The other week I saw a cool picture of a rare albino deer that was spotted in Minnesota and it started a discussion about whether or not if anyone around Central Minnesota had ever seen one before. Little did I know it would lead me to something even more rare. A rare albino snapping turtle in Minnesota.

Mix 94.9 logo
Get our free mobile app

Imagine my surprise when someone sent a message via our app, saying

I have an albino snapping turtle! 1 in 100,000 are born albino.

Say what? How cool is that? Naturally this piqued my curiosity and you can't just let that hang and not ask more questions. Reached out to the owner Angie the Reptile Lady with a few questions and got some really interesting information about not just any albino turtle, but a Minnesota albino snapping turtle.

Image Credit: Angie Cairl (Angie the Reptile Lady)
Image Credit: Angie Cairl (Angie the Reptile Lady)
loading...

When I asked her to tell me a little more about her nickname Angie the Reptile Lady, her pet turtle and how she came to owning it, here's what Angie had to say:

Mix 94.9 logo
Get our free mobile app
I owned a pet store for a little over 10 years and would bring snakes to school for show and tell for my kids. When I closed the store (wow! 10 years ago now) a couple people asked if I would still come do show and tell. They started paying me so I got more stuff to bring. And now because of social media I'm pretty much booked all summer! I never thought I would do professional show and tell, lol! I do daycares, birthday parties, scouts, expos and I have been a staple at the Benton County Fair for awhile now.

Telling me a little more on the albino snapping turtle, she replied,

As for Bones (named after the character on Mario Bros, Dry Bones), she is an Albino Common Snappy Turtle. She was found in the yard of some people that live on a lake in the city of Big Lake when she was a hatchling about four years ago. I was super lucky to get chosen to care for her! They are pretty rare, only about 1/100,000 are born albino! They usually don't make it past a year in the wild with no camouflage. In captivity they could possibly go 100 years!

I also volunteer for the MN Herpetological Society at the MN Renaissance Festival and Bones was a big hit in the turtle pond this year!

Again, this isn't just any snapping turtle, is an albino snapping turtle founded in Central Minnesota and still living here. A true born and raised Minnesotan! Tune in next week as Angie the Reptile Lady stops by with Bones and another one of her turtles and learn a little more on this fascinating creature of Minnesota. Here are a few more photos until then of the Rare Minnesota Albino Snappy Turtle!

Mix 94.9 logo
Get our free mobile app

Bones as a Hatchling

Image Credit: Angie Cairl (Angie the Reptile Lady) Bones as a baby
Image Credit: Angie Cairl (Angie the Reptile Lady)
loading...

Bones with friends

Image Credit: Angie Cairl (Angie the Reptile Lady)
Image Credit: Angie Cairl (Angie the Reptile Lady)
loading...

Bones and Angie the Reptile Lady

Image Credit: Angie Cairl (Angie the Reptile Lady)
Image Credit: Angie Cairl (Angie the Reptile Lady)
loading...

RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds

Does your loyal pup's breed make the list? Read on to see if you'll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog's intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don't worry: Even if your dog's breed doesn't land on the list, that doesn't mean he's not a good boy--some traits simply can't be measured.

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

8 Disappointing Pets All Minnesota Kids Had

 

More From Mix 94.9