Dennis Ferraro

Dennis Ferraro is the resident herpetologist and a professor of Conservation Biology at University of Nebraska’s School of Natural Resources. He has been a UNL faculty member since 1990. Originally from Connecticut, Dennis grew up fascinated with the creatures in and around ponds near his home. By the time he was in third grade, he knew what a herpetologist was and that he wanted to be one. "My main goal in my career and in life is the conservation of amphibians, reptiles and turtles in North America," he said. Ferraro maintains the university's live animal lab of native Herpetofauna - that's reptiles and amphibians - for research and educational purposes and has developed a health and medical protocol for the animals' care.<br><br>Ferraro teaches Conservation Biology (NRES 211) every semester, Herpetology (NRES 474/874) every fall, Field Herpetology (NRES 374) in the summer at Cedar Point Biological Station, Tropical Ecology (NRES 492) every spring, and Resolving Human-Wildlife Conflicts (NRES 348) every spring. He also helps to advise students working on master's theses and supervises independent studies.<br><br>You can see Professor Ferraro in his Extension Wildlife Specialists role on the popular <i>Back Yard Farmer show</i> that airs on Nebraska Public TV answering inquiries regard wildlife conflicts and damage control.<br><br>Ferraro is also one of the founder and leaders of the Nebraska's Master Naturalist program. Well-known for handling snakes as he speaks, and his talks around the state typically draw large, enthusiastic crowds. He reaches approximately 6,000 people a year through various presentations, such as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission annual Outdoor Expo. Ferraro has ventured into multimedia as well, releasing an 11-track CD, Frog Calls of Nebraska, , and following up with a video, "Handling an American Alligator." Plus his “Interactive Field Guide” website for your smart phone - <u><a href="//HERPNEB.UNL.EDU">HERPNEB.UNL.EDU</a>.</u><br><br>Ferraro typically drives 5,000 miles each year, checking on the communities and populations of various species across the state. Specifically, he has collected data on more than 5,000 snakes, 3,000 amphibians and 500 turtles and lizards since 1990. He does radio tracking and telemetry in reptiles, and surgically implants transmitters in snakes. He shares the data he gathers on reptile and amphibian populations with the Nebraska State Museum, the Game and Parks Commission, and other agencies that need it.