Ben Zino

🌎 Conservation Biologist
🐍 Herpetologist
📹 Science Communicator
✝️ Follower of Christ

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

The Forgotten Dragons: Saving The Neuse River Waterdog

https://t.co/h59sU4JdZ6

I'm excited to announce that my short film documenting the ecology and conservation of this incredibly unique and cryptic salamander is finally here!

#wildlife #amphibian #salamander #conservation

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

Hi Chris! That is indeed a copperhead, check out those Hershey kisses on the sides. Nice one too!

[Chris McFarling @cmcfarling09]

@thewildreport Hi Ben, I saw some of your videos on YouTube. I'm wondering if you think the snake in this photo is a Copperhead. It's a little blurry but was wondering if you could tell.

[Chris McFarling @cmcfarling09]

@thewildreport Hi Ben, I saw some of your videos on YouTube. I'm wondering if you think the snake in this photo is a Copperhead. It's a little blurry but was wondering if you could tell.

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

This was such a fun event, glad we had a chance to help visitors learn more about snakes and their diseases!

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

Southern hognose snakes are among the cutest and most morphologically distinctive serpents in the Southeast, but their conservation can be challenging.

Learn more about their incredible adaptations and unique ecological value in this short video!

https://t.co/Q5J6L1dNms

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@kamichat Epic, they are so cool!

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

Great question, a shed is typically about 30% larger than the snake that made it!

[Mule City @mulecityradio]

@thewildreport
Big shed at the barn, largest black snake I’ve seen around here. Does the shed skin stretch or is the snake actually this size ?

[🐝❤️Tameka Small❤️🐝 @MsSmall2016]

Our 🐝🐝 @MorrisBrandonES loved Jekyll Island & class with @thewildreport 😍😍😍

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@tolkienfan4ever Not right now, I'm actually out of state :(

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

Harmless Dekay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi)!

[Rapid Raptor @rapid_raptor]

Any idea what kind of snake this is? Seen in front yard in VA. @thewildreport

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

Thanks Keith! This is a harmless Eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis).

[Keith @Krdz1]

@thewildreport great channel on YouTube everyone check out The Wild Report!!! This picture was taken in western PA. Thank you for the help and helping me identify it! 🐍🐍🐍

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

Here's some non-snake highlights from recent field surveys! I've really enjoyed exploring new areas and documenting the herps that I find in each different habitat type while searching for snakes.

#herpetology #reptiles #amphibians #turtle

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@parasiteecology This is awesome, so glad to see some SFD research on our smaller bodied snakes!

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@murryloub No problem, let me know how it goes!

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@RolandKays @NCState Thanks Dr. Kays! And that may be true but that paper sure is going to be helpful for job applications 😂

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

So thankful for the incredible faculty and friends I've met these past four years! Leaving NCSU will be sad, but I'm so excited for the adventures to come.

Plus, I'm now officially a conservation biologist! 🐍 🤓

#ncsu #graduation #wolfpack

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

The copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a shy and inoffensive snake with a bad reputation. In this video, I address a few common myths regarding their venom toxicity, aggression levels, and identification:

https://t.co/nsGADRGJvU

#snake #snakes #herpetology #reptiles

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@TheSharkologist Thanks Dr. Jewell!

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@rapid_raptor Thanks so much, glad to hear that my content has been helpful!

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@maggiekellerbio Thanks Maggie, you too!

[Ben Zino @thewildreport]

@scissorsrunning Thanks Dr. Jeffries! This summer I'll be working on a research project investigating biases in iNaturalist snake observations, and plan to work seasonal jobs for the next year or so while I plan grad school!