Phil Bradley
Assistant Coordinator of Living Collections, Herpetologist
phil.bradley@ncdenr.gov
919.733.7450 x604
B.S. (Environmental Studies) University of West Florida, 1996
B.S. (Agricultural Science) University of Florida, 2000
Duties
Responsible for planning and maintaining exhibits featuring live reptiles, amphibians and carnivorous plants throughout the Museum. Assists the Veterinarian and Coordinator of Living Collections with the supervision of living collections staff. Also assists with the management of exhibits, animals, collection data, permit reports and operating budget. Primarily responsible for care and maintenance of venomous snakes both on exhibit and in the back-up area and for coordinating the temporary housing and disposition of venomous reptiles involved in official local and state confiscations.
Lauren Buslinger
Curator of Living Collections, Program Animals
lauren.buslinger@ncdenr.gov
919.733.7450 x508
B.S. (Zoology) NC State University, 2004 (Minor in Toxicology)
Duties
Responsible for co-managing a collection of Museum program animals and directly responsible for the housing, care and welfare of all living specimens used in educational programming. Oversees data collection, analysis and reporting regarding animal use statistics and other research projects and produces written reports for presentation and publication. Responsible for the health of the animals and provides rudimentary medical treatment or obtains veterinary care as needed. Provides regular animal handling training to all Museum staff, volunteers and interns as well as training for and assistance with members of the Museum’s Junior Curator program.
Jeff Mette
Animal Care Technician
jeff.mette@ncdenr.gov
919.733.7450 x505
B.A. (Biology) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2008
Duties
Responsible for care and husbandry of Museum animals including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Also responsible for loading and unloading animals for programs as well as inspecting animals on return from programs and monitoring animal health in the collection. Assists the Veterinarian with medications/treatments as needed. Regularly works with the Living Collections herpetologist.
Research Interests
My interests are in the evolutionary biology and conservation of fish and amphibians. More specifically, I am interested in biogeography and reproductive biology, in captive breeding and habitat enhancement, and in the educational and conservational role of public zoos and aquariums.
Publications
Micancin, J.P. and J.T. Mette. 2009. Acoustic and morphological identification of the sympatric cricket frogs Acris crepitans and A. gryllus and the disappearance of A. gryllus near the edge of its range. Zootaxa 2076: 1-36.
Peyton Hale
Curator of Living Collections, Program Animals and Veterinary Assistant
peyton.hale@ncdenr.gov
919.733.7450 x510
B.S. (Zoology) NC State University, 2006
B.S. (Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences) NC State University, 2006
Duties
Responsible for co-managing the Museum’s program animal collection and for assisting with the medical care and management of all museum animals. Duties include direct care and husbandry of live animals, management of medical records, monitoring medical treatments, monitoring animal nutrition, and performing general health care procedures for museum animals. Also responsible for maintaining and coordinating communications between the Living Collections staff and the veterinary staff at the NCSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Responsible for the health of the animals and provides rudimentary medical treatment or obtains veterinary consultation and care as needed.
Joseph Ambrose
Animal Care Technician, Aquatics
joseph.ambrose@ncdenr.gov
919.733.7450 x520
B.S., in progress with course work at University of Hawaii and San Diego State University.
Duties
Responsible for regular inspections of all aquatic exhibits, as well as for preparing diets and feeding aquatic species. Performs regular system maintenance including water changes, gravel vacuuming, water quality analysis, water chemistry maintenance and filter changes. Regularly works with volunteers and interns. Assists in other Living Collections areas as needed in the general care and husbandry of animals including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
