meerkat pics..

[Nerys]

over the last year or so, Mrs Meerkat has always been the more forthcoming of the two we have, me an' her have always got on pretty well, but just recently she has become even more trusting

shot these the other night.. if i am out there and she is up nowdays, as soon as i sit down she hops up onto my lap

i'd still not try and pick her up mind you! but am more than happy she trusts me enough to come and sit with me like this

"heya mum"



"geroff you pesky skunk!"



*sniff sniff*



"mind if i come up?"



"OMG!!! Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice pink socks there.. NOT!!!! "



"these padded boots are comfy really, even if they do look naff!"



"but i am sure..."



"i can see more..."



"EAGLE!!!! EAGLE!!!!! EAGLE!!!!.. oh no... hang on.. its a rat.."



"and now.. pose"



she does come right into my lap, but its a bit hard to get the camera to focus one handed with her trying to grab the lense!

hope you enjoy seeing

N

[kodakira]

Fantastic pictures Nerys.

She looks gorgeous. They are on our wated list.

Are all the skunks able to mix with them or is it ones you trust.
Do you leave them together when you are not there.

You can see where I am going with this can't you, large outbuilding, skunks !!!!!.

Neil

[ichis-mom]

I WANT I WANT I WANT

[Emmaj]

wow just look at her

she really is becoming more trusting bless her

they are fantastic pics nerys

[linda.t]

you are so lucky,she is beautiful

[farmercoope]

Aww wow N, shes really becoming more and more tame! i never though if they were kept in a pair they could get tame like this, make sure you keep us updated in her progress! thanks for showing us the pics

[Nerys]

Ta all i have to say i am chuffed really, as said, i don't force myself on them, not like i do the skunks, they came to us as untame adults, and whilst i would never call them tame, i am quietly chuffed, yes, that they have accepted me so well so far

the best ones i have seen are stuartb's, who even as a larger numbered group, are happy to let him pick them up and tickle them!! i can't do that with mine!!

skunks, actually, they seem to be ok with all the skunks so far.. they do have a pen, the door to which is always open, so they come and go in the large outdoor room i have as they please. more often than not, if they are not in the stone shelter in their pen, they are to be found under the fridge.. or tucked into one of the large carpet rolls i have hanging on the walls for insulation..

at the moment, pip, the new little "wild" male (or not so wild anymore male, but more to come on that..) and Whiff, are also often to be found tucked up in the meerkats stone shelter.. quite often with the meerkats tucked up in with them.. its an unusual sight i have to say, but they all seem to get on fine.. whether i am there or not.

i don't normally go with mixing species it has to be said, i could shut them all in and stop it, but they have chosen to mix themselves, and there is a definite group stucture.. the female meerkat bosses everyone, the adult male skunks come next, followed by the male meerkat, then Pip, then Whiff, who is a lot more spooky in general yet.

although both meerkats will give way on some items of food, to the skunks that is.. and the skunks will all give way to the meerkats over fish.. apart from pacer who loves it. They grizzle at each other, and there is pushing and shoving from time to time, but its like the spats you would expect to see amongst a meerkat group (not a skunk one, as they are more solitary) and never anything serious.

its very odd to watch really, especially seeing as i am an accepted part of the mixed group from their perspective too, rather than me forcing it on them, they actively seek it out and seem to enjoy the interaction

i have more issues with Pro it has to be said.. he is fine with the meerkats, and they with him, and he is fine with the female skunks. Quanah, he hates.. Pacer he tries to kill everytime he sees him, Mars i dare not let him near, it would be clash of the titans, and Pip.. well he and Pip have come to an agreement... based on the squirting pip gave him i think.. now, he is definitely domminant over Pip.. but instead of trying to kill him like he does the other males.. Pip, he just tries to sit on... Pip is totally submissive to him, and runs off squeeling like a girl.. i have no doubt when Pips balls drop the situation could change, so we'll see how it goes with them. Pacer and Pip seem to get on ok however. its just Pro being a bully i think. But then he has a history of inflicting nasty wounds on other skunks.

i normally have either Pro's door, or Pacers door open so one or other can come and go as they please.. but not both doors at once.. the occasional time Pro has let himself out when he should not have.. i have been summonsed by frantic screeling from pacer letting me know the bully is out and about again... even at 5am, he manages to get my attention..

normally in the evening i am sat on a strawbale, with a meerkat on one knee, and another somewhere near my feet, a skunk on my lap (often Pip actually) and Whiff and Pro/Pacer also rooting about at my feet. its quite companionable really

N

[africa]

That's amazing,they were in the fridge when we visited so didn't get to see them, i've seen other people's but never as trusting as that, what a cutie