Nr. 58

Small Mammal Pets  (YOU6365)

1.   Earn the Mammal Honor.

2.   Keep a small mammal pet for at least 6 months.  (Dogs and Cats are not included as small mammal pets.)  For a suggested list of pets to choose from, see #5 below.

3.   Complete one of the following:

a.  If you currently have a small mammal pet, keep a record of the care for your small mammal for one month. Include in your record when it is watered, fed, and when its cage is cleaned.

b.  If you do not currently have a small mammal pet, but you have kept one in the past for at least 6 months, Ababysit@ someone else=s small mammal pet for at least one week.  Record the care that was required.

4.   Give an oral report (at least 3 minutes) on what you have observed about your small mammal pet.  Include favorite foods, some of its habits, when it is most active, and favorite story about the pet, etc.

5.   a. Be able to distinguish between the following groups of small mammal pets:

          1.  Hamsters                  5.  Guinea Pigs

          2.  Gerbils                      6.  Chinchillas

          3.  Rats                        7.  Rabbits

          4.  Mice                        8.  Ferrets

          Note: local mammals may substitute those on this list not known in your area.

b. Describe the basic care for one of the above list and describe one way the care of another one of the list differs from the first one you selected.

c. Which of those listed are not rodents?

6.   Write a 200-word essay about the history and value of one of the pets listed above and what characteristics they have that make them good pets.

7.   Be able to identify five varieties of hamsters and five varieties of rabbits.

8.   Why is it not good to make pets out of small mammals taken from the wild?

9.   Rabies: What is it?  How is it spread?  Can you get it from small mammals?  Is it curable?  How can you avoid getting it?  Which small mammal pets can carry it?

10.  Why should you not handle your small mammal pets when you have a cold?

11.  Find three references in the Bible to animals that we now consider to be small mammal pets.  According to the Bible, are they considered to be clean or unclean meat?  

Skill Level 1 - 2