NEEDLES

I came across this old copy of The Mercury from October, 21, 1987. That is a silly photo of me holding an alligator. As many of you know, we in the Biology Department at GSC had as a mascot an American alligator, named “Needles”.

In early August of 1987, my Divisional Chairman, Dr. John Chisler, went to Florida to attend a conference. I asked him, “Would you all eat some seafood for me and will you bring back an alligator?” He smiled and assured me that he would. Soon after he returned, I found Needles in a temporary “pond” in my office ( a plastic 55 gallon drum) with a note from Dr. Chisler. It said, “I have done as you have asked!” I could not believe that this cell biologist actually wrestled an alligator and brought it back from the Sunshine State. For weeks Dr. Chisler’s story kept getting more dramatic - how he found the gator in a swamp, how he lured it in with shrimp and scallops, and how he finally captured it. It was not until later that he confided that Bill Fink of Kanawha County had donated the critter to our biology department.

Needles along with other reptiles went on many school trips through the years. We would explain each reptilian species that we transported to the schools. The public school students loved to see our collections of snakes, turtles, and especially our resident alligator. It was always fun to watch the kid’s faces as we put Needles “to sleep”. This was no problem, since alligators along with other reptiles are cold blooded. When the alligator is placed on its back, the blood pressure drops, and the critter appears to be sleeping. It is harmless and the alligator recovers quickly.

Here is the text of the The Mercury article that presents the true story.


“Needles” Finds Home
By S. Morrison

GSC is the proud owner of a baby alligator. His name is “Needles,” and he resides in the Science Hall, here on campus. Needles was donated to GSC by the Bill Fink family of Charleston.

Needles was found walking on Patrick Street in Charleston on October of 1986. It had apparently been someone’s pet and rumor has it that it was released into the Kanawha River during the Regatta Festival held on Labor Day weekend in 1986. The alligator was taken care of by the Bill Fink family from the time it was found until it was donated to the college in August of this year.

Baby alligators have many enemies, not the least of which is cold weather. Had Needles stayed in the Kanawha River, he would have died from the cold. Here in captivity, it is expected that he will enjoy a long life. His diet consists of live minnows and frozen whiting.