JoGayle Howard forwarded this good news to me: "Once believed to be extinct, Black-footed Ferrets have had a banner year for breeding at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's conservation facility in Front Royal, Va. Twelve litters of black-footed ferrets have been born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute since May 7, including litters born to four females who have never before had kits. In total, 50 kits were born this year, and 49 have survived. The sizes of the litters this year also were larger than previous years. Five of the litters born this year included six kits—unusual for a species that usually has three or four kits at a time. The most recent litter was born July 23." See full story here: <http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/Conservation/BlackFootedFerrets/BFF2010.cfm> Utterly ADORABLE pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalzoo/sets/72157624520995067/ Linda [Posted in FML 6779]