Zoo crew

2015 Summer Reading Program at Mountain Lake Public Library officially kicks off with a visit by The Zoo Man

 

read to the rhythm

The 2015 Summer Reading Program at Mountain Lake Public Library – Read to the Rhythm – is officially underway – with a kick-off visit from The Zoo Man on Wednesday afternoon, June 10.

Brent Mielke – aka “The Zoo Man” – made his 25th visit to Mountain Lake Public Library – the site holding recognition as the longest running stop on The Zoo Man’s annual summertime animal tour. 

Over the past 28 years, The Zoo Man has performed live in front of more than six-and-one-half  million people in 47 of the 50 United States and Canada, been on numerous television shows – and in one year alone performed 2,300 times. He performs for professional sports franchises, libraries, schools, county fairs and town festivals, in addition to his television appearance.

He used to live in Adrian, Minnesota until a 2006 fire wiped out his zoo. So, he moved back home to Sleepy Eye to relocate his Prairie Winds Zoo, as well as his “side business” – Dungeon Gym.

A graduate of Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, Mielke has two Masters degrees; one in wellness/exercise science and the other in herpetology (reptiles)/zoology. As The Zoo Man, he makes use of one of his advanced degrees, and with Dungeon Gym, the other.

The Zoo Man’s friends during the visit featured a bearded dragon named Space Ghost, a royal python snake named Razor, a blue-tongued skink and Big Guy #15, a fast-growing golden albino Burmese python.

Following is the rundown of the remainder of the library’s summertime events. All ages are invited, but preschool-aged children must be accompanied by a parent of guardian:

* Monday, June 15 and Tuesday, June 16 – Pow Wow; Library is closed.

* Monday, June 17, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Make & Take Craft Table.

* Monday, June 22, 1 p.m., Minnesota’s favorite magician – Brodini – and his Comedy Magic Show.

* Wednesday, June 24, 1 p.m. to  3 p.m., Make & Take Craft Table.

* Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, Fourth of July; Library is closed.

* Wednesday, July 8, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m, Make & Take Craft Table.

* Wednesday, July 15, 2 p.m., Mr. Twister and his Super Balloon Show = balloons, magic and fun for all ages. NO CRAFT TABLE.

* Tuesday, July 21, 1 p.m., Library Game Day (event is for young readers who have completed kindergarten and older; no preschoolers please).

* Wednesday, July 22, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Make & Take Craft Table.

These summer reading program activities are funded by Mountain Lake Public Library and Friends of the Mountain Lake Public Library.

Below is a photo gallery of The Zoo Man – and his Mountain Lake Public Library Zoo Crew:

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THE ZOO MAN – as the name on the back of his jersey identifies him – faces his audience with a special visitor from Africa – a royal python named Razor – cupped in his hands.
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THE ZOO MAN (Brent Mielke), standing left, deftly demonstrates how Space Ghost, the Australian bearded dragon he has in his left hand, quickly snaps out its tongue to grab and nab lunch.
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A QUICK TIME-out by The Zoo Man, right, to snap a photo with his iPhone of Space Ghost riding high atop the head of Harlan Munning, left, in order to post it to his Facebook social media site.
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RAZOR, AN African royal python makes its appearance. Razor has been a part of all of The Zoo Man’s shows for the past 28 years.
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USING MICAH HOLMBERG, right, as the trunk and limbs of a tree, The Zoo Man, left, shared with the audience how Razor sleeps in the tree – slides down the tree trunk to get a snack to eat – and then slithers back up into the tree limbs for a nap.
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HAILEY MARX, LEFT, has an eye-to-eye moment with Razor.
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A BLUE-TONGUED skink from Australia was the next featured guest. The Zoo Man was excited at this female is also mom to his Prairie Winds Zoo’s first live birth baby blue-tongued skink bred in captivity. Note the quivering blue tongue sticking out from her mouth – the feature from which the reptile receives its name.
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. . . A NON-POISONOUS blue tongue that the skink just smacked on the nose of Cooper Wenner.
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LAST, BUT NOT least to gain the attention of the audience was Big Guy #15, a young golden albino Burmese python. The snake’s name is derived from the fact that this is the 15th Big Guy bred in captivity.
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IT TAKES SIX+ to hold Big Guy #15 –  five junior zookeepers with varying facial reactions to actually touching a snake – plus a lift at the head end at left by The Zoo Man.
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