Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes: Herpetologists’ Tales from the Field

Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes reveals the thrills and travails that herpetologists experience when working with amphibians and reptiles in the wild. With essays from fifty field biologists, this volume, edited by Martha L. Crump, presents a multifaceted yet intimate look at life in pursuit of knowledge about the natural world.

From the beaches of Peru to the mountains of China, the stories in this collection place readers in the boots of field biologists as they watch, count, experiment, and survey. Some recall mishaps and misadventures--contending with leeches, dangling off a precipice while in a truck. Others tell of once-in-a-lifetime encounters--discovering a new frog species, spotting a rare snake. Together, these stories offer an understanding of what field biology is, what field biologists do, and how they go about doing it.

Written with candor, warmth, and a dash of humor, the stories in Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes will encourage readers to appreciate the value of engaging with nature and of the amphibians and reptiles so critical to the vitality of our planet.

Martha L. Crump is Adjunct Professor in the Biology Departments at Utah State University and Northern Arizona University. She is the author or coauthor of more than a dozen books, most recently Women in Field Biology.