About us
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Owen has wanted to work with animals since he was three years old. Over the course of his four years studying at Delaware Valley College, Owen found his passion lay in the study of reptiles and quickly began to collect his own snakes. What began with a California King Snake and a baby Coastal Carpet, quickly turned into an extensive collection of pristine and valuable reptiles. Before graduating from Delval with a BS in small animal science Pre-Vet and a Minor in Biology, Owen worked at a local Zoo and educational facility as their resident Reptile Expert and head of Conservation Education. There he learned to care for a wide variety of species and successfully managed the Zoo’s reptile breeding program.
He also takes great pride in his accomplishments in educating the public. Owen has delivered dozens of live presentations to people of all age groups and experience levels with a strong passion of educating the public in this hobby we love. In the process, he was able to rub elbows with animal experts like Jungle Jack Hanna (director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo) and Clyde Peeling (director of Clyde Peeling's Reptiland). He was also able to take part in TV appearances on Maury, Letterman, Good Morning America and Good Day Philadelphia. Owen finally parted ways with the Zoo in 2009 to pursue his interests in other fields, which included teaching and laboratory animal science.
Currently Owen holds a position as an associate agent at Nationwide insurance in Morgantown PA along side his father. This allows Owen to work for himself and spend more time in the reptile world that he loves.
My story starts like everyone else. When I was young I was fascinated with nature and everything about it but it was the reptiles that grabbed my attention. It may have been because they reminded me of dinosaurs or maybe just because they were different. Whatever it was I was committed. My dad brought home my first lizard and I was scared and amazed all at once but it wasn't until he brought me home a garter snake that I was hooked for life. I then began moving up the species ladder from a rat snake to eventually picking up burmese python.
The pythons sucked me in immediately. I was amazed by everything about them. I began looking everywhere for any info I could find on them. The pythons held a certain mystic for me. The way they move, the way the eat, everyting about them captivated my interest. I worked with a few of them for awhile and then like most life happened and I traded my Dad his guitar for my snake collection. Throughout my 20's I never let go of my passion and couldn't wait to one day work with snakes again.
In 2000 after I was settled back into life I decided it was time to get another snake and it was the burmese pythons that once again was going scratch my itch. The reptile hobby had changed so much. I remeber walking around my first reptile show thinking what the heck does het mean.
I began putting together a collection of burms and then I wanted to have a collection of a pair of each type of python.That led me to the genus morelia. I soon abandoned the idea of keeping a pair of each type of python and I started researching carpet pythons and my passion was ignited!
In 2008 I picked up a pair of coastals from Jason Baylin at eastcoast serpents. I then decided that carpet pythons were for me. They have such beauty, such variety, such a pallet of colors.
I began to put together my collection of carpet pythons. Hand picking from some of the greatest breeders around. I began to expand my collection to include the other species in the morelia complex.
Like many people, I looked forward to Reptile Radio every week. What a great idea those guys had. Talking about snakes! They made many of my long commutes to work bearable. I would often ask those guys to do some shows on carpet pythons and that got me thinking.
I thought man it would be cool to here a show that focused on some of the less popular species of pythons, like carpet pythons.
I waited for someone to do it and nothing......Finally, I decided to do it myself. I contacted Larry from Reptile radio for some pointers and went full steam ahead.
I couldn't do it myself so I put the word out for a co-host and Owen was the first guy to reach out to me. He lived by me and had more breeding experience then me. It had to be fate.
Morelia Python Radio was born!
We started the show with always keeping the focus on the keepers and breeders and giving them a platform to talk about the species that they keep. Trying all along the way to break down some of the misconceptions about some of the "less popular" species of pythons.
Morelia Python Radio is a weekly podcast that focuses on pythons of the genus morelia.
Currently the morelia complex includes:
- The Carpet python complex
- Chondros
- Rough scaled pythons
When we started the show back in 2012, The morelia complex also included what is now the genus Simalia.
- The Scrub complex
- Boelens pythons
- Oenpelli pythons.
We have a special love for carpet pythons but we love to talk about all of the different species of pythons from Australia and Indonesia and every now and then we hit on other species of snakes outside of our norm.
We have some of the best morelia keepers and breeders from around the world come on and give us their insight on this magnificent group of snakes.
Join us live and ignite your passion to "6 as shit" every Tuesday @ 9 PM EST or you can subscribe to us on Itunes or any other podcast app.
Eric Burke- Host and Founder.
Owen McIntyre- Host.
Carpet Fest was an idea that has been around for a awhile. People have talked about Carpet Fest was an idea that has been around for a awhile. in 2011 I needed to make that idea a reality. Owen and I, with the help of Howard Redding, were able to put together the first carpet fest in May of 2012.
Carpet Fest was an idea that has been around for a awhile. People have talked about People have talked about it but in 2011 I needed to make that idea a reality. Owen and I, with the help of Howard Redding, were able to put together the first carpet fest in May of 2012. in 2011 I needed to make that idea a reality. Owen and I, with the help of Howard Redding, were able to put together the first carpet fest in May of 2012.
The carpet python family is a tight nit group of people that have a sense of unity that goes further than keeping and breeding snakes. Our goal is to have a way to have a more intimate and relaxed atmosphere so people to get to know one another. The hope is that we strengthened already existing bonds and forge new ones in carpet community.
In 2013 the West coast decided to join in the fun and the first Northwest carpet fest became a reality.
And I am happy to announce that in 2015 there will be both a Southeast and Southwest carpet fest!
We hope that this event will continue to grow and more people will see that carpet pythons are not just the best python ever, but their keepers are the best people in the reptile hobby.
You will soon see that the Morelia community is more than just a niche in the reptile hobby it is a tight knit family.
So please join us and become a member of the Morelia family!
