The herpetological humorist behind the show.

It began when Daryl found his first snake at age seven in his great-grandmother’s backyard in Jackson, Mississippi. A tiny kingsnake was so gentle it wrapped around his finger, and within minutes it had wrapped around his heart.

By sixth grade, Daryl was already sharing what he knew with classmates. Growing up around his mother’s school theatre department brought acting, comedy, and stagecraft into the mix.

Snake Encounters began at the Dallas Nature Center. They had a few snakes and asked Daryl to give a presentation about them. He borrowed a few more, added his own personality to the story, and three different mothers in the audience asked whether he would bring it to their children’s birthday parties. The answer was yes, and Snake Encounters was born.

These days, Daryl has been doing birthday parties around the Metroplex for so long that people now hire him for their children’s birthdays because they were the birthday kid back in the day.

At Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California, Daryl presented 29 sold-out shows in eight days. The run drew Los Angeles media attention and proved what happens when a major venue gives Snake Encounters a real stage.

Daryl blends live animal expertise with comedy and magic. His work has included science museums, fairs, festivals, corporate events, parties, and appearances connected to Animal Planet and Discovery Channel programming.