tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12852742.post115927874400424067..comments2024-01-14T05:33:05.811-05:00Comments on Pygmalion In A Blanket: this entry brought to you by the wisconsin alumni associationThe Governesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974317777615888649noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12852742.post-60335918520164742932008-01-18T15:44:00.000-05:002008-01-18T15:44:00.000-05:00I have heard this comment about ferrets riding Rob...I have heard this comment about ferrets riding Robo-badger and how Robo-badger was a failure. Actually, Robo-badger was not used for training. Robo, and a swooping stuffed owl, were part of an experiment to test the innate and learned components in the development of anti-predator behavior in young Siberian ferrets. The young ferrets were exposed to the stationary, simulated predator to assess their response. They then had an aversive experience with the models, and we measured the difference in response the next time they saw the stationary model. In a nutshell, they showed an innate fear of the predators, but they learned and improved their escape response after one experience with the proedator. So as part of an experiment, Robo-badger was very successfull. We did not use him to train black-footed ferrets before release, and I never saw a ferret ride on his back. The experiments were done by Dean Biggins, Chris Wemmer, and myself. Perhaps at a later date, Paul put Robo in with some ferrets on a whim, but Robo was never part of a training regime. It makes a good story, but it's just not true. By the way, the Dave Barry article about Robo-badger was hilarious, and we sent him an autographed picture of the badger for a thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12852742.post-1159282426770215942006-09-26T10:53:00.000-04:002006-09-26T10:53:00.000-04:00i also heard this segment during my morning commut...i also heard this segment during my morning commute and was equally amused by Marinari's dead-pan delivery of the demise of the RoboBadger. This needs tv coverage so we can get a visual.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com