Jimmy Ray Forester was an active herper (reptile and amphibian collector) back in the 80's and early 90's. He remained a herp lover all his life, but most of his passion in recent years was focused on rock climbing.

The highlight of his herp career was a major collecting trip in Mexico and the SW USA with Dave Barker and others back in the mid 80's. On that trip, they collected several of the an amazing variety of reptiles. Including the first legally collected specimens of L.t.knoblochi (a rare mountain kingsnake). Those specimens were bred in captivity and their descendents are highly coveted by kingsnake enthusiast worldwide.

The low point in his (and my) herp career was the accidental release of a cobra to the wild near Cedar Hill, TX. He had just traded for a pair of cobras and we stopped with a couple of friends in Cedar Hill to hunt for C.a.atrox (rattlesnakes), leaving the cobras in open bags in a ventilated 5 gal paint bucket. After checking some active atrox dens on a large hill, we looked back to the car and spotted some punks breaking into it. We screamed and ran like madmen to chase them off from certain death. However, they took off in a panic long before they spotted or heard us (not a good sign). As we approached the car, we spotted the bucket, on its side with the lid removed. Whereas we were in high grass, we slowed our approach dramatically. When we got to the bucket, we found one cobra missing! We searched and searched but never found it. We barely breathed for the next week while we scoured the papers for reports of cobra bites, then for the next two years for cobra sightings.

I first met Jimmy when I was handling a large Texas rat snake in a friend’s front yard. All the sudden, this crazy kid was running toward me screaming, "Elaphe obsoletta lindheimeri". Later that day, I was showing him my collection when he asked if my Central Texas Whipsnake ever bit anyone. My answer was, "not yet". Just then it struck and held onto his upper lip. He responded (with a lisp) that I needed update my answer.

Once, my father caught us sneaking a pillowcase with two LARGE diamondback rattlesnakes into my house (we were just teens). My dad asked, what's in the pillowcase. We replied, "a couple of rattlesnakes, wanna see em?" My dad laughed it off in disbelief and we continued on to my room.

Once while night driving for snakes, he spotted a skunk and decided it would be great fun to see who could get closest w/o getting sprayed. For the next several minutes we stalked that poor skunk and dropped to our bellies or froze in place every time it stopped or started to raise his tail. Luckily, we were not quite as daring as we were stupid. We never got in spray range.

Another time night driving, we spotted a snake, jumped from the car to retrieve it, only to notice that the car was rolling past us! Jimmy dove in the front seat and slammed the brake with his hand, only to then be slammed by the door. I don't recall if we caught the snake.

Once while showing our pet Burmese Python “Trouble” to some friends, the girl that Jimmy was draping it over asked, “will it bite me”. Jimmy’s reassuring response was, “I’d never let that happen”. Just then, the snake crapped all over her. Barely suppressing a laugh, Jimmy added, “well you never asked about that.”

Jimmy was a great friend and an amazing reptile collector. He will be sorely missed.

Daryl and Kellie,

I hope that when both of you see a snake you will remember Jimmy Ray, not the sad aches in your heart.He was probably the best man in the world.I was (and still am) the luckiest little girl on earth to have him as a uncle.If I ever have a class to dissect a snake I vow to never actually do it, I'll probably just put a fake one in my backpack and dissect THAT because he will come into my memory.God probably just thought it was time for him to go and experience what everybody thought of him.My cousins once had to give away their snake and guess who they chose- Uncle Jimmy Ray.P.S. their snakes name was "Frosty".Sorry I cannot type anymore because I'm about to cry then I won't be able to think of anything.
Love,

Britten

Ha ha my cousins (Dedrea's son and daughter) will get a laugh out of that one...I'm sure I did!!!!My mom told me you commented on what I posted.


Love,

Britten