Best known for his Vine account BigCatDerek, he accumulated more than 1.2 million followers before the app was shut down. He would post original, educational, entertaining, and engaging content while serving as the Operations Director of the Center for Animal Research and Education.
As a huge fan of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh and Hobbes from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, he realized that the tiger was his favorite animal. This led to him stumbling onto a non-profit sanctuary for big cats and becoming a volunteer there.
He previously worked as an aviation Meteorologist in Texas.
He was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He married the executive Director of the Center for Animal Research and Education.
He is a web video star who was born in Wisconsin, like Craig Benzine.
