CURRENT OFFICERS

Officer Bios

President

Joyce Young

My name is Joyce Young and I am the newly elected President for the Alaska Herpetological Society for the upcoming two years.

I’ve loved reptiles since I can remember. As a kid I used to find frogs and tadpoles in the aqueducts in southern California where played and from there I found snakes fascinating and would bring them home to try to keep. I was never allowed to keep them for long though! I got my first snake when I was a young adult, it was a huge Burmese Python I called Slither. I was not able to care for it for long and it found a new home, but eventually I was able to get a Boa Constrictor (Charlotte) that I had for a year or so who was also rehomed. A few year later I got a couple more boa constrictors (Reggie and Veggie - I did not name them) and from there I was hooked.

Since that time I’ve kept primarily snakes for over 30 consecutive years, with boids being my absolute favorites, but I’ve got a variety of snakes in my care as I tend to take in whatever tends to need a home which currently include Autolycus, Callisto and Iolaus the three Boa Constrictors (Boa constrictor imperator), Aphrodite the Columbian Rainbow boa (Epicrates maurus), Cupid the Mexican/Desert Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata), Aphrodite and Medusa my two ball pythons (Python regius) and Ares the Honduran Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis) who is also my oldest snake at just over 24 yeas old.

I’ve also currently got two lizards: Lord Severus the Madagascar Day Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis) and King Kiwi the Jackson’s Chamaeleon (Trioceros jacksonii).

Approximately five years ago I decided I needed to improve my husbandry and started researching and reading about updated practices. Since that time I have increased the size of every animal’s enclosure, added UVB and improved heating sources and most of my animals are in naturalistic enclosures, only one is bioactive. This process made me realize that what I had learned 30 years ago needed to change and I did, even though it was difficult at times. Sourcing quality materials for upgrading reptiles’ enclosure, especially in the interior of Alaska was something that I found challenging and now that I’ve done it I hope to be able to pass some of that information along to other that want to learn more about improving their animals’ habitats.

Besides the knowledge of caring for reptiles I have almost completely learned from hands-on experience; I recently took the Master Herpetologist Program from the Amphibian Foundation and got my certificate for passing. It was a great course!

Vice President

Tori Figlenski

Hello all! I'm Tori Figlenski, the newly-elected Vice President of AHS for 2024-2026

I am 29, live in Fairbanks with my little family, and have loved reptiles for as long as I can remember! My day job is shipping logistics for a large geo-analytical company. I own Fig's Flora & Fauna and have been dealing in houseplants for a few years now. I am SUPER into collecting crystals, minerals, and fossils! I have a pretty extensive collection that Im constantly adding to. When I'm not messing with plants or pets, I love taking my dogs and daughter out for fun little outdoor adventures.

Pets! I have two dogs, four cats, two chinchillas, a crested gecko, gargoyle gecko, leachianus gecko, tons of isopods, a couple millipedes, three tarantulas, four ball pythons, two carpet pythons, three solomon island ground boas, a boa imperator, a 55g community aquarium, as well as rats and mice. I also take in occasional rescues or short-notice-rehomes and keep honey bees over the summers.

I got my first reptile as a Christmas present in the first grade- a California kingsnake named Oreo- who we had for years in until moving out of Alaska. I had a few ball pythons afterwards, but my collection really boomed once I was an adult.

In the last few years, I've realized just how much exotic pet care has been changing and evolving. In 2024, I finally took the leap and have implemented major upgrades for all of my own reptiles and still have more planned. I have also started teaching these better care practices to anyone that is looking to improve their animals' quality of care!

Treasurer

Emily Majors

I'm Emily Majors, and I am the current AHS board treasurer. Crunching numbers is not necessarily my pastime, but being the voice for those who can not speak is definitely my passion. I have been an animal advocate since I was a young girl growing up in Southeast NC and at that time I was a young equestrian with all the heart in the world to stop the round up of wild horses and petition local senates to stop horse slaughter. This is what my senior high school project focus was on.

I have volunteered many hours and fostered numerous animals throughout my teen years into adulthood, but one thing I have always seen over the twenty plus year's I've been advocating for our voiceless is the amount of uneducated individuals following mainstream stereotypes of animal ownership. It's not deliberate by any means. Let's face it, not everyone who is a pet owner gets a crash course in zoology when they purchase or adopt a new family member.

With the mission of the AHS being education as our forefront, I am honored to be amongst fellow advocates and hobbyists who strive to show every creature of every type compassionate and enriching care.

I relocated to Alaska in April of 2023 and brought with me my BCI Boa, 3 ball pythons, 1 guinea pig, 1 dog, and my heifer calf. Currently, I have another ball python who was an owner surrender, another guinea pig, my heifer has her companion goat, my husband's tarantula, and my 8 chickens and 3 ducks.

Secretary

Emma Escamilla

Hi! My name is Emma Escamilla and I’m the Secretary of AHS. I originally moved to Alaska in the sixth grade and have been her ever since! In my personal life I’m an apprentice dog groomer and have many of my own critters at home.

I got my first reptile in 2018; a leopard gecko names Iggy. I bought a starter kit and thought I would be set. After doing some research I realized I was VERY wrong. I fell down the rabbit hole of reptile husbandry after that and started advocating for the proper care of exotic pets.

I currently own twelve pets of my own; four whites tree frogs, two leopard geckos, one bearded dragon, one ball python, one hedgehog, one chinchilla, and two dogs. My pets are my babies and most were rescues. I have goals of opening my own reptile rescue where I can help more reptiles. I’ve seen what happens when reptiles don’t receive the proper care and I want to educate and prevent neglect of reptiles. I pride myself on staying up to date with current care standards and providing the most I can for my exotic babies.

The mission of AHS is something I wholeheartedly can stand behind. I hope to show people that reptiles aren’t scary monsters and are full of their own unique personalities. Each animal has their own needs/wants and it really is rewarding caring for them.

Member at Large

Catherine Seymour

My name is Catherine Seymour and I’m the Member at Large with the Board of Directors of AHS. I lived in New York City for 26 years before I moved to Fairbanks Alaska in 1992. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Biology at UAF. My professional background was that of an environmental consultant assisting in the management of hazardous waste and materials for Fort Wainwright and the private sector. Now I own a small business which I very recently started under the name of Haus of Scales and Tales which focuses on the use of reptile shed in jewelry and novelties. I tend to have an upbeat eccentric personality which others find amusing and quite entertaining.

I’ve always been an animal lover from a young age and have a deep appreciation for natural world. My parents would take me to the Bronx Zoo every so often and it pretty much was a big influential part in me loving animals. My favorites are the big cats, wolves, birds, and especially reptiles.

I currently own two ball pythons, Ollie and Ophelia, two dogs, Alani and Milo, a small aquarium, and a hamster named Hamantha which actually belongs to my youngest kiddo. Ollie is a Butterly 100% Het Clown morph from Wilbanks Reptiles and Ophelia is a low white pied rescue originating from Petco. Both have unique personalities which I really do appreciate. Ollie is an independent thinker and though he doesn’t mind being held he will seek to do his own thing and explores with purpose regardless whether you’re okay with him exploring or not. Ophelia on the other hand is more laid back and at times will enjoy napping with me on the recliner as I listen to jazz music in the background.

I thoroughly enjoy talking to people about reptiles, ESPECIALLY ball pythons since they are a popular pet and are the most gentlest and laid back species of constrictor snakes. I try to educate where I can and take pride in seeing people get excited about learning more about keeping ball pythons.

My role as a board member in AHS is to help fundraise and answer questions and address any concerns from the public about AHS. I’m here to serve the reptile community with great enthusiasm and look forward to meeting and getting to know fellow reptile enthusiasts that I affectionately call “my people”.