Tony Gerard was into cryptozoology before it was cool. He voraciously read everything he could about the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot as a kid. He listened attentively as local old-timers told of black panthers roaming the hills and swamps of western Kentucky and southern Illinois where he grew up.His interest in the natural world led him to pursue a degree in biology and later an advanced degree in zoology. For a number of years, he was an investigator with the Bigfoot Field Researcher's Organization (before being kicked out by Matt Moneymaker).In addition to natural history, Gerard has an avid interest in the North American frontier of the 18th and 19th centuries. He began 18th-century historical re-enactment as a hobby in the early 1980s, which led to his being selected as a core extra for the motion picture "Last of the Mohicans." This, in turn, led to working on many other historical films and documentaries.Later, he worked in front and behind the camera on all seasons of The History Channel's series "Monsterquest." The producer of "Monster from the Big Muddy" recently described Gerard as "one of the most open-minded skeptics I've ever met." Traveling extensively, Gerard is always interested to learn of lesser-known cryptids such as Hulikurka, the mystery cat of the western Ghats mountains of India, or Belbeliknek, the flipping snake of the highlands of Luzon, Philippines.Currently, Gerard teaches biology and earth science courses at Shawnee College in southern Illinois.