Oregon native Alan St. John is a freelance interpretive naturalist who uses writing, photography, pen-and-ink drawings, and colour paintings to teach about the natural world. He is the author of Reptiles of the Northwest from Lone Pine Publishing as well as a book on eastern Oregon. His work has appeared in such major publications as National Geographic, Natural History, Nature Conservancy, and the New York Times. In the past, he has also worked as a reptile keeper and has conducted extensive reptile and amphibian field surveys for federal and state governments.