Saturday was nice and I got off work fairly early, so we decided to check out some dens. We found this:


Prairie Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis


Chloe and Nikki with the viridis - the snake isn't as close as it seems, it is at least 5 feet away.

And here is Chloe in her gift from Bob:



Josh

Chloe joins the Emms family

Chloe Susann Emms, born January 31, 2012 at 1:23pm, 7 pounds 5.8 ounces, 20 3/4 inches long



Nikki with our beautiful baby girl!

Some recent NMHS activities

I'm going to start with November at the Festival of the Cranes:


Tara Wheeler knitting


Nikki Emms with her ghost corn snake on her pregnant belly (February and I'll be a Daddy! ). Looks like Chris Nichols and Tara are a little tired!





Tara performing surgery on her dog.


Some people were brave enough to handle the animals.

Here is a video of our entire display:



Now I'll move on to this year's Christmas Banquet which also included a tour of the reptile house at the Rio Grande Zoo. Our guides for the tour were Jen and Matt, we were divided into two groups, one led by Jen and one led by Matt:


Jen and Matt lead the tours - Photo by Zane Dohner


This is in the break room, I believe it is a tree monitor


anti-venom


Brown Anoles are used as feeders


More feeders


Woma


A viper of some sort





Box Turtles


Black-tailed Rattlesnake


Gila Monster


Carpet Python


Our group in the quarantine room





Jill Stabile, Logan Bulgrin & Nikki Emms


Emerald Tree Boa


Fun sign inside the building


uh oh!


American Alligator


another


yet another...seriously, people need to learn these don't make good pets!


Saltwater Crocodile


another shot of the croc



The entrance to the tortoise barn - Photo by Zane Dohner


Sulcata Tortoise





Red-footed Tortoises





The newest keeper at the zoo, Jen Stabile showing a little girl the Aldabra Tortoises


Aldabra Tortoise








Rebecca Bulgrin with an Aldabra








Matt with the Aldabra - Photo by Zane Dohner


They had a lot of these Eyelash Palm Vipers


a lot of different colors


another


Baby Crocodile Skink that wanted a piece of Jen's hand!


a more friendly one


Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake


A parting shot from the tour

These are on display:


Mossy Frog


Rhinoceros Viper


Puff Adder

We had a meet and greet at the Rattlesnake Museum:


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner

The Christmas Banquet was held at Garcia's. We had a Mexican buffet which included tacos and blue corn enchiladas among other things. It was very tasty! Our program was given by Doug Hotle. He is the curator of reptiles at the Rio Grande Zoo. His presentation was about some conservation work they are doing at the zoo with some New Mexico Native species: Jemez Mountains Salamander, Sacramento Mountains Salamander, Northern Leopard Frog, Mexican Garter Snake, Narrow-headed Garter Snake and the politically popular Dunes Sagebrush Lizard.


The buffet line


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Doug getting ready for his presentation - Photo by Zane Dohner


Doug giving his presentation





Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner


Photo by Zane Dohner

A great time was had by all and Doug also told us of some new upcoming exhibits at the zoo. The reptile house will be renovated and updated. They are also adding an alligator pond where the old patio was in front of the reptile house. They are also going to add an outdoor enclosure for the Komodo Dragons. A new amphibian building will open in the spring and within the next couple of years they are planing on building a new building for the Saltwater Crocs which will include some other Australian reptiles including an Inland Taipan! Lots of cool things coming soon for the zoo!

Josh