Saturday, April 15, 2023 | Country Acres • Page 1
Country Acres Saturday, April 15, 2023
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 10, Edition 05
PHOTOS BY JAN LEFEBVRE
Christy Flugga cuddles with Simon, one of her chinchillas, April 12 at her home near Belgrade. Flugga bought her first chinchilla, Church, when she was 15 years old.
Chinchillas Small balls of fur bring joy, fun BY JAN LEFEBVRE STAFF WRITER
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ELGRADE – Chinchillas are a threatened species in their natural, wild habitat of South America, but a small group of them are thriving in a home near Belgrade. There Christy Flugga and her daughter, Marlie Schlangen, snuggle with and care for 15 of the creatures that Flugga said are known for having the softest fur. Their fur is denser than that of any other land animal. With a size and shape somewhere between a rabbit and a guin-
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ea pig, chinchillas have the right proportion to hold in one’s hands. They are balls of fluff with wiggling, whiskered noses and expressive eyes. Their tails are like shorter, thicker squirrels’ tails. The chinchillas Flugga and her daughter raise are comfortable with people and seem to revel in attention from them. “They play games,” Flugga said. “They like to play tricks, kind of like tag, and they like to show off. They come up and give you kisses.” Chinchillas are special rodents, she said. “People say, ‘It’s just a rodent; come on,’” Flugga said.“But, chin-
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COUNTRY: Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on May 6, 2023
chillas will bond with you; they are going to be your family and feel safe with you. They are social creatures and crave interaction.” Flugga, a science teacher, applies genetics when buying and breeding her chinchillas, aiming for certain coloring, friendly temperaments and good health. “It’s a preference; there are lots of different combinations,” Flugga said. “The standard gray is that of
Flugga page 2
This chinchilla shows off his whiskers and tiny fingers that work much like human hands April 12 near Belgrade. His owner, Christy Flugga, carefully selects and breeds her chinchillas to have peoplefriendly personalities.
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Crafting maple syrup, growing farm treasures Alexandria
13 Building better farmers through education Gashora, Rwanda
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Memories in a tiestall barn Grace Jeurissen column
20 When a scientist farms Mabel
21 Country cooking Sauk Centre 22 Finding treasures Nancy Packard Leasman column