Dear Members and Friends:

Our mid-winter meeting will be held on Saturday, January 6th at the Belle Cooledge Library located on the corner of South Land Park and Fruitridge Road. Let's try to get the meeting started at 1:00 so that we can all be home before dark and before the fog sets in. If you would like to bring some food to share, that will be wonderful and we will supply the refreshments. January 6th will be the 12th day of Christmas and perhaps you want to show us some of the turtle items you received for Christmas. Bring them along for all to enjoy and “ooh” over, ok?

Since we have no guest speaker for this meeting, I plan on showing one or possibly two of the Tortoise Trust tapes and having a lively discussion about them afterwards. Can anyone help out with the TV/VCR problem? The library refuses to let anyone use the one on the premises, therefore, we have to bring our own. I will bring my 13 inch unit but we definitely need two of them so there will be one in the front of the room and one in the middle of the room so those in the rear can see and hear. If you can bring your TV/VCR combo also, I will have the connections to go between the two of them. Please let me know ASAP.

Sharon Chancellor gave a wonderful talk about her Cuora Galbinifrons group describing the successes and failures of trying to get a successful breeding program underway. Club Member, Teri, decided to take up a collection to help Sharon with her vet bills. Sharon wanted to return the money because it was not her intent to raise money, but we had no way of knowing who donated. Therefore, Sharon wants to thank all who gave and wants you to know that she did use the money for the turtles X-rays and other tests that were performed over at U.C. Davis.

Our 20th Club Anniversary will be celebrated at our Spring meeting on April 7th. Did any of you know that we started out as the Sacramento California Chelonian Society? SCCS.

After awhile it became clear that most people thought “chelonian” (pronounced with a K as in Christmas) meant chameleon or camellia. I was uncomfortable with this and soon changed the name to what it is today. We'll reminisce and have cake, etc. to celebrate 20 successful years and I hope many of the original members will be able to attend. It would be great if we could have a guest speaker for the meeting. Anyone willing?

Lemmeknow!

Thank you all for your beautiful Christmas cards, extra dues and donations and items for the sale table and raffle. It would not be a successful club without all of my very enthusiastic and helpful members. It is truly appreciated every day of the year.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND I'LL SEE YOU ON JANUARY 6th

FAT BETTY'S WEATHER BULLETIN

Fat Betty came out of hibernation on December 8th. This means that history is in the making. Spring will arrive in Sacramento before Winter. As you are well aware, Fat Betty's weather forecasts are dependable, therefore, when those salespeople call trying to force you to put double-paned windows on your house you can simply tell them that you won't need them because Fat Betty said so.

While most of the Bunker residents are asleep, or trying to sleep, the Greenhouse is full of energetic tortoises. Two new residents have arrived. As if I didn't have enough trouble with Greek tortoises, two more males became available. I was told they were deformed hatchlings and were living in Wisconsin. How could I not offer them a loving home in California? Upon overnight arrival, I opened the box and instead of seeing deformed hatchlings, out popped two lumpy full-sized males, obviously captive born and years past their hatchling days. And they were ready for some loving. Since they arrived too late to go into the yard, they are spending the winter in the greenhouse and seem to be having the time of their lives, running at full speed towards me as I step inside with food in my hands, heads raised high in anticipation. I'm in LOVE!

Another Sulcata by the name of Winston has been donated. He is 3 years old, but unlike the infamous Tillie who weighed 35 lbs. at that age, Winston is only 6 inches long and feather light. It was good that he was turned over to me before something unpleasant happened to him. As soon as I get him on a good diet and normal growth begins, he will be available for adoption so be sure to get on the waiting list for him, but only if you can provide for his needs as he grows and grows and grows and needs warm quarters for the winter months.

With the weather getting very cold and then warming up, the Bunker box and water turtles are not sure of what to do. Most days they are “gone” but on a sunny afternoon, quite a few are out there basking. Many calls are coming in regarding this situation from worried turtle owner and I tell them to “let their turtles be turtles”. They know what they are doing and survive quite well without our interference. If a freeze is expected, I'll put extra layers of newspapers on the turtles in the doghouses but they usually kick the papers out of the doorway because they are trying to dig.

Thanks for all of your help regarding the “sink holes” in my back yard where the huge maple tree used to be. A couple of Russians (torts that is) have been spotted hibernating in the area but not too deeply. I've been advised to bring in lots of sand or dirt to fill in the holes but for right now, I'll take the advice to leave well enough alone and watch what happens. If I don't show up for the meeting on Jan. 6, you'll know where to find me. Bring a shovel.

IMPORTANT FACTS TO KNOW

Some tortoises are more difficult to keep than others as many of you have found out the hard way. Star tortoises as well as Forest Hingebacks do not seem to adapt well to captivity nor do Ornate box turtles. Some people are successful with these species but they are few and far between. Mostly I hear heartbreaking stores from their owners.

The easiest tortoise to keep is a Russian because of its small size and huge personality. They are also quite hardy which is a plus and are able to hibernate in harsh conditions. Other small sized hardy tortoises are the Greek and Hermann's, all being extremely friendly and never shy as most Leopard tortoises are. Sometimes it takes years before an owner actually sees his Leopard tortoises face. Most of the time, if a Leopard hears a human approaching, he will let out a hiss and pull his head as far in as possible and cover the area with his front legs. And he will remain in this position for an uncomfortably long time. Before you add to your collection, give it some extra thought. You will be glad you did.

And Finally……

I hope your turtles and tortoises are having a safe hibernation. It is best to let them sleep as nature intended, no matter how much we miss them and worry worry worry. Use this “down” time to improve their living conditions outdoors by cleaning up debris as best you can. Paint their doghouses long before they wake up so the paint will be thoroughly dry. Try to correct any dangerous conditions in their habitat. Make sure there are no long strands of Bermuda grass lurking about to entangle them. Keep larger rocks away from the fence line because sometimes they wedge themselves between the rock and fence and perish when the sun finds them before you do. Make certain they are in no danger of flooding at any time of the year. Crawl on your knees at their level to discover the dangers. They don't close their eyes when walking into a cactus………….ugh…….

If your neighbors have dogs, inspect the fence lines daily for signs of the dogs digging or trying to break the fence in order to get to your turtles. It happens very often. It even happened here.

BE ALERT.