Herper of the Month |
| December
2007 |
| Kyle
Loucks |
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"Growing
up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, when there were still farms
and woods, I could always be found turning rocks or trudging through
streams in search of anything that moved. I happened across the
book “The Snake Lovers Diary” in my elementary school library
and from then on, I wanted to write my own herp stories. I read
all I could about Kauffeld, Conant, Ditmars, Pinney et al. and
owe a lot of my herp knowledge to those early pioneers. I have
been keeping records of my herping exploits since at least the
early 80s and will one day make a compilation of my own, with
credits going to the many fine herpetologists I have met along
the way." |
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"I have
enjoyed watching the ups and downs of the “herp industry” and
I would always be thrilled when I saw that green or yellow dealer
list in my mailbox. Those breeders and dealers gave me much
exposure to animals I could only see in those early books. Folks
like Bob Assetto, George Whitfield, Ernie Eison and Jay Jacoby
have also been valued as friends and great resources over the
years." |
|
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"Field
herping has always been my favored passion and living about an
hour’s drive of the Pennsylvania Mountains and the New Jersey
Pine Barrens has provided me with a great diversity of species.
Seeing a Pine Snake or spotted turtle (or any species that matter)
in it's natural environs continues to be a thrill. Reptile and
Amphibian “demographics” has been one aspect of the hobby that
has been intriguing and ties together my foray into map collecting.
I am also weather “geek”…. Go figure." |
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"Now
in my early 40s, I enjoy camping, Christian music, playing one of
my 9 guitars and vacationing with my family. I am married with great
4 kids I still live within 5 miles of where I grew up. The area
has changed but I still need not go far to get my herpin fix. My
very understanding and supportive wife of 20 years tolerates and
almost enjoys my modest herp collection and still wishes me “good
luck” when I’m leaving the house at 4 am to go herping. My kids
enjoy flippin with me and when I tell them to put it back the way
they find it, they’re always saying “we know, we know”. My daughter
is the one usually yelling at me when the rock or log is not put
back perfectly." |
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"The
Internet and Field Herp Forum have opened up a wealth of information.
I enjoy learning new things from the guys on FHF and my friends
in the Northeast Chapter of NAFHA as well as letting others learn
from my experiences. Photography has been my latest challenge and
I will always maintain that I am a herper who takes pictures not
a photographer. I do get a lot of advice from the great posts and
the many new friends I have made through FHF and would like to thank
everyone for the great community FHF it has provided." |
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Scott Waters Productions
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