Black-footed Ferrets Give Birth

The black footed ferret, an endangered species, native to the North American Prairie, gave birth at the National Zoo on June 20th.

From the National Zoo's Website:

The National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center (CRC), in Front Royal, Virginia, has been breeding endangered black-footed ferrets for 20 years to bring them back from the brink of extinction. This year, 21 females were bred at CRC, four by artificial insemination and 17 by natural pairings.

So far, four ferrets have given birth to litters, including Georgia, the ferret featured on our web cam. She gave birth to a kit, resulting from artificial insemination, on June 20. Look for the newborn on the cam. It does not yet have the dark markings of its mother.

CRC staff were not sure which ferrets were pregnant. Ferrets are induced ovulators, which means they do not ovulate until they breed. When we artificially inseminate them, we give them a hormone injection the day before to induce ovulation. Ovulation usually results in a pregnancy or a pseudo (false) pregnancy. As with giant pandas, their hormone levels change as if they were pregnant, whether or not they are. Also, their appetite will increase, they will gain weight, and show other changes in behavior.

The National Zoo has even put a webcam up HERE.

Meet the Mutt and other events

Ironically, my last post was about "designer dogs." Well, if you haven't heard, Rob and I have one. A dog, not necessarily designer, though. We were told he's a yorkie-poo, but I think that they're full of it. He's definately got terrier in him. Maybe a little schnauzer. Possibly poodle, but who knows?!? We're ok with that, though. He's our little mutt!


He came with the name Buddy, but that's not really his name. Anytime you end up calling your dog "puppy, puppy, puppy" it's b/c he doesn't really like his name (same goes for cats, and you end up calling them "kitty"). Well, Rob and I were talking the other day, and Tycho Brahe came up. Yes, we are such big nerds that 400 year old astronomers come up in conversation. We decided Tycho is a perfect name for him! So, little Buddy's name is Tycho "Hoover" Barkhe (pronouned Bark-ey). Yes, we are such dorks. "Hoover" b/c he snuffles the carpet in hopes of "vacuuming" up any food we may have dropped.

Pictures of Tycho are in my flickr set here (click on the photo to get taken to my flickr photos):




Rob and I also went to the zoo on Weds and saw the cutest thing ever! Baby Peacocks! Yes, baby peacocks are friggin' adorable! See for yourself! If you click on the photo, you can see more pictures from our zoo trip, and yes, more adorable baby peacocks!



: