6 . Scientists have created a healthy clone of a black-footed ferret by using DNA from a ferret that died over 30 years ago. The cloned animal is called Elizabeth Ann.

Large numbers of black-footed ferrets once lived in the American West. The ferrets live mainly on the prairie dogs they catch. But when farmers began killing off prairie dogs, lots of ferrets died, too. By the 1970s, most experts believed that black-footed ferrets were extinct.

Then, in 1981, a group of black-footed ferrets were found in Wyoming. The US Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) caught 18 of these ferrets to try to raise them in captivity so that they could be shielded. All but seven died.

At present, there're between 400 and 500 black-footed ferrets remaining. Some are still in captivity. Others have been released into the wild. But all black-footed ferrets living today are related to the seven animals saved from Wyoming.

Normally, when there're large numbers of a type of animal, they have many small differences. The DNA of the animals gets mixed up when different pairs of animals have babies. The small differences in their DNA can help protect the group as a whole. But because all living black-footed ferrets are closely related, they all have similar weaknesses.

But Elizabeth Ann is cloned from an animal that lived over 30 years ago, so her DNA is very different. Scientists hope that when this DNA is mixed back in, future black-footed ferrets will be healthier in general.

Elizabeth Ann was born on December 10, 2020. Blood tests have proven her to be 100% black footed ferret. It's the first native endangered species ever cloned in the US. Elizabeth Ann seems normal and healthy, and enjoys spending her days in her cage.

She won't ever be released into the wild, but soon, she may have some cloned brothers and sisters. And later, she'll probably have babies. Sooner or later, her children will have babies with wild black-footed ferrets, and her DNA will begin to spread.

10 . If you were to see an injured animal on the side of the road, what would you do? Would you stop? Call 911? Call Animal Control? It’s a(n) ______ many of us don’t have to see, but something that still ______ on a regular basis.

Florida citizen, Patrick Hennessey, was driving into work at 4:30 one morning when he ______ two dogs on the side of the road, one of whom looked to be ______. He decided to call 911, and ______, two wonderful officers showed up to save the day.

Officers Boggs and Reed ______ the scene, where they found two dogs. One was badly injured while the other stayed by her friend’s side, ______ to leave her alone. It appeared as though the injured dog had been hit by a car. The ______ and Patrick worked together to bandage up the dog’s leg, and then ______ each of the poor creatures some food.

The officers didn’t leave the dogs’ side until Animal Services arrived. Boggs and Reed ensured the dogs were ______ and would be well ______ before handing them off and saying goodbye.

After some rest and treatment, the injured dog was back on her ______ and the two officers visited her and her friend once more. As soon as they arrived, the dogs ______ their heroes. They couldn’t stop loving them!

People from all over the country praised the officers for their ______ and compassion (怜悯) towards the dogs. Reed and Boggs were just ______ that they were able to help and see a happy ending for the sweet dogs.