But things are changing. That starts with articles like this one in the Texas Observer magazine. Bravo to Asher Elbein for his thoughtful prose and for Clint Guadiana for taking the time to work with this journalist. 3/3 www.texasobserver.org/consider-the...
These snakes will be slaughtered this weekend at the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup in Texas while people watch with glee.
If it was any other animal, people wouldn't stand for it. It is barbaric and backwards. 2/3
Right now, thousands of terrified rattlesnakes sit in large drums and boxes in people's garages and in warehouses, piled high and deep, some of them squashed, having been ripped from their winter dens, sometimes after people infused them with gasoline to drive them out. 1/3
On Sat at 6pm I am speaking at the Southwestern Herpetologists Society meeting at the Deukmejian Wilderness Ranch House at 3429 Markridge Rd in Glendale.
For the love of herps, please share with folks in the area!
2/2
I'm heading to LA this weekend to talk HERPS!
On Sat at 10am I will be doing a kid-friendly reptile talk and event with Paisley Ramstead at the Rancho Mirage library as part of Desert Wildlife Center Presents SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival.
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WEBINAR TONIGHT on California Amphibians!
7pm PST
Pre-register here: syvnature.org/californias-...
Photo of California Tiger Salamander by Spencer Riffle
I'm giving a presentation on CALIFORNIA AMPHIBIANS on Friday night at 7pm PST at the Sedgwick Reserve in Santa Ynez, or you can watch the webinar live- info on how to register ahead of time is below.
syvnature.org/californias-...
Congratulations to Owen Bachhuber for winning first place in the American Association for the Advancement of Science 2026 Student E-Poster Competition, Science in Society category!
Who wore it better??
Congratulations, Alysa Liu!
Did you know that the California cam started in 2021? Here's some footage of Drogon the male greeting two pregnant females, including Petunia, who we saw again (and pregnant again) in 2023 and 2025. www.Rattlecam.org
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibB9...
Tonight at 6:30pm in Santa Barbara! Science Pub: California’s Amphibian Waterpark
www.sbnature.org/visit/calend...
This is an amazing way to visualize and zoom in on the tree of life! www.onezoom.org
...and there are some more fun events around California after that, including Pacific Grove on Friday (www.emilytaylorscience.com/events).
Please come and see me- I can't bear to shoulder the weight of amphibian cuteness alone! 😂
Today is my book birthday! This book on California amphibians was utter joy to work on from start to finish. I hope it is half as much fun to read as it was to write.
Tonight I have my Amphibian Book Launch Party at a local brewery www.facebook.com/events/16251... ...
How fun will this workshop be?!
Paint your own 3D native California salamander or rattlesnake
Sat, Feb 7 at 10:30am at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
www.pgmuseum.org/upcoming-eve...
My new book comes out a week from today, and I'm celebrating with a book launch event at Humdinger Brewing in SLO! I hope to see you locals there. Feb 3 at 6pm. www.facebook.com/events/16251...
Throwback to our first introduction to Thor, looking not too happy to get his lips pierced.. by an ant.
Thor's lip never completely lost the swelling from this bite, making him easy to identify among piles of other snakes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBU4...
Found some gems in Powell’s Bookstore during SICB in Portland!! @emilytaylorscience.com @powells.bsky.social @sicb.bsky.social
One of my favorites from my forthcoming book 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦 - a series of images over several weeks showing a Wandering Salamander mama attending her eggs, and eventually, salamanderlings. ❤
Get your signed book here: www.centralcoastsnakeservices.com/shop.html
Happy 2026 to all. I thought you might enjoy this 1997 photo of me handling my very first rattlesnake, a Prairie Rattlesnake! I much prefer to gaze at them live on the rattlecam.
Wishing all of us a very snakey 2026,
Emily Taylor
Project RattleCam (RattleCam.org) co-founder
Just pre-ordered! Thank you, Jason, I can't wait!
My goal with this book series is to help spread know-how, ethics, and the joy of herping. May it bring you pleasure in the new year, in the form of alllll the frogs and salamanders!
One of my favorite photos in the book: brothers with Giant Salamander, by herper dad Mike Rochford
I have several amphibian love-fest events (aka talks and book signings) planned for Feb and March, including my book launch party at Humdinger Brewing Co. in SLO on Tues, Feb 3 at 6pm: www.facebook.com/events/1625139342166551
For other events, see www.emilytaylorscience.com/events
To celebrate this third installment in the California Herping Guide series, I made “I 🖤 California Herps” weatherproof mini field notebooks and pencils. These come free with an order of the new book from me while supplies last, or you can also get them in the online store.
I am excited to share my new book, California Amphibians and How To Find Them, hot off the press from Heyday Books and ready to help guide your wet winter frog and salamander adventures! It is available now from my website or Feb 3 at bookstores.
www.centralcoastsnakeservices.com/shop.html
I can't wait!
Took this photo of this gorgeous Southern Pacifc Rattlesnake in the Marina back in March through binoculars. Not an easy thing to do. It was so sureal seeing this creature in the flesh, I was just in aww. When I heard there was a rattler from a cowork, I went running to it
@emilytaylorscience.com
Morning feelings
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q44m...
