Customer Reviews

Snakes and Snake Hunting

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I read this book about 1961. It was a big factor in my majoring in Biology, and then to a PhD in Zoology (Herpetology). The stories he tells makes the thrill of the naturalist's quest truly come alive! Give it to any young person who seems interested in our much-maligned fellow creatures! It's an opportunity for "magical" experiences ..... which reminds me: I'm overdue for another Oketee Diamondback hunt!

First published in 1957, this book is a must-read for snake lovers. And by "snake lovers" I refer to those who have genuine respect for snakes in their natural habitats -- not those who collect exotic or native snakes, like trophies, to be ill-kept as "pets" in their homes. Author Carl Kauffeld had a genuine respect & affection for snakes, and it shows in every step of his adventures, which takes him from swamps to deserts to mountains and flatlands throughout the U.S. Very well-written and fast-paced, this book is a fascinating read, made even more so by the fact that it was written by a man who understood -- a full 50 years ago -- the impact of human development on snake habitat, plus the very real and urgent need for habitat conservation to protect snake populations. Today's kids are being brought up on a diet of thrill-seeking wildlife "hunters" on television, who -- oblivious to their surroundings -- barge willy-nilly into the outdoors, seeking out those hapless creatures deemed dangerous enough to boost TV ratings. Author Kauffeld, by contrast, notices (read that: revels in) his surroundings -- the sight of a Carolina moon rising through moss-draped oaks; the fragrance of a swamp magnolia in the Jersey Barrens.... Along the way, he discovers snakes. Lots of them. His journey, richer for his unique perspective, is ours to share in this book.

Kauffeld is seen as a pioneer in Field Herpetology. This book is a good read about some of his exploits in the field across our country. From the Pine Barrens of New Jersey to the deserts of Arizona it covers a wide array of adventures.
Kauffeld writes in an easy to understand style. This would be a good book for a young (or old) fan of reptiles and field herpetology.

The events in the book, mostly from pre WWII, and the period shortly after the war are well told and make you feel like you are there.

Also look for Kauffeld's "The Keeper and the Kept."

Both my sister and I read this book at our grandparents house in the 1950s and had the exact same reaction: we loved it! It was a very well-written book that changed our minds totally about snakes. It's one of several childhood books I read that I remember with great fondness as being books that opened my eyes to a subject most people do not want to consider.

I was given this book for my 10th birthday in 1957. I've read it over and over during the 50+ years since. Kauffeld had a gift for painting pictures with words. His focus was snakes and the thrill of the hunt but I learned a lot about their haunts too... places to which I was fortunate enough to see for myself in later years. Even today, those places evoke the feelings I had as a kid viewing his adventures through it's pages. If you have a youngster interested in the outdoors, I highly recommend this work for him/her as well as yourself. I look forward to reading it again.