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I had a feeling that Hera had already given birth as I was driving home from work on 12 August 2004. I walked through the front door and immediately rushed into the chin room. I saw that there was a tiny ball of fur moving around in the pine house while Hera sat outside. I was delighted, thinking she had only given birth to one baby and would still be delivering another. However, when I opened the cage door and Hera moved, I discovered that she had actually given birth to two kits and one of them had passed away. The dead kit was large, weighing 59 grams, but Hera didn't seem to have trouble delivering it, as it had no blood on it and she had cleaned and dried it. Perhaps she accidentally smothered it. I know she had tried to keep it warm and nurse it, because the hair was flat like it always is when the babies are under Mom. Of course, these things happen, as every breeder knows (or should!) but it's always difficult. I just hope that the baby didn't suffer. I am thankful that the other kit is alive and seems to be doing well. Looks like a possible Eb White. These pictures aren't the greatest, but here's your first peak at Hera's surviving kit. All 48 grams of it!

Jay was shipped out to Philadelphia, PA, to live with his new mom, Karen, and, eventually, his mate, Hazel. He arrived safely on 2 December 2005.