I haven't entirely sworn off of exotics. I still have a pet project of 0.0.6 Sheltopusiks [European Legless Lizards] that I'm hoping to breed and I kept a fair number of other exotic odds and ends [4 Ball Pythons, 3 African House Snakes, a JCP, my Taiwan and Blue Beauty Snakes, some Plated Lizards {3 species}, and last but not least a Blue-tongue Skink] - However, to answer your question - I had gotten myself into a postage stamp type collection that seemed to have little direction and was composed of a lot of animals that I seemed to acquire through adoptions and in some cases poorly conceived whims. I seemed to be lacking any direction and frankly I just wasn't interested anymore in a lot of what I was keeping. Interestingly enough, for Christmas my brother gave me a copy of 'Snakes of the Southeast' by Whit Gibbons and Mike Dorcas [I used to live in the Deep South - my brother still does, poor guy]. Anyway, that book singlehandedly showed me how incredibly diverse our own species are here in the U.S.. Also, I liked the idea of concentrating on snakes that I could also go out and collect myself, or merely observe and photograph - something that is all but impossible for me to do when talking about African, or Asian species for example. Also, I have a strong interest in education and conservation and turning my attentions to herps in my own backyard appeals to me a lot more. Anyway, when so many people seem to be so focused on the exotics, I think it's kind of nice to work with the mostly-neglected natives.
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Matt Campbell



Big animals, little animals, plants - right down to the sea itself. We need them, not just for their own sake, but because all this has to be here for everybody forever. Only one thing is certain: if we are to preserve our environment and save this priceless wildlife we need much, much more knowledge.

Harry Butler from 'In the Wild With Harry Butler' 1977

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