STAFF SPOTLIGHT
LAWRENCE STALNAKER
ZOOKEEPER
HERPS
Lawrence was raised in East Randolph, Vermont and in 2017 received his Bachelor's Degree in Natural Science from Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont. His love of nature was evident as he minored in both Biology and Geology. His zoological path began at 3 years old when he fell in love with the spotted salamander he found. This love persisted and, after graduating college, he began an internship at Dakota Zoo in Bismark, North Dakota. Lawrence thought it was interesting working with all of the different animals but they just couldn't compare to working with reptiles. His next internship was at River Banks Zoo & Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina where he was able to focus primarily on reptiles. Unfortunately, this internship was cut short in 2020 due to Covid. He went home to Vermont to figure out what to do next and it wasn't long before he found his answer. In October 2020 he began at Ellen Trout Zoo as a keeper in the herp department.
Favorite Animals: Snakes, hands down.
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Little Known Fact: I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon during my junior and senior years of college as part of field trips for my Geology minor.
Best Quote: "While it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a great blessing." - Uncle Iroh, Avatar: the Last Airbender
Toughest Challenge: Persisting through the unexpected challenges that pop up. One of my biggest challenges was when Covid canceled my internship in South Carolina.
Favorite Memory: Herping around my home when I was a kid. I'd look for them all over the backyard but the best location to find them was the window well in front of our basement windows.
Who Inspired You?: My father. He is a professor of Veterinary Technology at Vermont Technical College and supported my love of reptiles from a young age. My mom was supportive too but it was usually Dad that allowed me to keep the random snakes and reptiles I would bring home.
Favorite Color: Orange
Best Advice for Those Wanting to Join the Zoo Field: Get any experience you can whether its interning or volunteering. The more experience you get the better off you will be.