When I was asked to take people on a tour of the zoo, I assumed it meant the vendors at the symposium. ;-) The St. Louis Zoo is is actually quite nice. You know how bird watchers keep track of the birds they see on a birder's list? I have done the same thing with American zoos, and I have visited all the large ones, and most of the smaller ones. So, when I say the St. Louis Zoo is pretty good, it is probably not too exaggerated by state pride (as if I had any of that, living in a State of Misery). The zoo had a ferret in the Children's Zoo, mislabeled as a polecat, and I suspect it is still there. They also have dwarf mongooses, which I can watch for hours, and suricates (meerkats) which I can watch for as long. Most of the exhibits are very naturalistic, which allows for viewing some natural behaviors. The zoo also has some small primates, and if you are carefully observant, you can notice many ferret-like social behaviors. Since time is limited, I'll take people to the suricates, mongooses, and small primates, explaning how a shrewd use of housing and enrichment creates happy animals. Afterward, people are free to wander off on their own, or continue to view the zoo with me until we leave. Actually, you are not required to tour with me at all; you can spend the entire time on your own if you want. Although many of the animals are not ferrets, or even mustelids, I will explain how you can use enrichments designed for many different species to improve the lives of ferrets. The puffin/penguin exhibit is absolutely outstanding! They have done a lot of work to the primate house, and will be opening a new forest-like primate exhibt this year; hopefully in time for the visit. The cost of drinks and food is a bit expensive, like at all zoos, but since there is no fee to enter the zoo, the profits are used to maintain it. The zoo is actually a good distance from the Hotel, so the fee covers the cost of renting transportation, which I think is similar to the parking fee at the zoo ($9), so you can't lose. You can visit the St. Louis Zoo online at: stlzoo.org/ Those who attended the symposium in Atlanta will recall I gave away ferret exaggeration postcards during my presentation. there were eight of them: ferretalopes, riding giant ferrets, ferret ponies, etc. I will be doing the same this year with new comical ferret postcards, but everyone who attends the St. Louis Zoo trip will get a special one, unavailable to everyone else. Bob C [log in to unmask] "At that point, Poirot nudged me gently, indicating two men who were sitting together near the door. One was a little, sharp, dark, ferret faced man, the other was tall and fair." Agatha Christie 1920 The Mysterious Affair at Styles. [Posted in FML issue 4786]