I like what I do.  I hunt snakes for my hobby.  Some would say I am crazy, but someone has to see how they are doing.  I catch snakes, record data and release them exactly the same spot I found them.  Snakes are not mean or associated with the Devil.  Snakes are so misunderstood and feared by people.  People kill them out of fear thinking they are venomous.  The truth is venomous snakes are not common.

Osage Copperhead
Photographed in St. Genevieve County Missouri

Another thing, people are always mistaking water snakes, fox snakes, red milk snakes, bull snakes, and many other snakes as being a copperhead.  Copperheads are hard to find and you need to really look for one to find them.

Copperheads are very easy to identify.  Copperheads are small snakes that only get up to 3 feet in length.  Copperheads have hourglass bands across their back with a greenish, or black tail.  Look at the picture of the copperhead at the top.  Water snakes such as the northern water snake have regular bands, not hour glass shaped.

The best way not to find a copperhead is to stay away from heavily wooded areas and abandoned barns, cabins, or other buildings.  Copperheads love living in brush piles and wood piles.  They also wait for prey in the leaf litter.  If you must go in that type of habitat, wear leather boots and bring a stick.

Just remember when you see a snake on the road or by your house, remember you're in his territory.  If you encounter a snake and it is in your way, get a stick and pick him up and move it to a good habitat.  A garter snake is not poisonous and is a very good species to have in your yard.  They eat rats, mice, and other rodents. It is illegal to kill a snake in Missouri just to get the facts straight.

Snakes are my number one hobby, but I do other stuff too.  I also chase storms.  My mom, my dad and I are storm chasers.  I saw five tornadoes/gustnadoes in Kansas and Texas this year.  My dad has a web page with some incredible storm pictures.

My school career is going fine right now.  I am currently a sophomore in high school.  I have been on honor roll every semester since 8th grade.  I want to go to University of Missouri in Columbia and major in herpetology.  I attend McCluer High School in St. Louis Missouri.
 
 

My Family and Me

 

My name is Ryan Thies - age 17 My brother Dustin Thies - age 18 wants to be a sports announcer. My younger brother Kyle Thies - age 10 is one of my assistants. My sister Missy  Thies - age 13 is just a jolly little girl who is being a kid as long as she can. My mom Sally Thies - age 40 supports me all the way. My dad Richard Thies - age 44 set this web page up for me and helps take some of my photographs. My best friend Nathan Walter - age 17 is my main assistant.

 

Click here to view the pictures of my snake adventures.

 
 

Look at my Snake Picture Page - 2003

Look at my Snake Picture Page - 2002

Look at my Snake Picture Page - 2001

Look at my Career Snake Page

See my Pet Snake Picture Page