Wildlife Education

Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake

Bear — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:16:54 +0000

Arianna Bailey relocated this big EDB twice from her yard into the forest. It returned after the first relocation then decided to stay away the second time. EDBs are pretty laid back unless messed with, I have come across several in the wild and around my home, even stepping over one, most didnt even rattle.

FACT: Most EDB bites are caused by people attempting to catch them by hand or stepping on them. A true statistic is, the majority of EDB bites are to young drunk males.

Gator Kiss

Bear — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:02:00 +0000

Do not do this at home…. or anywhere else. This my friend Arianna with an obviously well fed alligator. She has performed many shows, knows how to “read” gator behavior and has lightening fast reflexes. She also realizes she could get new unwanted piercings.

Big bear visit

Bear — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:07:22 +0000

This is a very big black bear at a friends home, note the size of the boat, pool and pic-a-nic table compared to the bear.

Crocodile monitor (Varanus salvadori)

Bear — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:21:46 +0000

Sorry the picture quality is bad.

These large lizards are one of my favorite species. They are the longest lizards in the world and very arboreal, the Komodo dragon is the heaviest lizard and mostly terrestrial. The croc monitor on the tree is 10 feet long, most of the length is tail, this helps balance them while climbing from tree to tree. The croc monitor can be very aggressive and the bite and claws can cause serious wounds. Their mouth can open very wide and the teeth are long and sharp for puncturing bird feathers however they will pursue small mammals as well. The teeth of croc monitors are double edged and flat like a knife, not conical.

This CM was named “Norman” after the main character in the movie “psycho” because of his aggressive behavior, he would attack on sight and pursue me and my partner, he was successful in biting my partner.

Peninsular cooter turtle

Bear — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:50:47 +0000

My daughter Dani and I with a really big Peninsular cooter turtle that was crossing my driveway after laying her eggs.

My girls Annie (red head) and Danielle “Dani”

Bear — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:45:50 +0000

They go with me sometimes on bear calls

Bear work up for release

Bear — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:41:35 +0000

The procedure for “working up” a bear for release involves measuring, weighing, temperature taking, lip tattoo, and hair sample taken.

Lip tattoo number corresponds with ear tag number

On site bear release

Bear — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:10:32 +0000

This bear was not the bear that was to be caught. So I “on site” release him which means no work up (tagging , tattooing etc.) just open the door and release him. I was alone so no pics of him running away, I was paying attention to make sure he did not charge me.

Big Al

Bear — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:00:00 +0000

My friend Jamie Pastika needed a alligator for his zoo in minnesota, The RAD Zoo. We caught this 11′4, 700 pound gator located in a small pond, he is between 80 and a 100 years old. Gators this big are considered threats to humans in most populated areas and would be killed. But this one received a huge new home on exhibit in Jamie’s zoo, the zoos reptiles are housed in a 14,000 sqr foot building.

Jamie Pastika

I think hes right here lol

A friend continued to take pics of the catch but Im waiting on them.

I had to put the camera down so we could catch him, me with Big Al.

Big Al 9 months later doing great,he has gained a little length too

looks like a dino

Night visitor

Bear — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:44:10 +0000

This beautiful female bear was caught on a motion detection cam checking out a patio. Pet food was on the patio and was the attractant in this case. The home owner was given bear information and warned of the wildlife attractant laws, the problem was rectified.