
You may make yourself partially immune but it is 'swings and roundabouts' my friend, with immunity comes the risk of hypersensitivity which means a minor bite can drop you suddenly. I have a partial hypersensitivity to a particular antivenom so I have to take care but I know someone who is hypersensitive to venom itself. he got that way not by multiple bites, he had only one, maybe two, but by spending years milking snakes for research and breathing the fine venom in the air. Now venom particles make his face swell up, eyes close and breathing get difficult. If that happens in the field you are gone±!

One thing about looking for snakes in the rainforest, you have to move quietly and slowly and look hard. Musclebound trucks don't find many snakes crashing through the trees. Other than that, your on (maybe)!

Mark

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lebu on 2003-09-24
what is the better and easier way to handle a snake
1- hold it behind the head
2- hold it by the tail

It is better not to hold it unless it is necessary, sometimes just look don't touch.
If it is necessary to pick up venomous snakes I often use a hook under their body because that is passive and they don't object.
If it is necessary to pin then gently behind the head is the way.
To tail is dangerous for you, if the snake is agile or a youngster, or for the snake, if it is a heavy viper because that can break its back.

Mark

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lebu on 2003-09-24
i want to know how can i become a qualified snake handler when there are no snakes found in the place whre i live

It is not a qualification, it is experience. There is only one venomous snake and one nonvenomous snake in the region where I live and I found and acquainted myself with them in the 1960s and 1970s. You could get experience by arranging to go into the field somewhere with an experienced person. Try to find herping companions on this website.

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lebu on 2003-09-24
i am a 15 yr old from india and i would like to know what is the toughest snake you have handled and why

You live in India and there are no snakes !!!!
There are some excellent snake men in India and I don;t mean charmers I mean academics and fieldworkers like Indraneil Das, Rom Whitaker, Mohammad Anees from Bangalore who was in Cobras Revenge to name a few, there are many more. Contact the Centre for Herpetology at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, I think they have a website. They have a new Indian snake book coming out soon too. Still 15 is too long for venomous snakes, still to the many harmless species until your are more experienced. I bet many American kids would love to live in India and be able to go and seek out some of the snakes you have living in your area. You did not say where in India, I have travelled widely there in the south and the north.

Mark


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kid on 2003-09-23
hi mark i am 12 and I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN SNAKES and I was wandering what you did for the future to get to ware you are now, when you were at my age?

I kept my first snakes age 8 or 9 and built up quite a collection over  the  years. I did a degree in biological sciences and carried out fieldwork for many months at a time all over the tropical world before becoming Curator of Reptiles at the West Midland Safari Park, which also enabled me to continue doing long spells of fieldwork in PNG, Brazil, Cameroon etc. I started in television in 1986 and moved from of camera in 1996. It has taken me almost 40 years to get to where I am today. There is more of a biog on my website www.markoshea.tv though it needs updating.

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anaconda69 on 2003-09-21
hey mark is it true that bitas gabonica rhinoceris gives more venom in a single bite then ophiagis hanna. I was also woundering if bitas gabonica rhinoceris population is decreasing in the wild? please answer me thanks.

Bitis gabonica rhinoceros is now elevated to species status as Bitis rhinoceros
Whether it delivers more venom or Ophiophagus hannah, the king cobra, may be argued but it depends on somany factor such as size of snake, last time it injected venom, prey-taking or defensive bite etc,
The most endangered population is the east African gaboon Bitis gabonica in KwaZulu Natal (see my Series 4 film Spitting Cobra)
mark
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Anonymous on 2003-09-19
I'am 15 years old, and I love reptiles. I work at Jenkinson's Aquarium since I was 12! When I'm older I want to be a Traveling Biologist. Can you give me help on what you did to get involved with Discovery and Animal Planet channels.

I did not set out to be on TV, far from it. I was approached to act as wrangler and consultant on many herp docos and then I was asked to move from of camera on one about anacondas in Venezuela called Giant Snake (not Big Snake that was someone else). They liked what I did, I had the field experience and knowledge, so i was given a one hour special, Black Mamba, then a series OBA, and the rest your know. To be a good field biologist it is not necessary to be on TV. In fact it is easier to be a good biologist and not on TV, you can get on with your work without having to consider a camera crew all the time and schedules and filming budgets and delivery dates etc. You do need a good degree for start serious fieldwork and a doctorate would be even better.
So work hard at school.

Mark
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expserum114 on 2003-09-08
Hey Mark!

Myself and my wife have been keeping snakes for a few years now and have recently aquired a female wagler's temple pitviper.  I know that they are not prone to aggression however, we believe in treating all venomous as if they are highly agressive.  I haven't been able to find a great deal of information about their venom.  I've also read that human fatalities are rare from wagler's bites.  Just hoping that you could give us some info on their venom.  by the way love your show and am a great admirer of your work. Thanks from British Columbia.

I don't think there has been even one fatality from a Wagler's pitviper bite. many bites seem to be dry and the worst symptoms reported have been localised pain and gross swelling. It is reported that in part of its range the locals believe you will drop dead before you get your jacket off but that is probably mistaken identity. Still not sense in getting bitten if you don't have to.


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Anonymous on 2003-09-01
Who do you think is the sexiest out of your fellow colleuges.

Now how can I be qualified to answer that one since my colleagues (if you mean other TV herpers) are all male?!

Mark
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Anonymous on 2003-08-30
Mark next time your back in the area I will leave my number with paul at the(school of trop)give me a call I know a great place for Carp ishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
beat regards
SCOUSE

Okay Scouse, I went fishing for tench the other day, nice exclusive pool, caught seven, best was 5lb 12oz.
Mark
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Anonymous on 2003-08-30
Mark when are you back in liverpool to see paul(school of trop)
Hope to speak to you again soon
best regards
SCOUSE

You will be pleased to know the king we picked up from Paul is settling in nicely at the Park, sort of home-coming to the Midlands for it because it used to belong to the late John Foden.

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Lucile on 2003-08-28
Hey Mark, I love your show, you do great work.  The question I have is this.  Do timber rattlesnakes have neurotoxin or hemotoxin venom??  I have read they have both, but just want a clear answer from you or anybody in this room....  Thanks, keep up the good work.

There is quite a lot of variation in the venom of timber rattlesnakes through their range. The venom primarily contains procoagulants that cause continued bleeding, haemorrhagins which rupture the blood vessels and myotoxins that damage muscle tissue. Bites are unpleasant, take it from me.
There is no record of neurotoxins in the venom of timber though there are neurotoxins in the venoms of Mojave and some neotropical rattlers. That said the presence of neurotoxins in a rattlesnake venom does not mean it will cause neurotoxic symptoms in humans, for instance Mojave rattler venom can be demonstrated to contains neurotoxins in vitro (in the test tube) or in vivo (in rats) but it does not cause neurotoxicity in humans. Complicated little subject isn't it.

mark


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Anonymous on 2003-08-24
I am a great admirer of Mark O'Shea.  Between homework and sport, I try my best to watch all his shows that we now get on National Geographic Channel in South Africa.  I have a burning desire to become a herpetologist and wish to know more about how to go about this.  Is there any way to study "hands on" or does it have to be done throug a university?
Yours in reptiles

I did not know my shows were on National Geographic in S.Africa, are you sure its not Animal Planet ?
There are two ways you can go for a career, the hands on will lead you to zoo work or snake park work while university will open the exciting worlds of field research and still enable you to attach to a snake park or zoo. In other words you can do and understand so much more with a good education. I should imagine there are a good few opportunities to get experience in snake parks in SA and there are some very experienced herpetologists in southern African universities. As for snake parks, my good friend Donald Strydom has a park at Swadini and he often takes on work experience. You could learn a great deal from Donald.

Mark
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copperheadkid15 on 2003-08-12
Mark  I would like to tell you your show is the best in my opintion. I do snake removal and I also go 2-3-4 grade schools and  let the kids hold a my boa and talk to them about snakes. I am only 15 but I try my best to get the word arond that snakes are not evel. I plan to be a herpetologist one you day.  Randy

Evel, didn't he used to jump over buses ?
(that was a joke but at 15 you won't remember him)
What you are doing is good, snakes could do with all the educators and friends they can get.
Good luck with your career plans

mark

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rye on 2003-08-10
hi mark I'm a Candian soldier and was recently in the midle east were I got a saw scaled viper bight on the hand. It was a very interesting expierience for me being my first time at being poisoned. I got though the incedent alright but I would like to know if there are any long term affects a bight from a saw scaled can have . In Canada we don't have a lot of dangerous snakes so the medical world here has litle to no experience in these matters, I'm not learning much that I didn't find out for myself.

If you survived a saw-scale or carpet viper bite you have been very lucky because they can cause renal problems but I dare say you will not experience any further problems. Saw-scale vipers cause many many deaths worldwide but most of the people bitten do not have access to the medical care you were fortunate enough to receive.
I like the way to sum it up as an "interesting experience", rather understated I would say

Mark

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Anonymous on 2003-08-04
Hi Mark.  Interesting site with info from herpers from around the world.  I'm in California, where we have lots of rattlers.  But I come from a different angle than most on your site-- I don't want to encounter venomous snakes in the field.  I am usually out collecting plants, or possibly fossils, and those are my visual cues.  Most likely I won't see a herp (since my mind is on plants) until I am right on it, and that my be too late to control the encounter.  So what is the best way to avoid an encounter, and what is the best protective footwear to wear while hiking in case one absent-mindedly steps on (or near) a rattler?

Many rattlers will warn you with a sound that will certainly wake you from your day-dreaming. It has been said the the rattler's rattle is the only sound that can make a coyote's rectal muscles pucker at 20 paces.
Other than than stout walking boots, snake proof gaiters in thick bush where large rattlesnake species occur and a pair of gloves for turning logs. Gloves will not stop a full on strike but may deflect a glancing blow and in any case they stop your hands giving off your body heat to the snake's thermosensitive pits.
But still your eyes and ears are your best weapons, and go with a friend and a cell phone.

mark


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adz91 on 2003-07-29
Hey Mark just like to say how much you influence me alongside jeff corwin and rob bredl i watch you evry monday and weekend  on Animal planet and your show really rocks.
I know how hard it is to find reptiles around wolverhampton.
aso do u know any web sites where they would have a list of the herps that live in Mallorca cuz im going there and if my venomous or not veomous theory doesnt work i should know weather its venomous any way.Cheers!
Adam...

There are several field guides to the Iberian peninsula which include the Balearic islands that you can find on one of the specialist herp book dealer sites like Bibliomania, Zoo Books, Paul Gritis, JG Books or Steven Simpson or even from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Mark
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adz91 on 2003-07-28
Hey Mark im from wednesfield in Wolverhampton your home town :)
could you tell me any popular sites holding populations of reptiles or amphibians around the area within about 15 miles please email me at clay_kid666@hotmail.com Cheers!:P

Sadly there are not many native populations of herps around the Wolverhampton area due to city expansion although grass snakes may still be found at Baggeridge. There were adder colonies on Cannock and Kinver but they are  big places and the snakes are localised. The Severn valley has many grass snakes. Remember, you cannot collect and keep these snakes, grass snakes do very badly in captivity and adders are covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.

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mick01 on 2003-07-27
dear mark i was wandering if you could tell me where i could view the british adder in the wild as people in my home town have told me they have seem them but as yet i have not seen and i would love to see one.i live in grantham linc uk about 50 miles from sunny skegness if you could email at memmcall@yahoo.co.uk id be very grateful yours mick01

There are adder colonies on heathland and moorland all over England,Wales and Scotland, it is our most widespread species, but they are localised. You need to pick up the New Naturalist Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the British Isles which include maps. There are large colonies of adders in Yorkshire to your north.

Mark

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mick01 on 2003-07-27
dear mark i was just wandering how i could become a voulnteer to study snakes in south america or south east asia with scientists or somebody like yourself if you could please let me know by my email address which is memmcall@yahoo.co.uk thanks alot mick01

Afraid it is not just a case of volunteering. People working as volunteers on such projects have to pay their way and it usually costs several thousand pounds sterling to participate because even volunteer need air tickets and need to eat, and the money also supports the field project. I don't know your age but if you are over 18 you might think of Earthwatch Europe of similar projects, a fuller list might be available from the Expedition Advisory Centre at the Royal Geographical Society in London. I started out by saving all year to do the next expedition and coming back broke but more experienced. I must have participated in at least six long term expeditions before I got to the level where I did not have to fund myself anymore.

mark
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kingofthereptiles on 2003-07-18
i was just wondering how you got into doing what you do, what did you study at university and what did you do to get where you are now????

I did my degree as a mature student with expeditions to Borneo already under my belt. I studied biological sciences in the School of Applied Sciences.
It took me many years to get where I am today, it is not an overnight thing believe me.

mark

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Anonymous on 2003-07-10
I was watching your episode on Russel's Pit vipers in Shri Lanka.  Something occurred to me while watching the show.  There was a moment on the show when your team was nervous about running into a wild elephant.  I don't know if the vipers fangs are tough enough to penetrate the elephant's hide, especially near the foot.  It is quite possible that the elephants in the area are carrying some natural antibodies against the Ressel's Viper venom.  These wild elephants must get bitten all the time.  Even if their hide is too thick around the foot, it probably isn't higher up.  Wouldn't it be interesting if you took some blood from a local elephant, and some of the venom, mixxed them and the blood didn't clot?  In fact, someone should look at the blood of all indigineous life in the area.  Nothing would please me more if this observation helped the people in Shri Lanka deal with this problem.  Please let me know if anything turns up.  I can be reached at quadrivium@comcast.net.

First off, the Russell's viper is true viper, not a pitviper, one of the few true vipers in tropical Asia.
When elephants are in 'must' their hormones are all over the place and it makes them a bit cranky. They regularly kill people they meet when in that condition.
The only snake said to kill elephants is the king cobra delivering a bite to the end of the trunk or the point where the nail of the toe enters the foot.
Elephants just stomp vipers but a rearing, nest-defending cobra is a different matter, except there are no king cobras in Sri Lanka so such encounters take place mostly in Burma.

I can see where you are coming from and it poses an interesting question but you forgot a little problem, it is not easy to get blood from an elephant unless you anaethetise it first, you can hardly hold it down and make soothing cooing sounds in its ear like you might a pet dog.

mark

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blessed on 2003-07-08
mark, I live in southern california,and enjoy catching,releasing and learning about reptiles.I have been hearing about californias rattlesnake antivenom shortage and want to help. I have caught and milked rattlesnakes without injury to me or the snake because of my high respect for all living things.If you could take the time to give me any suggestions I would appriciate it.I know you probably here this all the time, but if you ever need a sidekick that is just as crazy and good at catching reptiles as you, im ready to go.

Antivenom shortages are not only going to occur in California, they are occurring in Africa and Asia, where many people already die of snakebite. The process of making antivenom is a long process and it involved a large number of snakes being kept in a lab. and a stable of horses (or nowaday sometimes sheep) being kept to raise the antivenom. I think I may have outlines the process somewhere on the venomousreptiles.org site sometime ago.
Thanks for the offer, join the queue, good luck herping and don't get bitten, there is an antivenom shortage in CA.

mark

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boams on 2003-07-02
Hi there: I am moving to an area that has A LOT of rattle snakes. Especially this year because we have had a little rain. All my neighbors and pretty much everyone I know kill them. I do not want to kill them but I also don't want them roaming the house or property. I have a four year old, etc. I have a boa and have handled snakes for about 20 years however, I have not handled venomous snakes. I was thinking of getting a hook and a hot box and relocating them. Is it wise and is there a safe way to relocate these rattlers should I come across them on my property. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

If you plan to move snakes get some snake catching gear from Midwest at www.tongs.com or call in a snake expert who is familiar with hot species. If you plan to relocate check the legalities of it first because protected species dropped off in unsuitable terrain are effectively dead already.
take advice from your local Fish and Wildlife dept.

mark

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Anonymous on 2003-07-01
Mr Oshea,

I have seen you a few times on television.
I can see you are a professional with much to offer to the advancement and recognition of the importance of Venomous Snakes. Please take a look at my facility and misson through my Website WWW. SERPENTOXIN.COM

It wouls also be an honor to have you visit us if you are ever in area of North Central Florida.

Lee Moore

Thanks Lee, only just seen your posting. If I am in the area and able to make it I may drop by.
Mark

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Anonymous on 2003-06-29
MARK jesteś znakomity w tym co robisz.lubię oglądać twoje programy.Masz niebezpieczną pracę,nieboisz się ryzyka.Pewnie można się do niego przyzwyczaić.Jesteś popularny w Polsce. Twoje programy są często emitowane w .TV. Zpewnością masz wielu fanów na całym Świecie.Ja się do nich zaliczam .Raczej tego listu nie przeczytasz, więc żałuję że nie znam angielskiego.ale miło mi było wrazić swoją opinię.ELL

Hum ! er ! doh !

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Anonymous on 2003-06-06

W1KK3 on 2003-05-29
Hey Mark,
I'm a huge fan of you (as probably everybody here is).I've been asking everyone(realy everyone) witch hot snake would be good to start with?How to handel it?And what the really inportant things are that I need know about that snake.I think you will know because you've met them all I think :-)
Greetings
Willem (Belgium)

Hi Willem

Not everyone is a fan believe me but that is what makes the world go around. it would be boring if we all liked the same things.
A starter hot snake, try a mangrove snake Boiga dendrophila. It has a long reach, rear-fangs, a big mouth and it WILL bite you but you won't die, just bleed.
It will teach you to get outta the way more quickly.

mark

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Anonymous on 2003-05-24
Hey Mark O'Shea I am Robert. I love
your show and your website.  I live in
Arizona and have 3 snakes one of
which I caught in the wild.  I was
wondering if you could give me some
tips on how to handle Rattlesnakes
without being bitten.  I am starting a
snake removal business for
venomous snakes. But I am only
twelve so I neep some tips. I am
going snake catching today after the
sun goes down and I took a snake
hook, bag, and how to treat a snake
bite.  But i still dont understand how
to be fast enough so the snake can't
bite you.  Well I hope you read this
and answer me because I am your
greatest fan. I hope to meet you one
day too. PLease respond either on
this site or E-mail me back at
Snakeman101AZ@aol.com. Thanx a
bunch your the coolest

hi Robert

Afraid the only way to avoid being bitten by rattlers is not to handle them and even that is not a guarantee. using he tools designed for the job such as Midwest tongs and hooks is a good idea plus a large dustbin. But now, as I read, I see you are only 12 so I recommend you leave 'starting out in the snake removal business' for the older people. Enthusiasm is great but don't let it get you badly bitten. You cannot knowingly dodge a rattlesnake strike, I did once but unknowingly.  It was pure instinct because I was wondering why I had moved my hand like that when the snake hit where my hand had been. That instinct takes years. if you want to meet me one day you must stay healthy and leave venomous snakes until you are much much older. Stick with saving your neighbours from bullsnakes and such like, that will impress the girls well enough.

Mark
--------------------
woodviper on 2003-05-23
Mark O'Shea, I wrote you recently about doing a segment on (C.h.horridus) the Timber rattlesnake, but I'm not sure if
the website furnishes ways to contact the people who write you. I thought I may have heard that your not going to do any segments pertaining to the U.S.
inthe near future, is this true? If by
chance it is only a rumor let me know if your interested in the offer. The friend I spoke of is a biogeologist that
has been catching and marking (distributional survey) Timbers for 30 or more years and is THE eminent authority on them. Whenever any scientific research is started on them it is he who they contact. ABSOLUTELY
nobody has more "field time" with these animals. When Steve Irwin did the US episode on rattlesnakes, it was he who the Irwin's contacted for the Timber piece. You could do a full show on horridus with lots of wild specimens caught on film at numerous den sites. He doesn't know I'm sending you this but he'd surely overwhelm you with information and actual footage. You can contact me via the Speak Out Manager (or
thru the Profile feature) If your interested at all contact me and I will explain in full detail. I am in the Maryland area between Virginia and Pennsylvania.        Sincerely, Snake
(It's really my nickname)

We did a film on timbers so it would be difficult for me to get the company to go for another in the same vein. Even though I have a very soft spot for timbers, they are my favourite rattler. So no immediate plans I'm afraid.

Mark

--------------------
woodviper on 2003-05-21
Mark, If yoyr interested in doing a show on Timber Rattlesnakes please let me know. A close friend of mine is the
absolute TOP authority on they're life cycle,geographical distribution and den
population information. He ABSOLUTELY has spent more time (and seen more) Timber Rattlesnakes (C.h.horridus) than
anyone. You could do a very unique show
on these magnificent creatures. I mean
this in ALL HONESTY. I am writing this
to you 5/21/03 I wouldn't wait very long
because the snakes are outta of the hibernaculum sites and will soon be roaming about their active ranges. If you wish to pursue my offer later in the summer, film footage can still be obtained in the "rookery" areas than the
gestating females cling close too. This
is your chance to film a show with lots of wild actual specimens caught on film.
Again, this is not a joke and you strike me as being more down to earth and professional than "you know who".

I know you are trying to sell this idea to me but sadly we can't run with the idea at the moment.
Thanks for the compliment though.

mark

--------------------

Anonymous on 2003-04-21
Mark,
I love your show and I love all kinds of reptiles esp. snakes, and turtles.
Would you ever do a show on kingsnakes,
hognoses and alligator snapping turtles. I would like to breed snakes someday and be a herpetologist do you have to go to college for this? my email is electricbluescat@earthlink.net if you get a chance.

thanks for your time,
john

hey John I did a show on alli snappers in Louisiana in my 1st Series (Swamp Dinosaur) check our the website www.markoshea.tv for details
Afraid although kingsnakes and hognose snakes are interesting snakes they are not exactly what the broadcaster would consider a 'quest species'. Everyone would be saying, "hey you could have filmed that in my house".

mark
--------------------
Anonymous on 2003-03-12
Tight site Mark. Nice Album portion, finally i can show my family what a gaboon Viper looks like and why I like them so much.

Which site is that ?
I don't think I put a gaboon on www.markoshea.tv because we never had time to get Series 4 on there yet.
--------------------
Anonymous on 2003-02-26
hey,mark...look i want to know if you would some day,do a peace on eastern dimoundback rattlesnakes?there are no large ones left.i live in mississippi,and ive only seen 1.Thanks ransnakeman2002@yahoo.com

Love to, they are very impressive beasts but when we did the three US films in the 1st Series we did one on timbers and doing two on rattlers in the US would have been overkill.
maybe i will get a chance another time.

mark

--------------------

TheSnakeRangler on 2003-02-26
Hey Mark Oshea,
I am a big fan of yours. You are my biggest idol. You have inspired me so much. i am a 13 years old boy who lives in newhampshire and i am into reptiles especially snakes. i have a royal python(ball python)who is 3 yrs. old and his name is king hes about 32'' now. i also have a tokay gecko named gilbert. i know your favorite snake is a king cobra i read it from you website. your website is great. my favorite snake would be the gaboon viper. when i get out of school i hope to pursue my dream by becoming an herpitologist and reptile photographer. do u have any requests on which collage would be best for my career? i order hooks and tongs from the midwest catolog that you do. i love to go looking for snakes in the area i live in.everyone calls me snake boy because i know so much about them .some people make fun of me when they see me walking around with all my snake gear, but this is my passion. my sister thinks its a great career for me. sometimes she'll even come with me to take pictures of the snakes i catch as long as they don't come too close to her. maybe i can send u some of the pictures sometime. i love your book on snakes of papua new guinea. please read this and write back.
sincerly,
kevin snook

Kevin

My favourite snake used to be gaboon vipers but meeting the female king cobra in India stole the show for me.
I am in the UK so i don't know the US colleges but I do know that the US has some of the worlds best herpetologists on the staffs of its universities so aim to go to uni. when you are older and you will be surprised about the world it opens up for you. You can even specialise in herpetology in US universities a bachelor degree level but you can't in the UK.
Don't worry about wasters ragging you about your interest, your sister is right, you could make your interest your career and make your living doing something you really enjoy while those guys who laughed at you are working 9-5 in a factory and hating it (no offence to any herpers who work in a factory, you know where I'm going with this). And concentrate on learning your photograph. Why don't you get your best shots onto the photo album part of this website Good luck

--------------------
Mark

jacobwallace on 2003-02-19
hi I am 12 almost 13 and i want to be a herpetologyst would you please tell me the best way to recieve my education for herpetology at my age.

Well Jacob Wallace, I guess you must be 13 almost 14 now - sorry about the long delay in this reply, I did not even know these questions were here for me to answer.
At your age a general knowledge of sciences, eps. biology is what you need and as you get older at college pick up chemistry and then biochemistry if you want to work on venoms or Spanish or Portuguese if you want to do fieldwork in S.America. Just work heard, get good results and aim for university.

mark
--------------------
Hamadryad on 2003-02-15
I have watched your shows and am concerned about your use of Pinning with snake hooks and use of snake tongs.
I am sure you know what your doing but many years of handling venomous serpents has taught me enough to recognize that these cretures are just too dang delicate to be treated the way you treat em.I dont know how many have "ended" in your three fingered grip but follow a sample of critters that have passed thru your pinning, for a week and you will know what i mean.
I am an advocate of freehandling and Tailing I think snake tongs are the most abusive implements created....
hope you note this as an informed opinion on the observations of your show and please do not view this as criticism.
I think you are doing a great job of being an ambassador for reptilians.

I am sure you will not mind if I say I disagree with you. I have never injured a snake when pinning it. If you watch carefully you may see that often I use the soft handle of the hook to actually pin the snake's neck. As for following them for a few weeks, how does keeping them in captivity for years compare. We have cobras, rattlesnakes and many other venomous snakes in the Safari Park collection that are pinned often enough to prove my point, without any ill effects. Indeed 'Standing Order for Health and Safety' prohibit freehandling there. in addition all the venomous snakes that paul Rowley milks at the L'pool School of Tropical Medicine are pinned, they don't freehandle, and all their valuable serpents live long lives and produce lots of venom.
And I very rarely freehandle venomous snakes on camera because as you can see from this site, there are many youngsters who want to be like me. I don't want any of them getting bitten just because I want to prove to the world I can freehandle (take it as written that I can). I rarely use tongs and tend to reserve them for snakes in trees or snakes in deep bush where escape is likely, but when I do use them I use the new Gentle Giants from Midwest. I wonder, would you advice someone to freehandle mambas ?

--------------------
Anonymous on 2003-02-14
can you or anyone,please tell me if there are any snakes in cuba,and wich ones ?

There are lots of snakes in Cuba but not front-fanged venomous ones (ie. no pitvipers or coralsnakes). The Cuban boa is the largest snake in the Caribbean if you rule out common boas and anacondas in Trinidad, which is more S.America than W.Indies despite the fact they play cricket.
there are several excellent guides to the herps of the W.Indies if you check amazon or the book dealers I mentioned earlier.

mark
--------------------
diablomusica on 2003-01-27
Hello Mr. O'Shea I was wondering if you know anything about the Papuan Tree Boa? I have been searching the web and cannot find anything on this snake. I love your show. my name is Phil. you could email me at slayergram1@excite.com

By Papuan tree boa do you mean Candoia carinata which has now been split into three species, two of which occur in New Guinea.
Obviously I would suggest you obtain my own book on the subject
O'Shea M. 1990 A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea. Independent Pub. xii+239. (available from Zoo Books,Eric Thiss)

and there are also several other useful papers
Timmis W.H. 1969 Observations on Pacific boas Candoia spp. at Sydney Zoo.International Zoo Yearbook 9:53
Jacobs P. 1990 Things worth knowing about Candoia carinata carinata and C.c.paulsoni. Litteratura Serpentium 10(2):179-180
Wynn A.H. & G.R.Zug 1985 Observations on the reproductive biology of Candoia carinata (Serpentes, Boidae. The Snake 17:15-24
Harlow P. & R.Shine 1992 Food habits and reproductive biology of the Pacific Island boas (Candoia). Journal of Herpetology 26(1):60-66
Smith H.M., D.Chiszar, K.Tepedelen & F.van Breukelen 2001 A revision of the bevel-nosed boas (Candoia carinata carinata) (Reptilia: Serpentes). Hamadryad 26(2):283-315

Hope this helps.

Mark

--------------------
Anonymous on 2003-01-22
i need info on black momba

assuming you mean black mamba
there are loads of excellent books on East and Southern Africa with all the information you could need plus there is a specialist black mamba website if you search for it

mark

--------------------
Grayi on 2003-01-19
Hi MArk. fIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR  all the great things you are doing, For sharing thw world your passion for these amazing reptiles. To teach people about these animals for conservation and not just to show off. You are very right that education is the key.
I watched one of your episodes that you went here in the Philippines to look for DRacos right? In one of your scened yuo saw a white viper right? I cant remeber what viper is that, is it a Wagler's or a Mcgregor?
Also, have you hear about the Grays monitor lizard or the Butaan Lizard im sure you knew about them. Hope you can read this soon and answer back. More power and keep it alive.

thanks for the compliments, I am blushing, see !
It was McGregor's pitviper, Batanes are out side the range of Wagler's pitviper.
Grays monitor is a partially vegetation monitor and there is an excellent book on them by the late Walter Auffenberg who also wrote books on the Bengal monitor and Komodo dragon.
We hoped to make a film about Grays monitor but various people blocked our permissions so that was that.

mark

--------------------
Gatorgirl on 2002-12-31
Hey Mark!
I love your show and watch it every chance I get. You've taught me a lot. I'm planning to me a herpetologist. (i'm 15 now.) But if their's any info, (if you have time and get a chance) you could send me on snakes. Or I'd LOVE 2 get your a signed picture. ROCK ON!!!
-Ashley T.
my email's gatorcrazy1987@yahoo.com if you get a chance. :D

Dear Ashley

My advice is study hard and read everything you can. It is good to see more and more female herpers coming along. The US has some first class lady herpetologists in its universities, Martha Crump and Margaret Stewart to name just two, and there are loads more.
As for the signed picture, happy to obligue but I will need an address to send it too.
DO NOT post your address on here, send it to the webmaster Chris Harper so he can let me know and I will mail you a signed postcard (I bet my postal bill is going to go through the roof now)

mark

--------------------
Anonymous on 2002-12-26
sorry mark didnt mean 2 b anonymous. u think the anaconda is dangerous, obviously it never encountered me, i spit with the best.xx

lost me there I'm afraid, anacondas would be very dangerous in deep water, unless you can swim with 2-3 times your own weight wrapped around you. I know I can't .

Mark
--------------------
Anonymous on 2002-12-26
hey mark
is it true u r curator of the west midlands safari park, fancy u 2 death see u there xxx

Yes I am but I am more Consultant Curator there now die to other commitments, Matt Swatman is Curator. As the rest of the email,thanks, even though it was 18 months ago.

--------------------

spanky on 2002-12-25
Hey Mr. O'shea: My name is Fabian Ihrke, I love all your shows, I was wondering if you could tell me about some of your storys about your snake bites, Also would it be poss. to get a signed photo of you.? Fabian Ihrke, 30 cr 3101 Booneville Ms. 38829 Thanks and keep up the graet work.


Fabian, sorry don't have time for story telling at the moment but I'm hoping your still at that address because I'm going to mail you a signed card early next week

mark
--------------------

Anonymous on 2002-12-07
Mark would it be possible to have a raffle to join one of your shows? Being I'm left handed I would give my right arm to go on one of your nature outings. What's great about your show is your explanation's about the subject your dealing with.

nice idea but not sure what the insurance company would say about it, we have to work as a pretty tight team and sadly have not been able to take passengers, even very helpful, willing, useful ones.
Mark


--------------------

kaczor on 2002-11-11
hello my name is markus my hotmail is zenan_87@hotmail.com can you lern me about snakes??

bye

Markus, I think you should start by getting a good book on snakes such as Chris  Mattison's Encyclopedia of Snakes and take it from there.

mark

--------------------

HARLEY1 on 2002-10-22
THIS IS DIRECTLY TO MR.OSHEA,ALL OF THESE GOOD FOLK'S RESPECT YOU,WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SOUTH COROLINA LAW THAT MAY GO INTO EFFECT,AS I STATED ON THAT POST I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA!AS I SAID,I WENT THRU AN APPRENTICING STAGE TO GAIN MY FALCONRY LICENSE,DO YOU FEEL IT WOULD BE A BAD THING FOR FUTURE HERPER'S TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE THRU APPRENTICING??I ALSO HAVE HOT HERP'S.  THANKS (REG)HARLEY1


Reg, I don't know anything about the South Carolina law but i hope you will excuse my ignorance because I live in England, where we have our own problems being allowed to keep herps.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, I respect you guys too

mark
--------------------

blackmomba on 2002-09-22
not to be blowing you off or anything.
SORRY BUT IT IS FAKE ISNT IT???!!!

What is ?
Big Adventure Number One Golden Rule - No Setups
and that means no choreographed captures, no retakes if I mess up or the camera misses it.
Not its not fake, thats why I sometimes fail to find what I'm looking for, its  real life.
Okay

--------------------

blackmomba on 2002-09-22
Its all fake just like all of the others.Forget it all its a waist of time
While its on go look for snakes.

I'M NOT JOKING!

Suit yourself, stay ignorant (by the way the correct spellings are 'mamba' and 'waste')

--------------------

Anonymous on 2002-09-19
Hello,
Mark your show is great. I have a problem. I live close to Pittsburg PA. I was wounder if I could milk venomous snakes in my area, Copperhead and Timberattlers and sell their venom to hospitals. If this is posible how much money could I make and how would i go about doing this. I would really appreciate it if you could send me any information that you can about this. Please send me an e-mail at smoker25k@msn.com

Sincerely,
Adam Grunsky

Dear Adam

the answer is a loud NO
Hospitals don't want venom, they need antivenom which is produced using clean venom in measured amounts that is injected into horses that produce antibodies over time and are then bled to produce 2litres of blood, which is then centrifuged to separate the antibodies in the plasma from the red cells which are given back to the horses next time, the plasma then being purified and treated in several laboratory processes, and then dried and put into little bottles marked antivenom.
So you can see, hospitals dont want venom and the US venom labs probably have all the US snakes they need.

mark
--------------------
Charper on 2002-09-03
Mark's answers can be viewed in the articles section of this website.  No more posts will be answered for now.

webmaster

--------------------

ChipC on 2002-09-01
Hi,  First id like to say I love your PNG book.  It is one of my favorite books i got on herps.  Second great show.  Right now Im goin to the University of Arizona for herpetology.  My email is skipc8384@hotmail.com email me if you have time id love to ask you some more questions that i dont think id have the room for to write in this.

thanks for your time,
chip cochran

thanks for the remarks

mark

--------------------

casabela28 on 2002-08-28
Hi ,
Mark just want you to know your are doing a great job. You are one of the best herpers out there.You are my #1
personal favorate. Your exact line of
work is what I've been studying ,practicing and teaching all
my life .I'v whatched all your shows at least 5 times .You are the reason i'm going to college to become a first class field biologigt.Be safe and keep filming we are all behind you and your work.God Bless You .

signed,
the #1 admirer of your type of work.     Andy Vanover

Well Andy, it seems my films may be producing a new crop of biologists and herpetologists and that is a legacy to be proud of.
Good luck to you

Mark

--------------------
bitisatrox on 2002-08-20
HI, your doing and excellent job and keep up all the good work.
hope you come out with a video/DVD line of your shows soon I'll buy them all!!!
just wanted you to know your one for the few people that I really look up to in this world and admire...
I think without your shows and books I would not have come to appreciate wild reptiles as much as I do these days.....
So keep doing what you you do and stay safe, theres no body like you (as much as some of us would like to be).
be carefull and keep up the good work!!!

later,
Tyler Culnan
anubispostalservice@yahoo.com

thanks Tyler but sorry no dvds or videos, the broadcaster did not consider there was a market large enough to make it worthwhile for them.
I am disappointed because I would like to see them on the shelves in the Discovery Store.

mark
--------------------
SouthernEmma on 2002-08-19
Mr. O'Shea,
Just wanted to let you know that you are an inspiration to young and old herpers alike, and as a beginner herpetologist, I learn a great deal from your show and field guide.  Thanks and God bless!       --Emily Roberson
e-mail-hotsouthernemma@yahoo.com

Thank you Emily, I am pleased to know my films and books have inspired you.
mark
--------------------
lancehead on 2002-08-16
hey mark,
i just wanted to say that i really enjoyed your shows.  you do a great job on promoting how spectacular the reptile world is.  i also want to thak you for doing the bulk of your shows trying to discover rare reptiles and their behaviors.  theres been a few shows that if i hadnt seen i wouldnt know about that animal so thanks.  im only 16 and love the thrill of catching and learning about reptiles.  your one of the people who encourage me. thank you.  good luck on your future journeys!

andrew ward

Andrew, thanks for your comments

mark

--------------------
bobby_neal on 2002-08-15
Hey, just thought I'd drop a line and
say that I enjoy the reality of your
show...
--------------------
At the SSAR meeting in Kansas
City, Kansas during the first week of
July I got a king cobra shirt that Dr.
Renata Platenberg (Slow-worm lady) had
put up for auction that she got from
you that you put up for auction at the
Herp 3rd World Congress....  Anyway, at
the next SSAR
or SWAN meeting etc, I'll be putting it
back up for auction along with the
photo of you and Renata with the shirt
and the pic of me and Renata with the
shirt... Hopefully it'll continue to be
put up on the auction block and raise
some money....

My question to you is how difficult is
it to juggle and manage between
research for publications etc and TV
shows etc... Is there any overlap, or
are they two totally separate issues
for you?  (I myself have a hard enough
time managing between herp surveys and
other school work and research etc...)

Bobby Neal
webmaster@snakesandstuff.com \

hi Bobby

I seem to remember this post from before
Did the t-shirt sell again ?
because TV takes up so much time in a year my own research, my own life, tends to be put on hold for the duration.
I miss PNG and working on that country's herps and various others of my personal non-filming projects.

--------------------
KingCobraFan on 2002-08-15
Hi, Mark:
Just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoy your TV shows, especially the black mamba one with Don Strydom and the Revenge of the Cobra. Any chance of O'Shea's Big Adventure t-shirts? I'd certainly buy a couple. Anyway, keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Bill Huseth

So far no t-shirts but maybe ECO might consider one someday

--------------------
TAIPAN78 on 2002-08-15
Hello Mark,
Wow, what an oppirtunity.  First off, as many have already done, let me express my graitude for produceing such a realistic and fact filled show. I try to catch every episode I can and enjoy it much more then the others which have over run the Animal Planet.(However, I also enjoy Steve's show from time to time, when his wife isnt envoloved)

Secondly, let me also give gratitude for your book, A feild Guide to Snakes of PNG.  I have scrolled through that book hundreds of times and never get tired of the pictures and content.  By far the best guide to this little known area I have ever read(and the only book for the area I have ever read:-)

Now, on to my questions.  Firstly, if posible, could you give me your take on the PNG P.australis? We forum users have had the oppirtunity to hear the current thinking from some other top leading athuorities(Wolfgang Wuster, David Williams and to a much lesser extent, Ray Hoser. Also, many private herpicultureist who have and do keep both animals) on the situation and most seem to belive that it is indeed a different sp or atleast a sub species of P.australis. What do you belive? After looking at the pictures you provide in your book of animals from both locals, I would have to also agree that they appear to be differnt but then again, im no profesional herpitoligist(as im sure you can tell from my spelling:-)

Secondly, outa curiosty, what would you consider your favorite venomous reptile? Personaly, I am a huge fan of Oxyuranus but am forced to veiw the lifes of these magnificant snakes through publications such as yours and TV shows from various people, along with account from other herpicultureist and proffesionals. What has been your experince with the 2 sp and PNG/IJ ssp?

Lastly, have you ever gave thought to teaming up with any hobbiest or naturlist with a profond knowledge of certin hard to find or rare sp here state side? If so, what about doing a show on the red phase Sisturus miliaris miliaris found only in 3 counties of Eastern North Carolina? I know just the guy for the job:-)(and no, its not me)

Well Mark, I hope you can find time to answer some or all of these questions and I egarly await your next TV show.

Thanks for your time and continue the great work!

All the best,
Jeremy Geffert, Hot herp Hobbiest

Hi Jeremy

First Wolfgang and David are the authorities
The actual ident of the P.australis in my book has not been fully confirmed yet, these large elapids in New Guinea need further study by professional academic herpetologists so I'm afraid the jury is still out.
I've caught quite a number of PNG taipans and they have been fun but the king cobra is the top snake for me.
We did do 3 films in the US in the 1st series but most US herpers want to see foreign species, not those on their doorsteps and Animal Planet is a US based company don't forget.

mark

--------------------
newggtongs on 2002-08-14
Hello,
Let me just take this opportunity to say thank you for making a REAL herpetological show!
That said, I'll tell you a bit about myself. I Live in S.W. Florida where I work for Mark Bell, (one of the largest herp breeders in the country).
You probably saw his tables at the herp show in Datona last year.
I am planning to go on a ten-day herping expedition to S. Africa this October in search of mambas. Should be fun! :-)
Well, I just want to say that you are doing a great job.
Hey, I would make a great side-kick, what do you say?
Just kidding. :-D
One question:
When can we expect a line of Mark O'Shea products? Maybe snake hooks and grab sticks, beard trimmers or even a line of your trademark green hats!
No? Well, then just keep making your great herp shows.
Good luck!
- Darren Maslach
e-mail- EDConf@aol.com

O'Shea products, only the O'Shea snake hook from Midwest
no plans for O'Shea lines of sweatshirts, shoes or even beard trimmers (let it grow wild I say)

--------------------

HELERI on 2002-08-14
Hello Mr. O'shea!  Do you/have you played a musical instrument?

I have had this one before for sure, no i don;t
--------------------
Langaha on 2002-08-13
Hey Mark! What an opportunity. I am a 19 year old herper from Missouri, it's guys like you that inspire me to study snakes and herpetology for a living. I go snake hunting quite often, and have captured or relocated dozens of snakes already this summer.(mostly copperheads). Believe it or not, that is the snake that I have found more than any other colubrid. I had an extremely good day the other day and found a large adult speckled kingsnake, well needless to say, I kept it. What a beautiful snake when viewed up close. I heard you came to Missouri, near Kansas City to search for Timber Rattlers not too long ago, however was unsuccessful. Don't feel too bad, because I have yet to find one in this part of Missouri. Well I hope to make a career of this just as you have, no matter what route I may have to take to do so. Having your own show to educate and entertain others with, would be the ultimate honor. Without a degree, is there any particular facit of a job in herpetology you could recommend? I'm not sure if you even are going to be able to reply to these posts. To finish, just thought I would say keep up the awesome work, and your an inspiration to many amatuer herpers out there. If you ever want to catch an osage copperhead, I find them nightly around here, swing by and we'll herp. Good luck in your travels! ---Anthony Adams
e-mail- herpstudy@hotmail.com

Anthony, a happy herper it sounds like. A degree is usually necessary for fieldwork buy not to work on local conservation projects and your timbers could do with that if they eventually  turn up

mark

At last I've reached the end of 12 pages of questions, phew