Tag Archives: reptile

Episode 7: A Conversation with Bob Ferguson



Hello again everyone!  Episode Seven features a conversation I had with Bob Ferguson, recorded in the New Jersey Pine Barrens last month.  I got to spend some time in the field with Bob and he was nice enough to spend an hour or so putting down the interview.  In the photo, Bob is on the left with me and Nate Nazdrowicz, taken at Snake Road in southern Illinois (back in the days when we could be in close proximity).  In our conversation we talked about herping in both local and exotic locations, adventure travel, and we also touched on Bob’s calendar project.  Bob’s been to some awesome places on the planet and it was fun to hear him talk about it.  I think Bob’s energy and passion come shining through in this episode – he’s a pleasure to talk with and a heckuva nice guy.

You can find out more about Bob via his social media channels:

www.fascinature.net – lots of Bob’s photos and other cool stuff

And he also has a Fascinature channel on YouTube.

On Instagram he is @bob_ferguson_fascinature

Thanks for coming on the show, Bob, and as always, thanks for listening everyone!  Next week we’ll be underwater, so dress appropriately!

The show email is somuchpingle@gmail.com, and there’s also a So Much Pingle group on Facebook, for discussion, comments, feedback, suggestions, herp confessions, tips for herping better, etc.

Stay tuned for more episodes! And don’t forget to herp better!

-Mike

 


Episode 5: From the Golden Age of Snake Hunting



Hello everyone, and welcome to Episode Five!  In this episode I talk with Peter Mooney, a birder, world traveler, and herper from the era when it was called “snake hunting”.  A New Jersey native, Mr. Mooney served his country in Vietnam, and afterwards he spent time in teaching school in Jasper County, South Carolina.  Along the way he knew many of the old-school east coast herpers.

I’ve spent time with Pete in Peru and in Cuba (he’s on the far left in the photo, taken in Havana) and I’ve gotten to know him a bit. I heard some great stories from Pete about snake hunting in the old days, in both the New Jersey Pine Barrens and in the Okeetee area of South Carolina, and I knew I wanted to get him on the show.

I’m know many of you out there are are familiar with the works of Carl Kauffeld and Richard Bartlett, but since they are all out-of-print works that can be hard to find, I will list them here for those who haven’t read them yet – these books carry the essence of the old-time snake-hunting days.

Bartlett, Richard D.  In Search of Reptiles and Amphibians.  Published by EJ Brill, 1988.

Kauffeld, Carl F. Snakes: The Keeper and the Kept. Doubleday, 1969

Kauffeld, Carl F. Snakes and Snake Hunting. Hanover House, 1957.

All three are available from used book specialists (I like AbeBooks).

Thanks for coming on the show, Pete, and as always, thanks for listening everyone! The show email is somuchpingle@gmail.com, and there’s also a So Much Pingle group on Facebook, for discussion, comments, feedback, suggestions, herp confessions, tips for herping better, etc.

Stay tuned for more episodes! And don’t forget to herp better!

-Mike