Since the age of 8, I’ve had an interest in snakes as well as other reptiles. Who do I thank for this pursuit? Probably, I’d have to mention the influence of my step-mother above all others. Was she a snake-lover? Absolutely not! She was a self-proclaimed expert on all subjects, but had an irrational, contrived fear of snakes. She delighted in shrieking in disgust whenever seeing a snake or any animal looking like the slithery reptile. In fairness, she grew up in an area of the country with an abundance of snakes and, I’m sure, learned this fear and hate courtesy of her parents. And that’s the way most people learn to fear any animal or other unknown item...[for more, read my About page]