Reptile Law Symposium Panelist Profile: Jeff Barringer

National Reptile and Amphibian Law Symposium panelist Jeff Barringer was a computer network engineer, developer, and consultant for Houston-based Compaq Computers tasked to work with federal agencies and the military when he launched his first reptile web page, the Alterna Page, as a web technology demonstrator in 1994.

A long-time hobbyist, reptile collector, and breeder, in 1997 Jeff launched a follow-up website, kingsnake.com . The site is still recognized as one of oldest, largest, and most popular reptile hobbyist communities on the Internet, generating a quarter billion page views on average annually for over a decade. Jeff was also one of the founders of the original National Reptile and Amphibian Advisory Council (NRAAC) in 1998, one of the first pet-owner associations launched via the web. He was also one of the founders again when NRAAC reformed in 2012 as an educational organization.

In addition to his role as chairman of the NRAAC steering committee, Jeff is a long-time member of the East Texas Herpetological Society, as well as of the Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research. Over the years, Jeff has served in an advisory role with organizations such as the annual International Herpetological Symposium and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. His website has sponsored and promoted hundreds of reptile and amphibian educational events, such as this year's Snake Days event in Sanderson, Texas, the annual ETHS Symposium in Houston, and the Chicago Herp Society and their annual Reptilefest.

A long-time Texas naturalist, Jeff has activity opposed rattlesnake round-ups since the 1980s, and has appeared numerous times before the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission since then to discuss round ups, as well as other issues with laws and regulations pertaining to both native and non-native herpetofauna. Over the years Jeff has appeared dozens of times before legislators, agencies, councils, and commissions as a speaker on reptile and amphibian laws and how they impact hobbyists and businesses.

An avid field collector and photographer, he still spends much of his free time photographing reptiles and amphibians in the wild in Texas, and is currently cataloging the hertpetofauna of the Blackland Prairie of Williamson County. Jeff currently keeps a small collection of Williamson County kingsnakes he has collected on his property. Jeff Barringer will be a panelist and a moderator at the free National Reptile and Amphibian Law Symposium in Washington, D.C., March 7-8. For more information and to register to attend, please click here.