Name: Rick Baker
Real Name: Rick Baker
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
# of Events Attended:
Members of the Mile High Bug Club since: 10/08/2009

What is your favorite part about being a member of the club?
My fav. part of being member is the people. New friends with similar interests.

When did you get into the exotic pet hobby?
I’ve been keeping pets since I could catch them. I think I even had a cricket in the 1rst grade.

What is your favorite animal and why?
My cat, he loves me more than I love him, for some reason. And he don’t like nobody else. Other than that, the Indians. Snakes are generally quiet and not very demanding. You can leave for a week and they don’t care.

What is your least favorite animal and why?
If I had a least favorite, I hate to say it, it would be a dog. I don’t dig being bathed in saliva or having to deal with crap. It would have to go in a box or bag, not the yard or carpet.

What is the most unique animal you’ve kept?
For unique, that’s tough. I’ve had spitting cobras and large African vipers, but I think the most fun and interesting on a day to day basis is the chameleons. They have personality and are diurnal.

What is the #1 animal on your wishlist?
#1 on wishlist is Morelia boeleni.

Tell us your fondest/scariest/funniest/etc… pet story?
Story: I built a shift cage for a friend who imported a 14′ king cobra. When the cage was done, and time to move the snake into his new larger quarters, I was the one who grabbed him. No hooks or anything, just snatched him behind the head while he was looking at the other guy. If that wasn’t enough, while I have a hold of him, the dude says: “Hang on to him while I pick the ticks off.” That snake was pretty unhappy by the time I let him go.

Where is one place you would most like to go on a field trip and why?
I would like to go to Papua and study boeleni in the wild.

Tell us about your life outside of the hobby:
I sub-contract for a couple of companies. Architectural sheet metal, roofing, kitchens, bathrooms, remodel, whatever I can get. Camping, fishing, kite flying, archery.