We received a very exciting piece of news: Our Executive Director Phil Jenni has received the 2011 UMN College of Veterinary Medicine’s Outstanding Service Award.

The award recognizes “individuals from the community for their accomplishments, service and contributions to veterinary medicine.”

Specifically, Phil is being honored for providing leadership that, in the UMN College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Trevor Ames’ words: “has enhanced the wonderful work of the Center and its national reputation” while “strengthening the collaboration between the Center and the College.”

The ceremony will be Friday, April 15th at the UMN.

Congratulations, Phil!

Still no baby cottontails or squirrels yet, but more baby foxes!! Today we received three newborn red fox kits from Rochester. They were found in a barn; initially there were five – mom moved two and never returned for these three. They were found to be very cold and lethargic, and brought to us when it was determined that mom was unfortunately not returning.

They are all in good health and are about a week old, only weighing a quarter of a pound each! Newborn red fox are dark brown-gray when born, and are deaf, blind and toothless. They have a white tip on their tail, which acts as a distinguishing characteristic to tell them apart from gray fox, coyote or raccoon. As they age, their fur will gradually turn to red, first noticed on the face around 3-4 weeks of age.

Tonight we admitted our first baby of the season, an orphaned fox kit. Although red fox kits can be born in March in Minnesota, it is not common for us to admit them this early, especially in a snow storm. In 2010 our first red fox kit was not admitted till April 20th, and it was much younger than this one.

We don’t know exactly why the kit was orphaned, it is possible the mother was moving her litter and somehow they got separated. The kit is being treated for upper respiratory issues. No matter what it is like outside today, our first baby animal is a sure sign that spring is on its way.

Probably not today.

Every year the staff at WRC eagerly awaits the first baby animals of the spring.  Most work places have an office pool for the college basketball tournament.  Not here.  Our “tourney” pool  is for the date that we admit our first orphan.

Even with the late spring our choices ranged from March 12 to March 28^th.  Last year we admitted our first baby, an Eastern Gray Squirrel, on March 6 and by March 23^rd we had admitted 15 baby animals.  The latest 1st orphan admit that we’ve posted since we moved off the University campus in 2002 is March 23 – today.

I’m doing better in my BB pool than the WRC pool as my date has come and gone.  That’s not all bad however.  The infants we receive in the early spring (before March 25) are severely compromised.  They are generally newborn and weigh less than 20 grams – about the same as three quarters.  Most animals this young have little chance of survival, regardless of our efforts.

I’m hoping we all lose our pool this year.  The babies are out there; it’s just that we’re not.  So all the babies in the nests in the eaves, outdoor grills and other inconvenient spots might be big enough to leave by the time the late winter yields to our spring chores.

Meanwhile I can concentrate on those badgers … the Wisconsin Badgers.