Chris, Cassie, and George discuss one of Chris' favorite snakes, the Bullsnake. You'll learn all about these fantastic snakes, including just about everything you need to know before you add one to your family, from enclosure requirements to prey size, to dealing with lots and lots of poop. Give it a listen and find out What's Herpenin.

In this short episode, Chris, Cassie, and George discuss the paper Intense Sociability in a “Non-Social” Snake (Python regius), recently published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. They discuss the research, its meaning, and its potential implications. This research suggests that we may have been missing a significant aspect of these snakes' lives because of human bias. They also call for all reptile keepers to keep an open mind as new research is released and to avoid a dogmatic attachment to old ideas.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/social-snake-study-1.7383730

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385558565_Intense_sociability_in_a_non-social_snake_Python_regius

In this episode of What's Herpenin'?, George, Cassie and Chris talk to Crystal and Seth from New York’s Prehistoric World Reptile Zoo. We dive into a variety of pressing issues within the reptile community, including challenges faced by exotic pet owners and the complexities of animal welfare laws. We also discuss the controversial euthanization of Peanut the Squirrel and the Zoo’s experiences with New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation.

Crystal and Seth also share some amusing anecdotes about beginner reptile owners, including unusual first pets like green anacondas and the growth of reptile appreciation in upstate New York. They discuss the role of reptile expos and the rise of reptiles as family pets, with more people embracing these animals as fascinating companions rather than fearsome creatures. The episode wraps up with a discussion on mentorship in the reptile community, the benefits of learning about pet reptiles through hands-on experiences like "zookeeper for a day," and the need for honest dialogue about reptile care challenges.

Prehistoric World Reptile Zoo website https://www.prehistoricworld.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrehistoricWorldNY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prehistoricworldzoo
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YouTube: https://youtube.com/@prehistoricworld