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Wilbur's Test Team


Fluker Farms would like everyone to meet Dr. Mark Mitchell, a professor at the University of Illinois in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Mitchell plays a very important role as a consultant for Fluker’s, and has been doing so for roughly 15 years.


What does it mean to consult for Fluker’s? Mark is a professor of Zoological Medicine, focusing on the management and care of various exotic pets, zoo animals and native wildlife. Of all the animals he works with, reptiles are his passion. Mark works with reptiles at both the individual and population levels as a wildlife epidemiologist (studying patterns of health and illness and associated factors at the population level). This extensive knowledge of reptile disease makes him quite the expert for Fluker’s when he answers customers’ questions about reptile care.


Fluker Farms, first and foremost, is in the business of educating people about breeding and raising reptiles. Mark provides input for product development, using his background to make recommendations for developing informative packaging labels. But that’s not all. Mark works directly with customers, either by replying to their concerns or helping the staff at Fluker’s answer questions.


The main goal is to help create knowledge about reptiles. Fluker Farms helped support three PhD students studying infectious diseases of reptiles. According to Mark, no other manufacturer of pet retail, especially on the reptile side of things, has a professional consultant that specifically provides support for research, a function higher than just product development.


Whew! Down time. There may not be a whole lot of that going on, but at home Mark, along with his wife (whom he met at veterinary school) and two children, RJ and Mary, have a plentiful reptile habitat of their own. The Mitchell household is home to 60 fish tanks, a dozen turtles, four snakes, one dog and two cats. That’s quite a handful! Mark also enjoys restoring old cars...when he can!


Let’s pick Mark’s brain. There could be hundreds of pages written about reptile research. (And in fact, Mark could’ve written them). He got his undergrad degree at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. After that, Mark pursued his Master’s and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degrees at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He went to Louisiana State University to obtain a PhD and then stayed on as a faculty member there for 11 years. In 2007, he ventured back to the University of Illinois to be closer to family.


Mark knew he wanted to become a vet at the ripe old age of 7...and that’s just what he did. All these years of schooling provided Mark with quite the background in all things reptile, and his research is still ongoing ranging from topics such as: the treatment of ornamental fish (tropical fish) and how certain diseases could transmit to humans; also Salmonella presence in reptiles and the wild reptile population in the Galapagos Islands.


And, what’s your personal philosophy? On a day-to-day basis, Mark strives to remember the Golden Rule, be a good listener and help those that need assistance. You are a great asset to Fluker Farms! (Now ask him about his voicemail message).


If you’re interested in learning more. Here are the specific pubs that funding provided by Fluker Farms help support:

  1. Mitchell MA, Shane SM. Preliminary findings of Salmonella spp. in captive green iguanas and their environment. Prev Vet Med 45, 297-304, 2000.

  2. Lafortune M, Mitchell MA, Smith J. Evaluation of medetomidine, clove oil, and propofol for anesthesia of leopard frogs (Rana pippiens). J Herp Med Surg 11(4): 19-23, 2001.

  3. Mitchell MA, Dahlgren E, Roy A. Characterizing the antimicrobial resistance patterns of microbes isolated from wildlife presented to the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana. Wild Rehab Bull 22(2): 31-36, 2004.

  4. Klarsfeld J, Mitchell MA. Evaluating the role of crickets as mechanical vectors for oxyurids in insectivorous reptiles. J Herp Med Surg 15(1): 18-20, 2005.

  5. Mayer J, Knoll J, Innis C, Mitchell MA. Characterizing the hematologic and plasma chemistry profiles of captive Chinese water dragons (Physignathus concincinus). J Herp Med Surg 15(3): 45-52, 2005.

  6. Miller S, Mitchell MA, Heatley JJ, Wolf T, Lapuz F, Lafortune M, Smith JA. Clinical and cardiorespiratory effects of propofol in the spotted bamboo shark (Chylloscyllium plagiosum). J Zoo Wild Med 36(4): 673-676, 2005.

  7. Singleton B, Mitchell MA, Riggs S, Diaz-Figueroa O. Evaluating Quikon Med as a Coccidiocide for inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). J Ex Pet Med 15(4): 269-273, 2006.

  8. Acierno M, Mitchell MA, Roundtree M, Zachariah T. Evaluating the effect of ultraviolet B radiation on 1,25 hydroxyvitamin D levels in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). Am J Vet Res 67 (12): 2046-2049, 2006.

  9. Mitchell MA, Roundtree M. Evaluating the efficacy of polyhexamethylene biguanide at suppressing Salmonella Typhimurium in the water column of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) under transport. J Herp Med Surg, 16 (2): 45-48, 2006.

  10. Salb A, Mitchell MA, Riggs S, Diaz-Figueroa O, Roy A. Characterization of the aerobic and anaerobic bacterial intestinal flora of captive green iguanas, Iguana iguana. J Herp Med Surg 17 (1): 12-15, 2007.

  11. Fahrig B, Mitchell MA, Paccamonti D, Eilts B. Characterization and cooled storage of semen from corn snakes (Elaphe guttata). J Zoo Wild Med 38(1): 7-12, 2007.

  12. Zachariah TT, Mitchell MA, Guichard C, Singh R. Hemolymph biochemistry reference ranges for wild-caught goliath birdeater spiders (Theraphoa blondi) and Chilean rose spiders (Grammastola rosea). J Zoo Wild Med 38(2): 245-251, 2007

  13. Mitchell MA, Adamson T, Singleton B, Roundtree MK, Bauer R, Acierno MJ. Evaluation of a combination of sodium hypochlorite and polyhexamethylene biguanide as an egg wash for red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) to suppress or eliminate Salmonella organisms on egg surfaces and in hatchlings. AJVR 68(2):158-164, 2007.

  14. Vitousek M, Mitchell MA, Woakes AJ, Niemack MD, Wikelski M. 2007.High costs of female choice in a lekking lizard. PLoS ONE. Jun 27 (2):e567

  15. Zachariah T, Mitchell MA, Serra V, Walden M, Bauer R. 2007.Evaluating the effect of Baquacil® and Sanosil® on Salmonella in the aquatic habitat of the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). J Herp Med Surg 17(3):76-83

  16. Fields PA, Strothers CM, Mitchell MA. Function of muscle-type lactate dehydrogenase and citrate synthesis of the Galapagos marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus, in relation to temperature. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol Feb 9, 2008

  17. Acierno M, Mitchell MA, Roundtree M, Zachariah T, Kirchgessner M, Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D. 2008. Effects of ultraviolet radiation on plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in corn snakes (Elaphe guttata guttata). Am J Vet Res 69(2): 294-297.

  18. Wolf T, Mitchell MA, Roy A, Tully TN, Maurer K, Cooper L. Seroprevalence of alphaviruses in chelonians from southeastern Louisiana. J Herp Med Surg 18(1): 5-8.

  19. Diaz-Figueroa O, Mitchell MA, Ramirez S, Hannaneh W, Kim DY, Taylor HW.2008. Paecilmomyces lilacinus pneumonia in a free-ranging Louisiana gopher tortoise. J Herp Med Surg 18(2):52-60

  20. Mitchell MA, Riggs S, Singleton CB, Diaz-Figueroa O, Hale L. 2009. Evaluating the clinical and cardiopulmonary effects of clove oil and propofol on tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum). J Exotic Pet Med 18 (1): 50-56

  21. Zachariah T, Mitchell MA. 2009. Vitamin D3 in the hemolymph of wild-caught goliath bird eater spiders (Theraphosa blondi). J Zoo Wild Med, 40(2): 344–346

  22. Zachariah T, Mitchell MA, Guichard C, Singh R. 2009. Isoflurane anesthesia of wild-caught goliath bird eater spiders (Theraphosa blondi) and Chilean rose spiders (Grammastola rosea). J Zoo Wild Med, 40(2): 347–349

  23. Vitousek M, Mitchell MA, Romero M, Awerman J, Wikelski M. 2010. To Breed or not to Breed: Physiological Correlates of Reproductive Status in a Facultatively Biennial Iguanid. Horm Behav 57: 140-146

  24. Zachariah T, Mitchell MA, Serra V, Johnson M, Dickens MJ, Romero M. 2010. Acute corticosterone stress response to handling in four captive gopher tortoises, Gopherus polyphemus. J Herp Med Surg 19(2): 50-56

  25. Blackburn J, Mitchell MA, Holley-Blackburn MC, Curtis A, Thompson B. 2010. evidence of antibiotic resistance in free-swimming top-level marine predatory fishes. J Zoo Wildl Med 41(1): 7-16

 
Up second in the lineup for Fluker’s Farm employee profiles, let’s meet Casey Barthe! Twenty-nine year old Casey (well, he thinks he’s 29) has been with Fluker Farms since his days as a history major at LSU. This history major has always held a fascination with creepy-crawlies like reptiles, crickets, spiders and a multitude of other “pets” that make him a good fit for Fluker’s Farm. Casey, his wife Callie and their son, Shayne reside in Walker, LA but the hour commute everyday is worth it to work at Fluker’s.


What exactly does Casey do? Well, the short version would be assisting Waco Hitt (remember him?) as product manager. But really, Casey is a jack-of-all-trades, overseeing production staff and making sure all orders at Fluker’s Farm are received in a timely manner. Casey is responsible for scheduling, making sure all product orders go out, making sure orders are produced and that when they are pulled, they make it to the right truck. Kind of important, right? He is also responsible for making sure the freeze driers are working properly, so reptile diets are produced efficiently.


But he didn’t always hold this job. When Casey first started at Fluker’s, his main job involved boxing and shrink wrapping products with his younger brother, Remy back in Casey’s college days. But his relationship with Fluker’s goes back much further. Even in his youth, as an avid reptile owner, Casey would order Fluker’s products, things like crickets, at the age of 13.


In his spare time, Casey still hangs around a lot of bugs. He collects and breeds snakes, lizards, spiders and tarantulas, which he can order online. A funny story about Casey’s first experience ordering tarantulas: When his “package” was delivered, Casey and his friends were expecting a giant spider to be impressed by. What came instead was a tiny test tube containing no more than a speck - a baby tarantula! Now he just needs to convince his wife to like them. Casey’s family also own a Papillon dog to balance out the spiders and reptiles.


New Year’s Resolutions. Since it’s the beginning of 2011, we asked Casey to divulge his resolution for the New Year. He simply said, “To eat a little healthier.” It’s hard to pass up the rich Louisiana cuisine, but his resolution is probably similar to most Americans. Can’t argue there!


Thanks for reading about Casey and look out for more profile spotlights in the future!



Welcome to the first in a series of profile spotlights for Fluker Farms. Let’s take a look into the life of Waco Hitt, a man with an uncanny resemblance to Matt Damon, though his wife may disagree. Waco, who is now 36, has been with Fluker Farms for 15 years - ever since his days as a student at LSU. A resident of Baton Rouge, LA, Waco is the proud father of a 15-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.


In his spare time, Waco enjoys family time and the outdoors, doing things like golfing, hunting, and fishing. A big part of his life is community involvement and volunteering, especially through his church. Waco also enjoys relaxing, cooking and eating to blow off steam.



Is Waco a pet person? Absolutely. Waco always had pets growing up and now has a family dog. But that isn’t all. Waco also keeps fresh and salt-water fish, and likes to set up environments for them in their tanks. He also has twelve tarantulas in his office and seven snakes, which helps with the development of new reptile products. Shockingly, he never owned a reptile before his job at Fluker’s (and between you and me he was kind of creeped out by them). But now it’s a part of life. (If he sees a poisonous one in the woods, though, Waco will steer clear).


At work, Waco wears many hats, but the title Product Manager seems most fitting. His duties range from looking for trends and hoping to find cool, cutting-edge merchandise in the reptile realm, as well as finding new ways to market superworms, mealworms and crickets. Waco’s typical work cycle looks like this:

  • Product Research. The first task is to find out if a product idea will be viable to pursue.

  • Product Development. Once a product is deemed viable, Waco will test it in house for safety, effectiveness, even enlisting the help of customers to become part of a focus group.

  • Logistics. Then it’s on to nail down all the necessary costs. After that, the branding process can begin.

  • Branding. Fluker Farms has been working with a local agency for over 10 years to establish a market identity. This is where Waco turns when a product is ready for branding. It’s now time to get creative. Ideas are hashed out and then all necessary packaging is created.

  • A product is born. Once everything is in place, it’s time for production. The product is assembled, labeled, boxed, and now it’s ready to go!


Holiday fun. Waco and his family volunteer at a women’s shelter during Christmas, taking them to Walmart to go shopping for the holidays. Waco also enjoys doing arts and crafts events with the kids. Did we mention he loves eating? Waco’s oldest tradition is spending Christmas Day with his parents and watching A Christmas Story on TV every year.


Thanks for reading about Waco and look out for more profile spotlights in the future! 
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