I was born in Houston, Texas in 1980 and despite being confined to one of the largest cities in the United States, I was able to experience the wonderful world of wildlife from a very early age. It was through my father and the sport of hunting that I developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors and everything living within it.

As a kid, like most individuals who enter this field, I spent my time searching the ditches, bayous, and back woods for water moccasins, snapping turtles, and an array of anurans. I used to trap raccoons, opossums, and feral cats in my back yard with Hav-A-Hart live traps just to see them up close (minus the cats of course).

No need to cover my Jr. High and High School years seeing as they have little relevance to my current interest in academia and scientific research and are full of glory day stories.

I have always had an interest in mammals that have to kill to make a living and as a professional I have grown even more interested in hypercarnivores such as mustelids and felids.

Well, I guess that sums it up. For other pertinent information including my education and current research please see the listed pages.