About Python Central

My name is Blake Bauer and I am currently a herpetarium keeper at the Oklahoma City Zoo. I have a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from Central Washington University where I studied under Dr. Daniel Beck. I have also completed an internship at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo under Jim Harrison. I have been keeping reptiles for several years and take a great deal of pride in my collection.

My interest in herps began when I was a freshman at Central Washington University where I started doing field research on amphibians with Dr. Steven Wagner. Through him I met my good friend Robert Weaver who was a reptile guy. Robert, who was a grad student at the time, took me under his wing and taught me what he knew about reptiles and guided me into several research projects. I mostly blame him for my addiction of reptiles. Robert also introduced me to the most amazing reptiles on the planet; pythons! He had kept a large collection of pythons at home and showed me the beauty and true essence of those species. After buying a python and keeping it for a while, I knew I had to get more.

Through Robert I met and became good friends with Nick Mutton and Ryan Young of Inland Reptiles. If you know either of these guys, you know that they have one of the top collections of pythons in the states, and are vastly knowledgeable about them. Nick and Ryan have also facilitated in my endless learning about the species I keep, as well as helped make my collection as large and diverse as it is today.

I am also fortunate in that my wife Courtney shares the same addiction as I do. Several of the animals in our collection are ones that she has acquired and cared for herself. It truly is wonderful to be with someone that shares my same passion, and is able to deal with the inexhaustible snake enthusiast that I am.