A Wildlife Field Journal

Where science meets
wild wonder

From Ball Pythons to baby alligators — documenting close encounters with reptiles and wildlife, told through story, science, and a decade of curiosity.

View the Gallery Why Snakes Matter
6+
Encounters
4+
Species
10+
Years Exploring
NC
Home Base

The Collection

Recent Encounters

Touching a Ball Python at age 8 Photo
Ball Python Constrictor

First Contact with a Python

Python regius

The moment it all began — age 8, reaching out to touch a coiled Ball Python and feeling zero fear, only fascination. That curiosity never left.

July 26, 2014 Read story →
Holding a juvenile American Alligator Photo
American Alligator Crocodilian

Holding a Juvenile Gator

Alligator mississippiensis

It fit in two hands and weighed almost nothing — but those eyes already carried the ancient intelligence of a 37-million-year lineage.

December 29, 2018 Read story →
Video
Snake Video

October 2023 Field Encounter

Species TBD

Documented live in the field — the behavior, the movement, the impossible elegance of a creature with no limbs navigating its world with total mastery.

October 15, 2023 Watch video →
View All Encounters →
Young naturalist holding a juvenile alligator

Everglades, December 2018

The Naturalist

From Eagle Scout to
Junior Curator

Growing up in North Carolina with a fascination for anything that slithers, crawls, or bites — I turned that curiosity into hands-on science. From setting up exhibits at the State Museum of Natural Sciences to handling exotic live animals, every encounter deepens the story.

Eagle Scout Junior Museum Curator CPR Certified NC Research Presenter 1st Dan Black Belt
More About Me →

Education

Why You Should Care
About Snakes

"Snakes are incredibly important for keeping rodent populations in check, making them highly beneficial to have around environments like Apex, NC."
🌿

Ecosystem Balance

Without snakes, rodent populations would surge — devastating crops, spreading disease, and destabilizing entire food webs.

🤝

Low-Maintenance Pets

Species like Ball Pythons are quiet, require no daily walks, and develop a calm, mutual trust with their keepers over time.

♾️

Ancient Symbolism

Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a serpent engagement ring — snakes symbolize eternity, love, and rebirth across cultures.

🔬

Medical Science

Snake venom has led to breakthroughs in blood pressure medication, pain relief, and cancer research.

Explore the Science →

Apex, North Carolina

Encounter a Snake in the Wild?

Local to the Raleigh–Apex area? You might find Eastern Rat Snakes, Eastern Kingsnakes, or Garter Snakes in your yard. Admire from a distance — or contact a certified professional for safe relocation.

Know Your Local Species →