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Select a name from the list above to learn about our incredible staff.
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 Bill's fascination with animals, especially dinosaurs and reptiles proceeds from the age of 2. His commitment to the protection and welfare of all animals has always been part of his life's work. His knowledge is extensive and is often called upon by many agencies. (See below)
Bill’s experience is impressive: he has repaired countless turtle shells that were struck by cars, hatched endangered turtle eggs, mended broken legged frogs, nursed 100lb pythons, pulled lost alligators out of people’s pools, performed surgery on injured and dead mother snakes and turtles to rescue the eggs for hatch and release, answered dozens of calls from local police for snake identification and capture, caught loose monitor lizards on the turnpike, rescued injured venomous snakes, and he and his wife, Diane, have opened their home to become a haven for hundreds of orphaned reptiles. His studies of
reptiles have taken him to places such as California, Florida and West Virginia. He studied crocodiles in Venezuela, South America. And of course he continues his work in New Jersey where he resides.
He also studied bottle-nosed dolphins in Florida. He assisted in emergency surgeries of birds of prey, raised native NJ mammals such as opossum and woodchuck, rehabilitated adult and baby bats, cared for tamarins,(monkeys), meerkats, (mongoose), fenec fox, and tenrec, raised psittacines, (parrots), tarantulas and scorpions!! |
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Professional Credentials
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Founded Snakes-N-Scales and Turtle Tales in 1995, now the largest Animal Outreach Educational Organization in NJ
Snakes-N-Scales comprises a collection of over 500 reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, one of the largest in New Jersey.
Self taught Herpetologist. Studied in Florida, California, W. Virginia, Venezuela and New Jersey
Founder/Director of the New Jersey Herpetological Rescue Society
First New Jersey State Reptile Rehabilitator
Herpetological consultant for Popcorn Park Zoo.
Author reptiles and amphibian section “Wildlife in Education: A Guide for the Care and Use of Program Animals” NWRA pub. 2004
Author children’s picture book,” I Am Snake: A Story of Self-Discovery” pub. 2005
Volunteer consultant for Poison Control Hotline, in the management of snake bites.
Volunteer herpetologist and consultant for the State of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Division.
Zoo keeper, health technician and natural history teacher for the Newark Museum for 13 years.
Exotic animal specialist technician for the Plainfield Animal Hospital for 8 years
Regular guest on New Jersey News 12, TV program, "The Pet Stop"
Featured on the TV shows, "Wild About Animals", "The Consumer Guide Show", "Clifton Cable TV", and Fox News Magazine".
Herpetological and dinosaur book reviewer for American Association for the Advancement of Science
Paleontologist, discoverer of outcrop, "Carnosaur Creek" and a Daspletosaurus vertebrae in Montana.
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THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE!!
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Bill is a 25-year experienced, recognized expert in the field of reptile care (herpetology), who decided to make his life’s goal the education of people about these misunderstood creatures. His credentials are unmatched in NJ. Bill's expertise and good natured humor appeal to all who surround him. His programs are informative, educational and fun. Thanks to his appeal, Snakes-n-Scales and Turtle Tales has expanded. When you hire a member of Snakes-N-Scales you receive the benefits of Bill’s expertise since all employees are specially trained and qualified. Many are NJ certified teachers; all have a wide experience with children and an excellent command of animal handling and showmanship. Everyone at Snakes-N-Scales is dedicated to making our visit a fantastic experience, full of insight, knowledge, discovery and wonder. Whichever program you choose will be an adventurous exploration into the animal world providing experiences that will last a lifetime.
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From the time Chris was very young he had a burning interest in reptiles. At the age of 12 Chris was introduced to the fascinating world of Reptiles at a behind the scenes tour of the National Zoo in Washington D.C. , where he grew up. A family friend worked as a herpetologist there, and Chris got to see and handle reptiles which spurred his interest further. Chris learned as much as possible about reptiles on his own, until he met Brian West. Brian was a leading herpetologist and serologist, (someone who studies how snake venom acts in the blood) for Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, and Chris was eagerly learning serology when Brian was killed in an accident by a cobra. (Ironically Brian died because he was allergic to the venom, which is one aspect of what a serologist studies.) Chris had lost a friend and mentor so he left the herpetological field as a profession and tried other careers. He always felt something was missing in his life. He began to breed pythons for pet stores while he worked for Choice Hotels as a traveling and training manager. After years of trying other careers
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Chris & “Monty” a Malaysian Water Monitor
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and not being fulfilled, Chris met Bill Boesenberg and finally came full circle, back to what he always missed, REPTILES.
Chris brings us his great wit and a funny “sideways” view of the world. He is an intelligent, quick study; full of curiosity and an excellent animal handler. Chris has been successful training several of our scaly “children” to better behave themselves in shows. He is an enthusiastic instructor, is now the Special Needs Instructor for Snakes-N-Scales, the artist/creator of our shirt design and website, has begun working with Bill to become a reptile rehabilitator, is a computer/camera/electronics expert , helps with our rescue and transport operations and whenever anyone needs help Chris is willing to lend a hand. We of Snakes-N-Scales are lucky to call him “friend.”
E-mail Chris
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Erin has been with SNAKES-N-SCALES since May 2006. She has brought with her a strong background in the field of special education and a lifelong love of animals.
Erin has extensive training with special needs children. She worked in the Bergen County Special Services School District. Highly skilled, she worked 5 years with severely autistic children, knows the PEC system, is trained in PT, OT, Behavioral Science, Epilepsy Emergencies and the Positive Reinforcement System, knows basic sign language and is a strong believer in the power of tactile response!! She discovered she had a special talent for working with kids. However, as much as she loved “her kids” she wanted to work in a less formal setting.
She was raised in a large family of animal lovers and can’t remember a time when there weren’t pet dogs, cats, turtles, snakes, ferrets or some type of critter around
the house. Since she had three older brothers to show her the ropes it never crossed her mind that she should be afraid or intimidated by the never ending assortment of pets that made there way into the house. Her deep love of animals was just a natural outgrowth of her surroundings.
Erin got her first taste of Snakes-N-Scales when she saw Travis Gale doing a mammal show at the “Hooked on the Hudson” festival in Alpine NJ. It didn’t take long for her to decide that Travis had, what Erin considered, the best job in the world. She approached him after the show asking about working with Snakes-N-Scales as a volunteer, but as chance would have it, we needed a new instructor and the rest is history.
Appearing as by magic, Erin stepped in at a key moment when Snakes-N-Scales was short staffed. It meant she had to learn a great deal very quickly, but she did it. She is now a very talented, popular instructor, as all who have the pleasure of watching her work find out.
E-mail Erin
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An organization is only as good as its people, and we have some wonderful people.
Our dedicated educators:
Debora Davidson, is Director of Education for Tenafly Nature Center.
Lisa Randolph, is a high school biology teacher at Barringer HS in Newark.
Veronica Myers, is an environmental scientist and site manager for Arcadis in Mahwah
Cailin O’Connor, works for the Avian Wildlife Center in Wantage, NJ.
Fernando Camacho, is a physical trainer and home inspector.
Our invaluable support staff:
Dan Oostdyk, Asst. Zookeeper, is a student in West Milford.
William H. Boesenberg, Business Manager
Joe Boesenberg, Photography & Computers, is a meteorite expert at the
American Museum of Natural History.
Philip DiSenso, Enclosure builder extraordinaire, is a computer network consultant.
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