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]