sLAM (SNAKE LUNGWORM ALLIANCE AND MONITORING)
SLAM (Snake Lungworm Alliance and Monitoring) is a group of researchers, land managers, local government, and citizen scientists that conduct opportunistic surveillance for the invasive snake lungworm, Raillietiella orientalis, across the southeastern United States. We have our own website, which you can visit here. Myself and Dr. Terry Farrell founded SLAM in the spring of 2022.
PWG (pENTASTOME WORKING GROUP)
I founded the Pentastome Working Group in the fall of 2023 to bring together a diverse community of researchers, wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, pathologists, and students, all with a shared interest in pentastome biology and invasions. Our group, now ~40 members strong, aims to foster collaboration, share resources, and drive forward new projects. We meet quarterly, and we welcome anyone with an interest in this field to join us!
PARC (pARTNERS IN AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION)
I am a third year co-chair for the national PARC Disease Task Team. Our mission is to, "Facilitate and guide communication and collaboration on herpetofaunal diseases among PARC regions, federal and state agencies, and partners". You can find more about PARC DTT here.
collaborative media
Podcasts + videos
2025
2025
- Guest speaker on EEARSS by Alligator Rob. Season 4 Episode 18
- Guest speaker on
- Herpetoculture Network, Episode 203 and The Snakeman’s Lair, Episode 9.
- Collaborated with conservationists and filmmakers in the field and laboratory to create educational videos and content about pygmy rattlesnake conservation
- Instagram video with Rosie Moore
- Youtube video with Ben Zino (fieldwork)
- Youtube video with Zak Cole (field and lab)
- Guest speaker on Episode 93 of the Snake Talk podcast with Dr. Chris Jenkins.
- Snake pentastome dissection guided video.
News Interviews
2024
2024
- National Geographic Article Feature
- UCF College of Sciences News Interview
- National Wildlife Federation Magazine. Interview by Stephenie Livingston about the impacts of Raillietiella orientalis on pygmy rattlesnake populations in Florida.
- Sun sentinel. Interview by Bob Kearney. Mysterious python parasite threatens Florida’s native snakes, pushing toward their ‘extreme decline’.
- Tampa Bay Fox News. Interview by Carla Bayron. Florida's native snake population sees decline caused by invasive parasite
General audience publications
2023
2023
- Molly C. Bletz, J.N. Palmisano, J.T. Julian, L. Shender, and D.H. Olson. 2024. Amping up Biosecurity for Herps. The Wildlife Professional. 17 (6):46-49.
- Invasive Snake Lungworm Factsheet. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation National Disease Task Team.