I received the following questions from students in a conservation class at North Carolina State University.

Q. What is the most significant change you’ve observed in the way people perceive alligators and other reptiles now versus when you began your career?

A. When I first became interested in herpetology as a kid, alligators had declined because of overhunting for pelts and gator meat to the point that they were a rarity in most parts of their range. I did not see an alligator in the wild until I was in graduate school, although I lived in Alabama and Louisiana, where they are native. Most people probably thought of them as exotic creatures that could be found in Florida wildlife preserves or purchased as babies at roadside stands. People were complacent about their being killed at random by anybody and were unaware or unconcerned they could become extinct in the wild. They became federally protected in 1967.

Q. Many of my relatives who live in rural North Carolina will kill any snake they see on their land. What have you found is the best way to communicate with people who are scared of reptiles or kill them on sight?

A. Giving a talk to kids and adults about snakes, with live snakes as props, is the most effective approach I know. Popular articles and field guides that present snakes in a positive light and emphasize their role in our natural heritage also help diminish a deep-seated, learned attitude. Over the last 50 years I have identified hundreds of snakes. At the beginning, most had been killed. In recent years most of them have been alive and either described or photographed. Ophidiophobia is a cultural phenomenon and not an innate fear.

Q. How might climate change and sea level rise impact alligator habitats in the southern/eastern part of the country?

A. Alligator eggs, which are laid on land, will not survive in a nest that has been flooded by seawater. Coastal populations will have to make adjustments about where they lay their eggs. Alligators can survive in brackish water but spend most of their time in freshwater habitats, so changes in salinity will affect where they live.

Q. What made you decide to study reptiles like alligators instead of other kinds of animals?

A. The excitement of dealing with the unknown and growing up in a family that was supportive of my pursuing the passion.

Q. Growing up on the Outer Banks I had a couple of encounters with alligators in my neighborhood. Personally, I try to stay as far away from them as I can! Through your own lifelong interests, what inspired you to give these guys a chance to learn more about them?

A. I am aware that I will never win a hand-to-mouth match against a big alligator, and your plan to stay away from them is a good one. But in the spirit of adventure, and a little foolhardiness, I thought learning how they live would be exciting. It was a risk I felt was worth taking for the benefit of seeing how another animal lives, behaves and thinks.

Q. What are the greatest conservation challenges facing amphibians and reptiles today?

A. The three most critical threats to almost all wildlife today are habitat loss from suburban development, expanding agriculture and deforestation. Wetland loss from a variety of causes is also a continuing problem. Poaching of wild animals and illegal sales for the pet trade continue to have a major impact on some species. In certain situations the biggest problem is the politicians who are more interested in unmitigated development than in preserving natural habitats—an attitude that often reflects that of their donors.

Q. What is it like working with deadly animals where one mistake could kill you?

A. Probably akin to being an electrician, firefighter, or police officer, as well as other professions in which people constantly face risk-benefit decisions.

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