By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

It is time for Levi — Sternberg Museum of Natural History’s resident alligator snapping turtle — to get a bath.

The bath is  scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday said museum director Reese Barrick.

The bath will be Levi’s first outing outside the tank since arriving at Sternberg more than two years ago, following a rescue from an illegal alligator snapping turtle farm in Arkansas.

How will Levi, who is between 75 and 100 years old, react to dry land?

“Good question,” Barrick laughed. “Those turtles have a mind of their own. He may be a bit disconcerted at first — and he is a snapping turtle.”

Barrick said five volunteers will help drain Levi’s tank and scrub him and his tank clean with brushes and a mixture of iodine and diluted bleach.

Barrick said the community is invited to watch this rare opportunity, but will not be allowed to touch Levi, noting there will be plenty of volunteers to make sure Levi does not snap at anyone and stays at a safe distance from the public.