We’re WILD for WILDLIFE and we’re WILD about YOU – and Artie Too!

This is Artie – which is short for “Artichoke.”  He is a beloved animal ambassador for River Legacy Nature Center.  Since he joined the River Legacy team in 2018, Artie has delighted and educated thousands and thousands of guests at your Nature Center.  

His playful spirit and lovable face capture the hearts of EVERYONE who meets him.  Artie teaches children about vertebrates, mammals, carnivores, food webs, and so much more.  His fascinating, flexible spine inspires questions about animal adaptations.    

Artie is a domesticated European ferret.  Did you know that this type of ferret is in the top 10 favorite pets of Americans?  

Thanks to your donations, Artie and other animal ambassadors receive top-notch care at River Legacy Nature Center.  Naturalists nurture and enrich their days.  They are fed high quality diets. What they eat and their behavior is closely monitored and documented. 

In November of 2023, expert naturalists noticed changes in Artie.  Close monitoring caught his decline very early.  Weight loss, poor appetite and stomach upset prompted a visit to Creature Comfort.  Dr. Tran suspected stomach ulcers, a condition ferrets are susceptible to from stress. (Artie had been greeting more guests than usual since our beloved Buttons had passed away.)

Medicine and a special diet were prescribed. The naturalist team went into action!  The medicine had to be given every 12 hours.  So at 8 o’clock in the morning and at 8 pm every day and night for TWO months, Artie was given medicine.  His special diet was prepared.  Artie’s care required one of our dedicated naturalists to come in every day and every night to administer his medicine and document Artie’s reaction, food intake, activity level.  With this level of dedication, noticeable improvement began within a week.  Artie began to eat better and better on his new special diet.  He became playful and curious once again. 

The naturalist discovered one interesting fact:  Artie hates bubble gum flavoring!  They had to come up with ways to entice Artie to take his medicine.

Within 3 months Artie was more like his old self. In January, Naturalist Manager Connor Leferink began taking Artie home with him at night for aqua-physical therapy and enrichment.  In 6 months Artie had made a full recovery!

This type of intensive care takes dedication, expertise and money.  YOUR gifts to River Legacy made Artie’s recovery possible.  YOU saved Artie’s life.  Thank you so much.

During this time, the decision was made to adopt another ferret.  We actually adopted two ferrets – a bonded pair named Tony and Lucas.  

Artie is going to live out his days at River Legacy with special trips to Connor’s house and maybe some vacations at his dear friend former Executive Director Jill Hill’s home since they are both retired.

Your donation makes a difference. 

Because of your generous support, Artie received excellent medical care 

and the TLC needed for his recovery.

Artie is thriving once again because of YOU.  Thank you.

Artie’s story of recovery highlights the story of the Black Footed Ferrets, native to the northern Great Plains and even as far south as Texas. 

Farming and ranching severely diminished the prairie dog population, a primary food source for black footed ferrets.  They died of starvation.  Their numbers decreased until they were declared extinct. Until a small population was found in Wyoming. Ferrets were captured and repopulated in captivity until about 400 black footed ferrets could be reintroduced to the Badlands.  Their population has grown to over 1000.  Click here to learn more. 

Artie’s story and the story of the black footed ferret remind us that every animal, plant and organism has an important role to play in nature.  

Only people get the chance to choose our role.   

We are so honored that you chose to help nature by supporting River Legacy Foundation.  Thank you!

That is why 

We’re WILD for WILDLIFE 

And we’re WILD about YOU and Artie Too!