Steve Marks - A Canadian Herp Bio

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Steve Marks is a well rounded herper. His interests lie in field research, conservation, captive husbandry, veterinary care, zoonoses, legal issues, and teaching people about all aspects of herpetology.

His captive husbandry interests span almost 30 years and involved more than 16 species of amphibians, 7 lizard species, 13 turtle/tortoise species, three crocodilian species and 98 species of snakes, 22 of which he was able to coax into breeding.

Passionate about herpetology, Steve spends most of his time in the field, either researching various species in Ontario, or field herping for the sheer pleasure of encountering species in the wild elsewhere.

Steve’s lifelist of wild herps he has observed in the wild includes more than 230 species. In 2010, he attempted a Big Year of Ontario herps, seeing just how many herp species he could encounter in the wild in Ontario (46).

5 Comments

Robin Moniz - 12-23-2012, 07:51 PM
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Steve rocks Truly an amazing person to have in this hobby and an honor to call friend.

Steve has taught me so much over the years.

Steve knows that I feel that some of the most incredibly gorgeous snakes in the world are venomous... and he knows that I have a very bad/compromised immune system. Even though I would never ever own one.... Every so often I love to freak him out by sending him a random text saying that I just got this _(fill in the blank killer venomous snake)_ where he flips out on me and I laugh

Thank you Steve...

JamesB - 12-27-2012, 12:49 PM
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Ive Known Steve for well over twenty years he has been a great friend over that time and an active leader and role model for many of us. Always just a phone call away with great insight and would drop everything to help anyone. Steve is still to this day one of the few i call when i'm stymied with a problem and probably the only person i call and stay in contact with after so many years.

Steve has been instumental in the reptile bylaws we have today in the GTA and many other areas. A real advocate for captive breeding and husbandry for many species.

Thanks Steve for all your hard work and dedication.

James

Robin Moniz - 12-30-2012, 01:00 AM
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Actually Steve's number for the year is 46!! Way to go

jason_ladouceur - 01-07-2013, 07:23 AM
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When I first got into reptiles 20 years ago Steve was the president of the O.H.S. he was then, and continues to be an inspiration in both the hobby and conservation of reptiles. He was without a doubt a great source of helpful knowledge and inspiration to me personally. And even after all these years one of the few friends I made back then that I still try to stay in touch with. He is truly one of the good guys.

Exclusive Snakes - 01-21-2013, 11:16 PM
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Steve is a great friend. I have had the pleasure of going on several herping trips with him! Always very fun & educational. Never ceases to amaze me what a ball of USEFUL and useless information that Steve has in that noggin of his LOL. Next question is... when is our next adventure?!