April 18, 2025: Kyle Contexts: Chinchillas

[This week, my amazing younger son Kyle turns 18! So I wanted to dedicate the week’s blog series to AmericanStudying some Kyle Contexts, leading up to a repeat of his excellent Guest Post on the OJ Simpson trial.]

Three ways to contextualize my son’s favorite animal (and one of the cutest out there, just objectively, you know it’s true).

1)      Exotic pets: I wrote a good bit in that post on ostrich racing on both exotic pets overall and my sons’ interest in them in particular (focusing there on alpacas, another favorite of the boys’ and one featured at my wedding!). I certainly get critiques of exotic animal fads, such as the pot-bellied pigs a few decades back who ended up being left at shelters or just abandoned altogether far too often. But in truth, chinchillas are not radically different from many other rodents frequently kept as pets, from guinea pigs to hamsters to gerbils and more. Yes, they require a bit of specialized care, but every animal is unique in its needs. And the benefits more than speak for themselves.

2)      Fur is murder: Most of the chinchillas in the world these days are indeed kept as pets, as both of the chinchilla species in the wild have become extremely endangered. There are a few reasons, but by far the most significant is hunting for their fur, which has been prized for items like coats for a long time. (Even Jay-Z references chinchilla fur as the gold standard in his rap verse on his wife Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love.”) I’d like to think that we’ve all realized here in 2025 that fur is indeed murder, but just in case not: the only place chinchilla fur should be found is on chinchillas.

3)      Animal Adventures: Young Kyle had been a fan of chinchillas for a while before he had the chance to meet one in person, but when he did it took things to a whole ‘nother level. That was thanks to the folks at this local animal rescue business, and specifically to their featured exhibit at the awesome Kimball Farms in Westford, MA. When they let Kyle take part in a performance and hold a chinchilla on his head (as well as in his arms, natch), my younger son’s fondness for not just this particular animal, but all cute animals, was truly cemented—and despite his thoroughly mature 18 year old self, that fondness remains, one of so many things I love about him.

Guest Post this weekend,

Ben

PS. Lemme know any bday wishes I can pass along to my not-so-young man!