Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Jackson.
Hi Jacob , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m Jacob Jackson, the guy behind @therealherphero, and my story starts in the backyards and streams of Baltimore, flipping logs and chasing frogs before I even knew what herpetology meant. That early curiosity turned into a passion for wildlife, especially the misunderstood ones—reptiles and amphibians. Over time, I went from raising turtles in my room to working hands-on with animals in zoos, leading community hikes, and studying wildlife in places like the Peruvian Amazon and Costa Rica. I’ve always believed that nature is for everyone, and that people protect what they understand. So I made it my mission to blend storytelling, education, and science into something people could actually connect with—on social media, in classrooms, and out in the field.
In 2019, I co-founded the Herp Hero Wildlife Foundation in Baltimore as a way to give back through education and outreach. I built RealHerpHero.com to be more than a blog—it’s a space where wildlife stories, conservation updates, and everyday environmental action come together. Around that same time, I spent time at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve in Costa Rica, where I helped with camera traps, bird counts, and tree surveys in the cloud forest. That experience was grounding. It reminded me that conservation isn’t always glamorous—it’s daily effort, real data, and a lot of mud. But it also showed me how powerful it is when you bring science and storytelling together.
My YouTube channel (@therealherphero) and Instagram became outlets to do exactly that. I started documenting my experiences—wild rescues, field projects, turtle tracking, frog enclosures—and showing people what wildlife work actually looks like. It’s messy, exciting, and full of life. I mix in humor, real talk, and a lot of behind-the-scenes moments so people get the full picture—not just the polished version. Whether I’m creating educational reels about invasive species or filming a long-form episode on habitat restoration, my goal is always to inspire people to see the wild as something worth protecting.
Now I split my time between content creation, environmental education, and conservation fieldwork. I collaborate with schools, nonprofits, and local communities to teach people how to live alongside the wild—whether it’s identifying a frog call in their backyard or planting natives to bring pollinators back. Everything I do—online and offline—is rooted in this belief: the animals and ecosystems we ignore are the ones that need us the most. And if I can help someone care a little more, look a little closer, or take action in their own neighborhood, then I’ve done my job.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No road starts paved, and mine definitely wasn’t. Entering the world of wildlife conservation and environmental education as a young African American male came with a weight I didn’t fully expect. This is a field where people who look like me are rarely seen, let alone centered, and that lack of representation can quietly shape how you’re treated, how you’re doubted, and how alone you sometimes feel. I didn’t have mentors who looked like me growing up. I had to build that path myself, often navigating spaces where bias—whether implicit or direct—reminded me that I had to prove myself more than others. You carry yourself differently when you know the spotlight might turn into a microscope.
Beyond identity, the work itself is emotionally heavy. For every victory in conservation—every species protected, every student inspired—it feels like human ignorance or apathy drags us three steps back. Forests disappear, invasive species spread, and basic environmental protections are rolled back. It’s a constant cycle that can wear down even the most passionate hearts. Some days the anxiety hits hard—the fear that no matter how much you’re doing, it’s not enough. But what keeps me going is knowing that I’m not just doing this for myself. I’m doing it for the next kid who sees my work and realizes they belong in this space too. And for the animals, habitats, and communities that deserve better than being forgotten.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I look at myself the same way anyone looks in the mirror every morning—just a person trying to do what they love. The only difference is that passion drives my every move. I specialize in wildlife education, conservation storytelling, and macro wildlife photography, particularly focusing on reptiles and amphibians—the overlooked, the misunderstood, the wild underdogs. What started as a love for nature became an obsession with capturing the tiny details most people miss: the texture of a frog’s skin, the way a snake’s scales catch light, or the subtle behavior of a tortoise in its environment. That attention to detail shaped not only how I photograph, but how I communicate and teach—every moment matters, every organism has a role. What I’m most proud of is building a platform that helps people see the beauty and value in creatures they’d usually fear or ignore. What sets me apart is that I don’t just talk about wildlife—I live it, breathe it, and make it relatable. I meet people where they are and invite them into the wild, not as tourists, but as part of the story.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that passion means nothing without consistency. You have to keep showing up—even when it feels like no one’s watching, and even when progress moves slow.
Pricing:
- Freelance photographer you can navigate them to my social media for details on pricing. However you’d like to do so that fits the script.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://realherphero.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/therealherphero
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@therealherphero?si=N3sWRJUUHuOgG2nE
