Weasel Log

[Clove]

Tornado has learned:
His name
To come
To stand on his hind legs
Working on roll-over

Cricket has learned:
To fall off the stairs
To fall off the couch
To fall off the table
To fall off the ramp

Mouser tried to eat Cricket yesterday.

[Clove]

A modern miracle- Tornado held still long enough for me to take a picture. Normally I can only get pictures if someone holds him (tightly) or he's asleep.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/8297/tornadoblanketov6.png

[Clove]

Unfortunately I'm still waiting for the day I get a lucky picture of Cricket.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9982/cricketasleep1uu7.png

Ah, my problem child. He looks so peaceful doesn't he? Who would suspect that just an hour earlier he managed to trap himself in a 2" gap between a baby-gate and a wall.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Do you just let the run free? Are they house trained?

[Clove]

Some people let them run free but I don't. I don't think it's very safe for the ferret.

They stay in their cage unless a responsible adult human can keep an eye on them. We usually let them play on the first floor when we get home after work until we go to bed.

They're -mostly- litter trained but they have their accidents. Luckily they have small messes that are easy to clean up after.

On weekends they get a little more liberty but ferrets sleep 14-18 hours a day. They come out of their cage run around, play, explore and cause general mayhem for 2-3 hours and then they'll crawl back into their cage for 30-60 minute nap. After a nap they'll get a second wind and come out for some more playing second or third time and then crash for the night.

They're wonderful pets but they can be handful to care for. Imagine having a toddler or puppy for 7-9 years straight and you'll have an idea.

[Parkbandit]

Did you remove their glands or does your house stink like shit?

[Cephalopod]

Some people let them run free but I don't. I don't think it's very safe for the ferret.

I had a friend who let her three ferrets run free. One of them got stuck in their couch, and got squished to death when someone sat down. Her house was a shithole, though.



They're -mostly- litter trained but they have their accidents. Luckily they have small messes that are easy to clean up after.


This is true as long as you clean it up quickly. I used to hate finding a ferret poop that had been tucked away in some hard-to-see spot, and have it fused to the hardwood floors.



They're wonderful pets but they can be handful to care for. Imagine having a toddler or puppy for 7-9 years straight and you'll have an idea.

Ferrets are definitely very rewarding, but a lot more work than I think a lot of people expect.

Re: smell. Even with scent-glands in-tact, if you clean their bedding and litter boxes very frequently and do NOT bathe them, they aren't THAT bad.

I thought I saw a hint of a Marshall tattoo on one of your ferret's ears, but I could be wrong?

[Clove]

I had a friend who let her three ferrets run free. One of them got stuck in their couch, and got squished to death when someone sat down. Her house was a shithole, though.The AFA (American Ferret Association) recommends that you keep your ferrets in a ferret-proofed room when unsupervised if you won't be caging them because of stories like the one above.


This is true as long as you clean it up quickly. I used to hate finding a ferret poop that had been tucked away in some hard-to-see spot, and have it fused to the hardwood floors.True of any animal waste and 20x worse on carpet. It's just one of those things.


Did you remove their glands or does your house stink like shit?


Re: smell. Even with scent-glands in-tact, if you clean their bedding and litter boxes very frequently and do NOT bathe them, they aren't THAT bad.

I thought I saw a hint of a Marshall tattoo on one of your ferret's ears, but I could be wrong?Both of my ferrets are Marshall ferrets and both are neutered and have had their scent-glands removed.

What Nachos says is true, if you keep their bedding clean and don't overbathe them they do not smell strong or unpleasant (when compared to the dander etc of your typical dog or cat). Ferrets groom themselves like cats and unless mine get into a mess I only bathe them once or twice a year. I clean their cage 1-3 times a week (depending), however, and my house usually smells pretty clean. Most people can't tell we tell we own ferrets by smell :D.

Neutering will dramatically reduce the musky scent in males and keep them from spraying when in heat.

Spaying is essential for females if you don't plan on breeding them. A female that goes into heat and isn't impregnated (or given hormones to break the heat) will usually die.

Ferrets' anal scent-glands are similar to a skunks' and ferrets will release an unpleasant smell when frightened or startled. Their defensive spray is nowhere NEAR as intense as a skunks' (more like a fart) and only occurs when they are frightened and startled. For this reason it's unnecessary to have them removed. Many private breeders consider it mutilation, however Marshall Farms descents all their ferrets as a selling point. In reality it has little impact on their odor.

[Stanley Burrell]

Ferrets rule.

That is all.

[Cephalopod]

Ferrets rule.

I, for one, welcome our new Mustela putorius furo overlords!

[Stanley Burrell]

There is some dumb shit in places where I used to live about ferrets not being able to be had, as pets. But you are their pet -- Nay, slave to the Putoriun overlords.

Spontaneously agreeing,

-- S.B.

[Clove]

Just you wait until the Black-Footed Ferret retakes North America.

http://www.blackfootedferret.org/

[Cephalopod]

You know, change one letter in the title of this thread and it could be about FERRET LEGGING.

Just saying.

[Clove]

An uneventful evening with the boys. Cricket didn't get trapped in anything although they both spent some of the evening falling off the couch and chair; both intentionally and unintentionally. They've recently discovered how to climb onto the living-room furniture and it has literally added a new dimension to their playtime.

Tornado is about 4 1/2 months and Cricket is just shy of 4 months. They're still very much kits but they're growing up quickly and it's been a treat (if exhausting at times).

We decided to get a pair of kits after we lost both our elderly, hob (male ferrets) rescues a few months ago.

Mojo:
http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0027fh3.jpg

and

Chaplin:
http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chaplinarbor102004aum8.jpg

We had Chaplin over 5 years and Mojo over 2 years. It was a privilege and joy to take care of them and we missed them terribly after they were gone. I toyed with the thought of picking up another rescue, but even though I know there are so many ferrets in need good homes, I really wanted ferrets I could nurture from the very beginning (instead of cleaning up another's mess).

At first I considered a private ferret breeder (despite the expense) so I could get a pair of weasels with a strong, healthy lineage but private breeders typically only have litters available in the late spring through summer. In the end neither me or my wife could wait that long. So for Christmas I took my wife to the pet store and she fell in love with Tornado and Cricket immediately.

So here we are. This is the first time I'm raising ferrets "from scratch" instead of taking in rescues. Hopefully as time allows, I'll be able to chronicle it here in my Weasel Log.

[Clove]

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f283/LostBoy8282/ferret/PropertyLaws.jpg

Another calm evening with the boys. Very few territory disputes with the cat. Nobody got trapped under anything. There was lots of playing and Cricket took a rare moment to rest on my chest for 5 minutes while he got a second wind.

[Cephalopod]

http://www.ferrettradingpost.com/products/ferret-poster-cans.jpg

[Clove]

http://lolferrets.com/displayimage.php?pid=24&fullsize=1

[Clove]

I have a faster camera now which is making weasel pictures easier. This allowed me to finally catch Cricket on the job.

But first another Tornado shot:

http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tornadochairnaptl2.jpg


And Cricket:

http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cricketbustedph6.jpg

[thefarmer]

Do you ever have ferret duels?

Put a piece of food in the middle of a cage and a ferret at each end and see who gets the food?

[Cephalopod]

Ferret duels!? Ferrets wrestle all the time... it's great entertainment, especially in a big open space where they'll war-dance at each other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9AVvoQozzU

[Clove]

Do you ever have ferret duels?

Put a piece of food in the middle of a cage and a ferret at each end and see who gets the food?They're very playful and love to wrestle- frequently and vigorously, so I've never really bothered to provoke it.

If I were going to get them to wrestle, food wouldn't do the trick; they just aren't that competitive over it the way dogs can be, even with food they love. Mojo and Chaplin adored french fries and they would even beg on their hind legs for them, but they never fought over them. Tornado and Cricket are the same way and that's been my experience with ferrets in general (although there are probably exceptions out there).

Usually just dropping one ferret on the other when they're excited is enough to get them play-wrestling for several minutes. Sometimes when I'm playing with a toy with one, the other will come over and try to play too and competition over the toy will boil over into a tussle. They're clowns like that.

[Clove]

My wife and I are slowly learning how to use the new camera and with any luck I'll have a YouTube video of weasel wrestling to share soon.

In the meantime I have a few of the elusive Cricket:

http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crikcage2hqpb4.jpg

http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crick020809ajm0.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/my.php?image=crickboot1hqfw1.jpg

[Winter's Kiss]

This just makes me wish I had mine still.. Delilah was one of my best pets.

[Clove]

This just makes me wish I had mine still.. Delilah was one of my best pets.Before I started taking in rescues, I used to wonder why so many owners were so passionate about their ferrets. I don't wonder anymore; they addict you to their spirits.

[Winter's Kiss]

You are, because unlike cats or dogs, they are so much more lively and personality rich. They really are some of the best pets I've ever had and my parents were always those people that rescued everything. Hell, between my pygmy goat and the ferret.. It was a fun house.

[Clove]

Hell, between my pygmy goat and the ferret.. It was a fun house.I don't think anyone can contradict a statement like that!

What are pygmy goats like?

[NocturnalRob]

I don't think anyone can contradict a statement like that!

What are pygmy goats like?
midget goats

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/472120779_73a7d4c39f.jpg

[Clove]

midget goats

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/472120779_73a7d4c39f.jpgThanks, but I already assumed that "pygmy goat" wasn't an ironic term. I was less interested in a physical description and more interested in a temperment description, care tips etc.

[NocturnalRob]

I was less interested in a physical description and more interested in a temperment description, care tips etc.
crap. haha...i put that there and was gonna go back to edit about personality, etc, and then completely forgot.

ugh, pygmy goats behave exactly like regular goats from what i can tell/remember. just...smaller.

1) always have a lot of clean water available. the little fuckers drink a ton, and are extremely picky about their food/water
2) like mogwai, they hate to get wet.
3) build a raised sleeping platform. not only will it give them something to climb, but it will save on square footage for your fenced in area.
4) toys are good--rocks, logs, etc--again for them to climb
5) always keep a salt lick or a mineral block around
6) hooves trimmed every month or so (maybe 6 weeks?)
7) the ones i remember loved wild blackberries, so we used to bring a bunch from near my grandmother's mountain home.

there's a lot of stuff about vaccinations, etc that i have no clue about. pygmy goats are fucking awesome.

[Clove]

pygmy goats are fucking awesome.They look cool. The farm I worked on years ago kept regular goats. I also had a family friend that kept them and I adored them; but I didn't know if the pygmy variety were especially different (other than size).

Hey, KillerKitten, didn't you take care of goats? Know anything about pygmies? Have any opinion on pygmy goats vs. ferrets as pets?

(sorry, I've clearly had a little too much wine with dinner).

[Clove]

As promised a movie of Tornado and Cricket at play. We just bought the camera on Friday so the auto-focus was giving us hell. Sorry, no 1337 videographer skills here. You can see how enthusiastically they wrestle without any prompting- this is pretty much how they are for the first two hours after we let them out of their cage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxlzTHjnhCc

[Keller]

Before I started taking in rescues, I used to wonder why so many owners were so passionate about their ferrets. I don't wonder anymore; they addict you to their spirits.

Have they genetically engineered them to not smell like Bobmuhthol's room when he was in middle school?

[Hips]

As promised a movie of Tornado and Cricket at play. We just bought the camera on Friday so the auto-focus was giving us hell. Sorry, no 1337 videographer skills here. You can see how enthusiastically they wrestle without any prompting- this is pretty much how they are for the first two hours after we let them out of their cage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxlzTHjnhCc&feature=channel_page

Too cute! Especially when they go under the rug. :D

[Clove]

Have they genetically engineered them to not smell like Bobmuhthol's room when he was in middle school?It concerns me that you are able to use the aroma of Bob's adolescence as a frame of reference.

Ferrets are like any other pet; how bad they smell depends on how well they're cared for. My ferrets' odor is about as noticeable as my indoor cat, Mouser and far LESS offensive than most dogs I know (unless their owners keep them indoors and/or bathed monthly).

Tornado has the red harness and Cricket has the black harness BTW.

[Cephalopod]

My own ferrets, sir, are gigantic and have no more odor than a hot biscuit.


.

[Sean of the Thread]

But does it have more odor than:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/motivator242260.jpg

[Clove]

But does it have more odor than:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/motivator242260.jpgI would never admit to knowing the answer to that...

[Clove]

And from across the Pond...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7875271.stm

[Keller]

It concerns me that you are able to use the aroma of Bob's adolescence as a frame of reference.

Ferrets are like any other pet; how bad they smell depends on how well they're cared for. My ferrets' odor is about as noticeable as my indoor cat, Mouser and far LESS offensive than most dogs I know (unless their owners keep them indoors and/or bathed monthly).


I had a ferret in middle school that I bathed about once a month.

It smelled like mild skunk.

Maybe I should have washed it's bed more often. I don't know.

[CrystalTears]

I had a ferret in middle school that I bathed about once a month.
That was why it smelled. You were overwashing him, stripping his fur of its oils which makes the fur overcompensate.


Maybe I should have washed it's bed more often. I don't know.Yep.

[Keller]

That was why it smelled. You were overwashing him, stripping his fur of its oils which makes the fur overcompensate.

Yep.

Have you smelled a ferret's natural oils? (wait, was this a Backlash joke?)

I'd prefer my ferrets have dandruff than my house smell like that.

[CrystalTears]

Have you smelled a ferret's natural oils? (wait, was this a Backlash joke?)

I'd prefer my ferrets have dandruff than my house smell like that.
They clean themselves much like cats. Ferrets also don't have dander. It's their bedding that needs to be changed constantly.

[Clove]

Have you smelled a ferret's natural oils? (wait, was this a Backlash joke?)Hey now, no need to get nasty; even ferrets don't deserve Backlash comparisons.


I'd prefer my ferrets have dandruff than my house smell like that.What CT was trying to tell you is that when you overwash ferrets they overproduce many times more musk oils than they do ordinarily.

Of course ferrets produce musk oils, but the oils aren't high in concentration if they're well-groomed and kept in a hygienic environment. My guests only notice my ferrets' musk when they handle them closely.

Naturally if you can't stand the smell of ferret musk (regardless of its intensity) then a ferret isn't for you. However, a properly kept ferret creates about as much odor as any other pet. I've been in plenty of houses that reeked of cat, or dog much worse than any home that keeps ferrets.

[thefarmer]

Ferrets are funny little amusing creatures.

[Brattt8525]

Nice pictures, and I really liked the video of the 2 of them playing. I had 2 ferrets when I lived in NY and now after reading your journal about yours I may have to go get one damnit!

I had an albino and a sable they were beyond fun. It was always fun taking them out for walks with the harnesses and watching peoples reactions LOL.

The male albino I had was a rescue and the sable female was bought from a breeder as a kit and unspayed. When she was startled as was already mentioned wow what an odor, otherwise with proper maintence she was fine as was my altered albino male.

Thanks for sharing the pics and video.

[Clove]

I had an albino and a sable they were beyond fun. It was always fun taking them out for walks with the harnesses and watching peoples reactions LOL.Ferrets are so much fun to take out in public; they're rock-stars everywhere they go. :D

[Clove]

I caught Tornado and Cricket playing in their tube... what a couple of clowns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwxFWm-q_mU

[Hips]

All your videos/pics makes me want a ferret... they're too cute!!

[Clove]

All your videos/pics makes me want a ferret... they're too cute!!Inorite? When I saw all your pictures in the topless thread it was making me want a Delaware girl!

This is a great ferret YouTube- Xander goes Crazy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpTTBiPRv-U

[Stanley Burrell]

I just wanted to say for whatever post it is that I'm too lazy to edit, I didn't know that ferrets were in the weasel family.

I fail at life, yet within the failing at life context, I fail at taxonomy. So I am doubly fail at stuff and this post is awesome hooray.

[Clove]

I just wanted to say for whatever post it is that I'm too lazy to edit, I didn't know that ferrets were in the weasel family.

I fail at life, yet within the failing at life context, I fail at taxonomy. So I am doubly fail at stuff and this post is awesome hooray.Mustilidae family. Ferrets are related to otters, stoats, minks, polecats, ermines, skunks etc. although there's some debate over whether skunks should be considered mustilids or not.

[Clove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDxP2S9G93Q&feature=rec-HM-r2

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Mustilidae family. Ferrets are related to otters, stoats, minks, polecats, ermines, skunks etc. although there's some debate over whether skunks should be considered mustilids or not.

Skunks are so freaking cute.

You should get a skunk and post videos of it being cute and skunky (bonus points of skunk w/ your ferrets), so that I may live vicariously through you.

[Clove]

Skunks are so freaking cute.

You should get a skunk and post videos of it being cute and skunky (bonus points of skunk w/ your ferrets), so that I may live vicariously through you.I think skunks are cute too but I doubt I'll ever have one as a pet.

Once, a skunk got itself trapped in the kitchen cabinet under my sink while I was on vacation. It was in my apartment for 5 days after I returned before I found a trapper to capture it (live) and remove it. At one point I was actually barricaded in my spare bedroom with my wife, Mouser (cat) and Chaplin (ferret) while it was loose in the main area of my apartment. It was the most surreal experiences in my life to date.

I'm afraid the experience traumatized me for life, concerning keeping them. Nevertheless it was adorable and I've always loved them (in the wild).

Anyway, here you are Narc, cuz I <3 you.

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_04/3SkunkNNP_468x558.jpg

[Clove]

This is Mouser my 13ish black cat. She's my little shadow, she's very attached to me. As a matter of fact when she was a kitten she would get so anxious every time I left my apartment she'd mew until I returned or she lost her voice. I actually asked my boss if I could bring her into work with me so I could gradually acclimate her to my absence. He agreed and over a couple of months I would take her to work at first all day, then I'd run her to my apartment for the last couple hours, then at lunch, etc until she could my absence for a work-day! Needless to say MUCH rather be an only child and doesn't appreciate other pets in the house.

She does her best to ignore/avoid the ferrets, though ferrets aren't very easy to ignore. Sometimes they try to play with her or just get by her and sniff her out of curiosity. This usually ends in hissing and paw batting (which doesn't intimidate ferrets in the slightest). Finally Mouser will try to run away which only means they chase her until she either finds high ground that they can't reach, or we intervene. Ah, siblings.

Sometimes Mouser forgets she hates them temporarily, and on those rare occasions you can catch her playing with them for a few minutes. Maybe someday I'll capture it on film.

http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mouser021509ali3.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mouser21509bdu0.jpg

[Fallen]

Do you think dogs would be more likely to play with ferrets than cats? Which non-ferret pets do you think would interact with them the most?

[Clove]

Do you think dogs would be more likely to play with ferrets than cats? Which non-ferret pets do you think would interact with them the most?In my opinion cats are probably are more likely to interact with ferrets and less likely to end up seriously injuring ferrets (only because a ferret is a better match for a cat). But lots of ferret owners have dogs too and they can be great "siblings" for the right dog (just like many dogs are with cats). One word of caution: You should NOT mix ferrets with breeds of dogs that have a strong prey instinct; terriers for example.

Animals are just as individual as people. Some cats and dogs just won't get along well with ferrets; others will be lifelong friends. I think your best odds with mixing ferrets with other pets will be if you get them together young. In any case ferrets and other household pets should only interact when there is adult supervision around- dogs can easily crush a ferret in their jaws if they mean to and cats can inflict serious harm on a ferret and vice versa.

If you're thinking of introducing a ferret to an existing pet you should probably try to take your animal to a pet store, ferret shelter, or friend who owns a ferret and preview how your pet will react initially to them.

Ferrets are predators and they should NEVER be allowed to interact with prey-type pets. Birds, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, etc. In almost all cases this will just end in tears, seriously.

Incidentally if anyone is considering buying a ferret for the first time, I urge you to go to your pet store, bookstore, library or Amazon.com and find a few books on owning ferrets and read them prior to acquiring one. They are exotic pets and really need special attention. Many people just aren't prepared for it at first and either end up making mistakes that are sometimes tragic; or become so overwhelmed they end up getting rid of them. The "lucky" ferrets end up in shelters (almost all of which host ferrets for life) the "unlucky" ones get abandoned (which is how I came upon one of my rescues... he was literally wandering around my neighborhood) and will certainly die within a few days if someone doesn't find them.

[Clove]

Tornado and Cricket went out for a short walk on their leashes today in front of my house. I'd like to get them familiar with leashes so I can take them in public from time to time. They were uncomfortable and a little agoraphobic at first, but their unquenchable curiosity eventually got the better of them and soon they were sniffing around up and down my sidewalk. Both of them did some impromptu excavating in the neighbor's yard (I'm sure he'll be thrilled) and generally seemed to have a good (and dusty time).

I was going through photos of Chaplin and Mojo today; Chaplin also loved going for walks. I miss those two guys.

[Killer Kitten]

Sorry, didn't see your question till now.

We had pygmy goats at the zoo. At birth they weighed about six pounds. When full grown they weighed 50 to 75 pounds, depending upon their individual abilities to beg at the feed machines.

I enjoyed working with them, but unless you have a farm-type situation I don't think I'd get one for a pet. Even with daily cleaning their living area has an unmistakable eau de goat that close neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate.

They were nice animals but I always found Nubian goats to be a lot more fun. Problem being that Nubians are much bigger, probably to house their bigger personalities.

[Clove]

Goats + Killer Kitten = Hawt

[Clove]

Cricket teaching Tornado how to roll over... you just couldn't plan this kind of comedy if you tried...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N4w6uIUCww

Tornado showing the world how good he comes when he's called

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT2mkMg8q_s

Tornado getting up on his hind legs on command

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEnuNxkIuoM

[Clove]

Oh... and some people seem to think my mystery rep-giver is Nachos... but I know in my heart it's Tisket- and none of you motherfuckers can talk me out of it!!!

[Clove]

The boys had their last distemper booster for the year. I talked to the vet about charging me 44 bucks a head every time I walk through the door and he knocked 50 bucks off the shots. Ferrets need annual rabies and distemper shots and they can't get them together. They also need 3 courses of distemper when they're kits- so every two weeks they're charging me for a "health exam" for each shot. Yeah, their health status hasn't changed in two weeks assholes.

Anyway they're off the hook until next year and I may look for a new vet. I haven't been impressed with this one so far, aside from excessive charges, he tends to handle my ferrets rough. The last innoculation he drew blood on Cricket accidentally and Tornado tried to bite him (again). Now Tornado is an exceptionally mellow and good-natured ferret, but the vet isn't holding him correctly so Tornado ends up backing into the needle, which hurts and then he tries to bite the bastard.

[Clove]

Brought the boys to a friend's house today so that they don't associate travel entirely with the vet. They had a ball exploring my friends' living-room while I chatted and sipped coffee.

On the downside since my friends have outdoor cats, once we got home I had to squirt some Advantage on them and Mouser. Let me tell something to all you would-be ferret owners:

You don't ever want a flea infestation with ferrets. Shell out the money for Advantage and use it.

[Proxy]

Ferrets rule.

No word, more true, have ever been said.

[Clove]

Me and the boys outdoors in public. Cricket was demonstrating what an expert climber he was. The video was cut short after he decided he'd like to take a dive in a public trash barrel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbXMixBvOD4

[ElanthianSiren]

:lol: Your ferret movies make me miss my ferret. How do you actually get them to stay in their harnesses? I had, supposedly the best, for Maxienne, but she 'weaseled' her way out of it every time.

[Brattt8525]

I agree the ferret videos are the best. So far my favs are the trash diving and cricket trying to teach the other one to roll over.

[Clove]

:lol: Your ferret movies make me miss my ferret. How do you actually get them to stay in their harnesses? I had, supposedly the best, for Maxienne, but she 'weaseled' her way out of it every time.They're very good in their harnesses, but every ferret I've had has hated them at first. When trying to get a ferret to do something, the trick is to make it routine and provide a carrot. They are SO good at seeing "what's in it for me".

I put their harness on whenever I take them out of their cage and they have to wear it whenever they have liberty. I take it off them when they return to their cage. The first couple of weeks were a struggle, but after that they worked it out: harness=fun-time! so they patiently wait for me to put their harness on when I open their cage and they've stopped trying to "weasel out" of them because they know- when the harness goes away, so does their freedom (it's back in the cage).

[Clove]

I agree the ferret videos are the best. So far my favs are the trash diving and cricket trying to teach the other one to roll over.Tornado is my "genius" Cricket is my "comedian" (often unintentionally).

[ElanthianSiren]

I put their harness on whenever I take them out of their cage and they have to wear it whenever they have liberty. I take it off them when they return to their cage. The first couple of weeks were a struggle, but after that they worked it out: harness=fun-time! so they patiently wait for me to put their harness on when I open their cage and they've stopped trying to "weasel out" of them because they know- when the harness goes away, so does their freedom (it's back in the cage).

Good strategy. My girl was a stubborn one, and when the vet recommended taking her outside more (she had insulinomia and tumors and the vet thought sun would help dry the tumors and keep her more healthy), I felt so bad about harnessing her (she still hated it), so I just took her out without one. She was too old to move very fast or far though. Yours are so active and young! Just adorable :)

[Brattt8525]

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f211/bratt141467/ferret.jpg

[Clove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD22OdFpubE

YouTube has some funny fucking weasels...

[Clove]

Weasels play hard and they sleep um, hard.

http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cricketnap031209a.jpg

Cricket napping on Tornado. Sleepy weasels!

[TheWitch]

I fail at pictures on this forum, but....

We love our albino ferret. Her name is Beast.

What an awesome compromise she ended up being to the dog my kids thought they needed after we had to put our 14 year old collie/shep down.

Ferrets rock.

[Clove]

Cricket finds a friend...

http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cricketfriend031509a.jpg

And Tornado finds a hole...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izJa_ePN4M8

[Brattt8525]

Ok, when I had 2 ferrets one was sable the other was albino and well looking at your videos how in the heck do you tell them apart?

Tornado is the bad boy no doubt, Cricket seems to be the sweet do anything type.!

[Clove]

Ok, when I had 2 ferrets one was sable the other was albino and well looking at your videos how in the heck do you tell them apart?

Tornado is the bad boy no doubt, Cricket seems to be the sweet do anything type.!Heh. Both are black sable hobs but Tornado is a 1/2 pound heavier, he has more brown on his nose and his undercoat has a creamy color. Cricket has a pink nose and an almost pure white undercoat. Cricket always wears a green harness and Tornado always wears a red harness.

Tornado is very inquisitive and very, very intelligent (he learned his name in under two weeks). Cricket is sweet but wild. He loves to play and will happily pounce your toes. Tornado is fearless and seems to be the dominant of the too; he's very confident. Cricket will scatter at the slightest unexpected sound.

I wish I had gotten this on video as I finished my coffee I asked "You want to go home boys? And they both crawled into their bag and waited for me to tuck them in. Priceless.

[Tisket]

Ferrets look like they'd eat your face off while you sleep.

[Clove]

Ferrets imprint on food in the first six months of their lives so if you don't feed them human flesh when they're young they won't recognize it as food later on. Statistically you are 8 times more likely to be bit by a dog than a ferret, they are gentle, friendly little mustalids.

[Tisket]

Oh I didn't say face eating was a deal breaker. I have in-laws stay overnight regularly...

[Clove]

Oh I didn't say face eating was a deal breaker. I have in-laws stay overnight regularly...You'd have to get them to abuse them. The only person I've ever seen one of my ferrets go after is one motherfucking vet and it's because he doesn't know how to handle a ferret properly when using a syringe. Tornado wants to introduce him to his brand of puncture wounds. After I saw how he handled them, I wanted to bite him too.

[Clove]

Saturday outing. Red lead & harness=Tornado. Green lead & harness=Cricket.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/7550/032109toribaga.jpg
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/742/032109crickbaga.jpg

As usual the boys were rock stars in public. This trip a couple of nice ladies took a couple of minutes to pet and play with them while they asked questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GywIIbiRFYk

[Clove]

Took the boys for a walk down by the pier...

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2680/pier032809d.jpg
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/8393/pier032809c.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9030/pier032809b.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3931/pier032809a.jpg

[Clove]

Cricket seems to have a fascination with shoes. He likes to drag them to hiding places which typically was behind a large piece of furniture. Lately, however, he seems intent on taking his treasure to some secret hiding spot on the second floor. Unfortunately the stairs have proven to be a challenge, here is a two minute sample of him trying to drag a shoe upstairs (he was at this for about 30 minutes straight before he finally exhausted himself)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpeucH-UsSI

[Clove]

The boys, asleep in their hammock after a hard evening of play...

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8116/040109resting.jpg


Cricket looking for mischief...

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/3290/040109cricket.jpg

[Brattt8525]

That video is funny, just when he gets it going up the stairs he and the shoe come tumbling down.

Nice pictures of them!

[Clove]

There were a pair of good-sized doggies (leashed) on the patio of our favorite coffee house so I didn't get many pictures or shoot a video. I spent most of my time making sure there was a safe distance between weasels and canines.

I did snap a couple of the boys exploring the small garden by the coffeehouse parking lot however.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7391/040509cricka.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6897/040509toricrickacrop.jpg

Then I threw them in their backpack and we went for a walk downtown. A the owner of a newly-opened tattoo parlor came out to meet the ferrets. When I showed him their ear tattoos he was amused. He told me if they ever needed more ink to come see him; he suggested a hawk or owl, which I guess would be pretty bad-ass for a ferret (like a human getting a skull or grim-reaper). I said we'd keep him posted.

[Clove]

I never get tired of sleepy weasels:

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4332/040709sleepingc.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2761/040709sleepinga.jpg

[Clove]

Tornado helps with dinner....

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4118/040809toripotsacrop.jpg

[CrystalTears]

GO GO GADGET EYES!

[Clove]

GO GO GADGET EYES!Heheheheheh. Those are his "high-beams".

[Proxy]

Moar Weasel Pics!

[Clove]

Weaseling out of the ferret ban

by Gayathri Vaidyanathan 2009/03/31


http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2009-03-31/vaidyanathan-ferrets

Despite an image as smelly mean weasels, ferrets are indispensable companions to some owners, and this little-known aspect of their existence has led to pockets of resistance in cities like New York, where owners willingly break the law for their pets.

Bill Etra’s heart was racing, but he was on too many painkillers because of a spinal injury to know the difference.

But Tarzel, his 8-year-old ferret, could sense something was wrong. He ran round and round the room, panicking and chortling shrilly.

When Etra saw the ferret, he realized that all was not well. He called his wife, who took his pulse: It was 140 beats per minute. They called the ambulance.

“Tarzel has saved my life three times,” said Etra. “My wife says four. His constant humor keeps me from depression.”

To some, ferrets are smelly, dangerous pets that that have been banned in California and Hawaii, and many cities, including New York, Minneapolis and Dallas. To Etra and others, they are indispensable companions, often with medical benefits.

This has led to pockets of resistance in these cities, where some owners willingly break the law for their pets—the not-so-underground subculture of ferret ownership.

Etra, who lives in New York with Tarzel and 1-year-old Barzel, owns the only two legal ferrets in the city. That’s because his two pets are recognized as service animals that help recognize heart attacks.

The benefits an owner receives from having a ferret to help with medical care contrasts with the bad reputations they have collected over the years. In New York City, a pet ferret that nipped a 22-month-old child led to a citywide ban in 1999.

“Ferrets are known for their unpredictable behavior, and they are prone to vicious, unprovoked attacks on humans,” according to a statement by the Department of Health. “Ferret attacks reported nationwide over time have become notorious for their severity and capriciousness, causing serious injuries to some infants and young children in particular.”

In California, the Department of Fisheries and Gaming upheld a ban in 1996, saying that ferrets would pose a threat to endangered species if they escaped and reproduced. Pro-ferret groups are currently working on an environmental impact report to show that ferrets are not a threat.

Laura Maloney, senior vice president in the anti-cruelty department of American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said her group is not opposed to ferrets as pets.

“Ferrets are domesticated animals” that have been around “for a very long time,” she said. “Just as a dog or a cat, any animal can bite. Certainly a ferret could, but we don’t consider them dangerous.”

Ferrets sleep on average for 20 hours each day, and when they wake up, they behave like curious 2-year-olds. They can be ideal for a person who can’t cope with a cat or dog for medical or lifestyle reasons.

When Denise Squires had her voice box removed because of cancer, she had to get rid of her pets. Her dog required walking, something she couldn’t do with a hole in her throat in the cold winters. Her cats shed too much.

Then on a visit to her mother, who lives on Long Island, where ferrets are legal, she saw Freddy in a pet store. He was tiny—only 8 ounces—and deaf despite his large ears.

“He stole my heart,” said Squires, who speaks with the help of an electronic voice box. “Life would be so difficult without Freddy. He gives me a lot of company. I’m not alone because he is here.”

She worries for Freddy, taking meticulous care to not have him seen by the authorities.

Freddy rarely leaves the house, and when he does, it is concealed in a bag. For veterinary care, she takes him to Long Island because she is afraid that vets in New York will confiscate him.

“I don’t want anything happening to him,” she said. “You never know, people can be very mean. This big guy, the handyman, wouldn’t even hold him. He’s afraid he’d get bitten.”

Squires and other owners say owning an illegal pet can be isolating if not for meet-up play groups and veterinary practices where owners can find each other and the pets can socialize.

Paradoxically, ferret supplies and veterinary care are freely available in places where the creatures themselves are banned. In California, owners get together at the annual Ferrets Anonymous Round Up to celebrate all things ferret.

“I didn’t even know ferrets were banned until two months ago,” said Dale VanSickle, an owner who was trying to find other ferret lovers through meetup.com. “It’s not out there for people to find out about.”

VanSickle keeps ferrets because he is allergic to cats and his landlord doesn’t allow dogs. His youngest ferret, Baby, died two weeks ago of an unknown illness, a loss so recent that VanSickle still refers to her in the present tense.

“Just like any other animal, they become part of your family,” he said. “I had a hard time when I had to put her down. Definitely the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do.”


E-mail: gv2176@columbia.eduI'm a little beside myself about some of the comments over the ferrets having a reputation for "vicious attacks". You're 9x more likely (proportionally) to be bit by a dog and to my knowledge a ferret has never mauled anyone to death. Great article overall though, I wonder what new opportunities as service animals may be waiting for ferrets...

[Proxy]

What's with all the weasel hate? Anything will bite if you try to rip its tail off, dogs, cats, ferrets, goats, small camels... etc. If all they are bitching about is the fact that people can't be lazy un-attentive, negligent parents(ie, the norm for 98% of) when their toddler is running around while the furry is awake, they can STFU and choke on a waffle.

&

Moar Weasel pix please!!

[Clove]

I don't get it either. Ferrets have been domesticated for at least 2,500 years, statistically they are far less likely to bite you than a dog and my own anecdotal experience along with every ferret owner I've ever known is that out of all their pets, ferrets are on the "least likely to attack" list.

It's all reputation and perception. Of course I've heard stories of ferrets lashing out unexpectedly at people- it happens with all animals (particularly if their owners are inexperienced/unperceptive animal handlers) and yet ferrets continue to be singled out unfairly.

I have the crankiest (though beautiful) black cat on the planet, I wouldn't dream of taking her out in public (a single vet visit is traumatic enough, both for the cat and the vets) yet my ferrets are out almost weekly and have met scores of strangers, including children without even a hint of trouble.

[Clove]

Ferrets and a box of starch-based packing popcorn...

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1084/041409toripopcorna.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2155/041409toricrickpopcornc.jpg
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9536/041409toricrickpopcornb.jpg
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1556/041409toricrickpopcorna.jpg
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1825/041409crickpopcorna.jpg

[Hips]

omgomgomg, sooooo cute! :heart:

[Beguiler]

They have the sweetest faces! :love:

[Brattt8525]

They have the sweetest faces! :love:

:yeahthat:

You get the best shots of the little devils.

[Clove]

Man is it hard to get good shots of them. You wouldn't believe the really blurry, half-in/half-out shots I get. I also miss tons of shots that happen too fast for me to catch. But I do what I can, luckily they're so cute that if I miss 80% of the opportunities, I still make out in the end.

[Clove]

Tornado in the popcorn box

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7297/041509toripopcornsun.jpg

[Clove]

Ferrets wrestling in popcorn and making a mess...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tf4UcUTWiM

[Proxy]

Weasels + packing peanuts = win

[Clove]

Cricket meets a new friend... and crawls up her sleeve:
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5554/041809cricketa.jpg


Tornado+Coffee=Disaster:
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4664/041809tornadoc.jpg


Tornado, showing the public how comfortable he is with his body:
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/118/041809tornadoa.jpg

[Clove]

Weasels + Popcorn (part 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3EPrM3Xy7w

[Brattt8525]

Weasels + Popcorn (part 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3EPrM3Xy7w


Cute as always BUT unless i am seeing things I swear to heavens I see 3 ferrets in the one shot <about halfway through the video. Typing this without finishing watching the video but umm do you have 3 or was there a visiting ferret?

Edited to add it was at like 40-42ish second into the video that I see the *3rd* ferret?

[Clove]

Cute as always BUT unless i am seeing things I swear to heavens I see 3 ferrets in the one shot <about halfway through the video. Typing this without finishing watching the video but umm do you have 3 or was there a visiting ferret?

Edited to add it was at like 40-42ish second into the video that I see the *3rd* ferret?No, there are only two; however ferrets move so quickly that normal physics begins blur as they approach the speed of light.

There is actually one part where Cricket exits the dining room, runs through the kitchen to the livingroom, then runs through the living room to the hallway then re-enters the diningroom from the opposite entrance and comes back in on the other side of the frame all in like less than 5 seconds. I still can't believe he did it that fast, I swear they teleport.

[Brattt8525]

Oh ok, that explains why it looked like 3 ferrets. Boy Cricket really can run/teleport LOL

[Clove]

Oh ok, that explains why it looked like 3 ferrets. Boy Cricket really can run/teleport LOLCricket is fast, even for a ferret. He gets easily startled by noises. Something like the noise from a sneeze or dropping something, or even just suddenly scuffing your feet can cause him to immediately bolt for cover and when he does it, he takes off like a shot. I don't even think I'd be able to catch it on video unless I had a really wide frame, but I'll keep trying.

[Clove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEWOxwCXaQ4&feature=rec-HM-fresh+div

[Brattt8525]

LOL love the size it up, lay down think about it rinse lather repeat till he escapes.

[Proxy]

Yay for weasel-Houdini! Moar weasel please?

Though if you really want to mess with them. move that cardboard roll up a little and put a dowel rod through it. That way when he jumps up he'll just roll off it & back into the room he's trying to escape from.

BTW did you turn that room into a weasel play-pen? If so, rock.

[Clove]

Not my weasel, however I've been considering turning our spare-room into a weasel playpen. It would keep guest attendence at a minimum at least "Well you'll have to sleep with teh weasels..."

[Proxy]

Anyone who wouldn't mind sharing some space with the furies shouldn't be over at your house any ways ;) consider it a test of character. After all, how can you really trust someone that hates the weasel?

[Clove]

It is impossible to hate the weasel. But not everyone wants to sleep with them.

[Clove]

I was out of town last weekend so I didn't get a chance to take the boys out to our favorite hangout, the local coffee shop. So I took them out right after work today. It was cloudy with off and on light showers so we spent half the time outside and half the time in the coffee house (the owners indulge me because they're such well behaved weasels... well, as well behaved as weasels CAN be anyway). As usual they had plenty of admirers. Here's a few pictures of them getting love from "their fans".

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8190/050109ferretsa.jpg
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/7599/050109ferretsd.jpg
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/2014/050109ferretsc.jpg

[Clove]

Never get tired of "Popcorn box" movies...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjayAuHvKeY

[Proxy]

Because I think its mildly funny & weasel related.

Weasel Vs Jalapeno (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWl_snUToM8)

[Clove]

That's just wrong... everyone knows you give tequila to stop the burning.

[Proxy]

k-gas, drunk'n weasels! I miss my ferrets, Kodo & Podo, now :(

[Clove]

Yeah, I miss Chaplin and Mojo.

[Clove]

My dad likes to boast that his dog could take my ferrets...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DCPK5SbwM

I keep telling him they're fearless and fast.

[Cephalopod]

k-gas, drunk'n weasels! I miss my ferrets, Kodo & Podo, now :(

Proxy = the Beastmaster?

[Proxy]

wow, I figured that movie was so obscure now that no would know about it on here but me. & I named my albinos after those two. Sucks for originality but, why no.

& The ferrets in beastmaster kicked all ass.

[Clove]

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9466/050609bedtime.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2800/050609bedtimeb.jpg

[Hips]

OMG FERRET YAWN!! <3

[Clove]

Yawn? Yawn?! That motherfucker was going for my wrist!!11!!1! :D

[Beguiler]

Yawn? Yawn?! That motherfucker was going for my wrist!!11!!1! :D

lolz.. I saw that and thought 'omg, look at the fangs!'. Cute lil buggers...

[Clove]

Proxy = the Beastmaster?

Proxy?
http://www.staciwilson.com/animalmovies/AnimalMoviesImages/BEAST_MASTER-2.jpg

[Proxy]

If I shaved off my gotee, grew my hair out and dyed it blond instead of brown, took my shirt of and shaved my chest then picked up a pair of weasels in the forest... ... maybe

[Clove]

Took the boys out to the coffee house today. After they burnt out their energy romping around in the garden, I brought them inside so I could finish my coffee out of the weather (the weather has been a little damp and chilly here).

The boys napped in their bag and a caught the attention of a nice lady who thought they were so cute that she had wished she brought her camera so she could get a picture of them; I handed her mine. Here was the result:

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/1489/1000547.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7444/1000540.jpg
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1255/1000544.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3811/1000541.jpg

[Clove]

And one more...

http://img198.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000545.jpg

[Clove]

If you listen carefully at the very beginning of this video you can hear a "screeeeech". This is the sound of an excited ferret!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn3N4z03pOE

[Clove]

Tornado with the chew toy gives you an idea of the teeth these little guys have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epr2pITT1nY

[Clove]

Mas hurones!

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/491/052509weaselbuggya.jpg
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/58/052509weaselbuggyb.jpg

[Clove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awpd65zLJVE

[Clove]

The boys are getting good at standing on their hind legs. Look at 'em lined up like Rockettes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnOnON4MTLE

[Clove]

Cricket entertaining the masses at SailFest

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/627/cricketatsailfest.jpg

And Tornado making an escape

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9333/tornadoatsailfest.jpg

[Proxy]

viva la weasel!

[Back]

I actually like ferrets. Interesting animals. I’d never own one myself because there is no way I could keep up with my bachelor lifestyle.

Do they collect and hide stuff from you?

[Divinity]

I don't get it either. Ferrets have been domesticated for at least 2,500 years, statistically they are far less likely to bite you than a dog and my own anecdotal experience along with every ferret owner I've ever known is that out of all their pets, ferrets are on the "least likely to attack" list.

It's all reputation and perception. Of course I've heard stories of ferrets lashing out unexpectedly at people- it happens with all animals (particularly if their owners are inexperienced/unperceptive animal handlers) and yet ferrets continue to be singled out unfairly.

I have the crankiest (though beautiful) black cat on the planet, I wouldn't dream of taking her out in public (a single vet visit is traumatic enough, both for the cat and the vets) yet my ferrets are out almost weekly and have met scores of strangers, including children without even a hint of trouble.

I don't know..

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/Kurapira/ferrets.jpg

[Clove]

http://www.signs-up.com/prod_images/Attack%20Ferret_attack_640.jpg

[Clove]

Do they collect and hide stuff from you?Yes. It's their nesting instinct.

[Clove]

Freddie the Ferret, featured in Time magazine (1948)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,799464,00.html

[Clove]

Tornado "explores" (and wrecks) the bathroom sink. The sink gets the last laugh, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHOjNXpe9UE

[Clove]

I was planning on upgrading the ferret cage this winter but the model I wanted was 70 bucks off so I got it early. The boys love it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWhusY1ibBM

[Hips]

omg ferrets. <3

[Cephalopod]

I wish I had a hammock.

Also, take those damn harnesses off in the house! :D

(yes, I know, you need them for the bells, right?)

[Kyra231]

Tornado "explores" (and wrecks) the bathroom sink. The sink gets the last laugh, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHOjNXpe9UE

:rofl:

[Kyra231]

I was planning on upgrading the ferret cage this winter but the model I wanted was 70 bucks off so I got it early. The boys love it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWhusY1ibBM

Damn, nice cage. Who is it made by?

[Clove]

Ferret Nation Habitat model 142. 18' sq of deck space. Two full decks and two half decks. The two levels can be isolated from each other. Doors open full width and height and are easily removable. My boys love the space and I love the ease of access for cleaning and maintenance.

[Clove]

I wish I had a hammock.

Also, take those damn harnesses off in the house! :D

(yes, I know, you need them for the bells, right?)Correctamundo... I'd end up stepping on them constantly without the bells... they're silent as snakes otherwise.

[Kyra231]

Ferret Nation Habitat model 142. 18' sq of deck space. Two full decks and two half decks. The two levels can be isolated from each other. Doors open full width and height and are easily removable. My boys love the space and I love the ease of access for cleaning and maintenance.

I can't find anything on the sites I've checked. Would you say the bars are less than 1" apart?

[Clove]

I can't find anything on the sites I've checked. Would you say the bars are less than 1" apart?I would not. The vertical bars are 1" apart exactly.

[Clove]

When the boys broke their "unbreakable" water bottle after we moved them to the new cage we had to get them a new one. We also got them an octopus toy/sleeping bag. It's an octopus with a hollow head and arms with strategically placed holes for them to climb in and explore... or sleep. They love it as you can see by Cricket's reception.

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/7485/cricketoctopusa.jpg

[Hips]

FERRET + OCTOPUS = OMG SO CUTE.

[Clove]

More sleepy weasels and octopus.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6280/tornadocricketocto.jpg

[Clove]

Redneck+Ferret+Kitten=Awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erlvcrISuPE

[Clove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAtHyIF00E

Cricket being a moran.

[Clove]

Cricket is 1 year old this week.

Happy Birthday Cricket!

[Fallen]

How long do they typically live in captivity?

[Clove]

How long do they typically live in captivity?7-9 years on average with exceptional individuals living 10-12. Vets in my area say that it's more typical for ferrets to live 5-7 in the United States. Some believe this is primarily due to poor care :(.

[Hips]

Cricket is 1 year old this week.

Happy Birthday Cricket!

did you put him in a birthday hat and take pictures??

no? well you should. :(

[Clove]

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1748/mojog.jpg

Mojo died one year ago today. He was a good weasel and we miss him. Rest in peace little guy.

[Clove]

did you put him in a birthday hat and take pictures??

no? well you should. :(I find that I don't need to go out of my way to humiliate them; they're clownish enough all on their own.

[Back]

I do enjoy this thread Clove. More funny vids plz.

Heres an idea for one. Let them accidently get loose in a Starbucks.

[Clove]

I do enjoy this thread Clove. More funny vids plz.

Heres an idea for one. Let them accidently get loose in a Starbucks.The mayhem that they could inflict on the average Starbucks would almost be worth it. Unfortunately I've been trying to raise them up to be good little citizens (well, as good as they can be) which is why I haven't taught them to retrieve the nice bags from the night-deposit box (yet).

I've been lax with weasel movies and more are pending. They are difficult subjects, but I'll perservere for the sake of entertainment.

[Hips]

I find that I don't need to go out of my way to humiliate them; they're clownish enough all on their own.

Who said anything about humiliating them?! It's about the cuteness! Weasel + hat = cuteness overload!

[Beguiler]

Weasel + hat = cuteness overload!

^
That.

[Clove]

Cricket wants the cork from this wine bottle in the worst way and he's a determined little weasel.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4LN_LKZjKg

[Methais]

Ferrets kick ass.

[Clove]

Especially wino ferrets :D

[Clove]

Sleep quietly Chaplin

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6463/chap800600a.jpg

[Clove]

Cricket has almost climbed over the babygate.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7287/cricketvs.jpg

[Beguiler]

This is right up there with the baby climbing out of the playpen. You're in for it now..go Cricket!!

[Clove]

Black Footed Ferret cam at the National Zoological Garden in D.C.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/default.cfm

[Clove]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/image_galleries/ferret_gallery.shtml

[Cephalopod]

Spiffy pics.

When I had ferrets, I remember one of my friends in the UK being surprised that we kept them inside. Apparently they're more commonly outdoor pets in the UK.

(That, and they're used for ferret-legging there.)

[Clove]

Yeah they're odd in the UK. They do more ferreting (rabbit hunting) with them too. Ferrets are very cheap in the UK because so many of them aren't neutered. In the US you're looking at about 150 bucks for a ferret, in the UK more like 30 bucks. They have litters of 10-18.

Ferrets can acclimate to temperature ranges between 10-75F over 90F is fatal. For this reason keeping them outdoors isn't practical in most the United States. Additionally unless you're prepared to pay for antiparasitics keeping ferrets outdoors will ultimately result in a fatal parasitic infestation.

[Methais]

http://www.searchviews.com/wp-content/themes/clean-copy-full-3-column-1/images/the_more_you_know2.jpg

[Clove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmDkRRlBLwA

[Beguiler]

Damn those weasels are cute!

[seomul]

Nice pics u all got..

[Clove]

Thanks bot.

[Clove]

Cricket's 1337 snow tunneling skills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00kCxj85e6w

[Clove]

Cricket in the snow:
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6979/1002792h.jpg

Tornado in the Snow:
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1941/1002798u.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/291/1002795.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/122/1002790.jpg

[Clove]

Shit you just can't make up. Tornado managed to get the top loop of his harness off his head. This enabled him to push the lower loop down his body until it was wrapped tight around his abdomen, just over his penis. He came up to me obviously looking for some help. As I tried to extricate him from the harness I accidentally pinched the tip of his penis. He hissed at me. I understood. The good news is the harness was safely removed and no penises were damaged in the process.

*facepalm*

[Cephalopod]

Shit you just can't make up. Tornado managed to get the top loop of his harness off his head. This enabled him to push the lower loop down his body until it was wrapped tight around his abdomen, just over his penis. He came up to me obviously looking for some help. As I tried to extricate him from the harness I accidentally pinched the tip of his penis. He hissed at me. I understood. The good news is the harness was safely removed and no penises were damaged in the process.

*facepalm*

You may want to make sure that when you go to bed tonight, you have extra protection in case he's looking for some revenge.

[AestheticLife]

Methinks this was no accident!

[Clove]

You may want to make sure that when you go to bed tonight, you have extra protection in case he's looking for some revenge.Inorite? He was pissed and I don't blame him. Luckily he's a forgiving weasel (and a little extra chicken babyfood helps).

[Clove]

Tornado and Cricket had their first annual vet exam on Monday (1/18/10) and the exam concluded that they were both in excellent health. The vet couldn't hear the heart murmur that was detected when Cricket was a kit and concluded that it was either an error, was outgrown or was too minor to be concerned about. Win.

[Clove]

Another vet appointment on 1/24 for distemper shots and a consult over a heartworm preventative. Life would be so much easier if there were any FDA approved/recommended medications for the US's 3rd most popular pet.

[Clove]

Different vet gave the distemper shot. Duped me into buying Benedryl again. I told them to add on the chart, no Benedryl unless instructed by me.

[AnticorRifling]

Another vet appointment on 1/24 for distemper shots and a consult over a heartworm preventative. Life would be so much easier if there were any FDA approved/recommended medications for the US's 3rd most popular pet.
Did we abolish slavery a while back?

Too soon?

[Showal]

Different vet gave the distemper shot. Duped me into buying Benedryl again. I told them to add on the chart, no Benedryl unless instructed by me.

I almost lost one of my ferrets a while back from a distemper shot. That distemper business is almost as serious as the internet.

[4a6c1]

Another vet appointment on 1/24 for distemper shots and a consult over a heartworm preventative. Life would be so much easier if there were any FDA approved/recommended medications for the US's 3rd most popular pet.

...

Damn.

I should write my thesis on that.

[Showal]

well...

To be honest, calling them the 3rd most popular pet is really a matter of what source you drag up. According to the AVMA in 2007, ferrets are actually the 13th most popular pet in the US (505,000 households in the US own ferrets, falling under turtles and guinea pigs even). To be fair, some of the listed pets are very broad ("all others" falls 7th). Birds and fish are more popular than ferrets in almost every list.

So, the reasoning for no distemper is likely that there's not enough money to be made from it and the current treatment's working alright for the majority of ferrets.

Keep in mind, having an FDA approved or recommended vaccine doesn't mean your pet will be safe. Dogs react to their distemper shots occasionally. Some animals even respond to the rabies vaccine.

[Clove]

well...

To be honest, calling them the 3rd most popular pet is really a matter of what source you drag up. According to the AVMA in 2007, ferrets are actually the 13th most popular pet in the US (505,000 households in the US own ferrets, falling under turtles and guinea pigs even). To be fair, some of the listed pets are very broad ("all others" falls 7th). Birds and fish are more popular than ferrets in almost every list.

So, the reasoning for no distemper is likely that there's not enough money to be made from it and the current treatment's working alright for the majority of ferrets.

Keep in mind, having an FDA approved or recommended vaccine doesn't mean your pet will be safe. Dogs react to their distemper shots occasionally. Some animals even respond to the rabies vaccine.Yeah, statistics will vary depending on how you categorize them although I'm confident they fall in the top ten and their popularity is increasing with more media attention (you see them in movies often).

All vaccines are serious business with ferrets which is why when my kits get their first exposure to a vaccine they receive a preemptive shot of Benedryl and cortizone. If no reactions are observed then going forward they are kept 20 minutes for observation after vaccination (no preemptive Benedryl or cortizone).

FDA approval doesn't make anything necessarily "safer" however it does give vets better confidence when prescribing preventative medications like heartwormers and makes it more convenient. Instead the options are try to adjust a cat or dog dose (because businesses can't sell a ferret-dosed product sans FDA approval) or make a custom formula. It's frustrating.

[AnticorRifling]

Get weiner dogs, best pet ever. Failure to agree is letting the terrorists win.

[Clove]

Get weiner dogs, best pet ever. Failure to agree is letting the terrorists win.Weiner dogs are full of epic win. But my weasels are rock stars. The vet techs wanted a photo op with them today; now that's full of win too (when your pet's so cute they want pictures at the vet's).

[AnticorRifling]

Yes but when people want to take a picture with your weiner that's when you know you're pro.

[4a6c1]

Get weiner dogs, best pet ever. Failure to agree is letting the terrorists win.

Penis dogs are genetically predispositioned to have back problems.

And grown men that own them are compensating for something.

http://worshipallah.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/allah21.jpg

[AnticorRifling]

Penis dogs are genetically predispositioned to have back problems.

And grown men that own them are compensating for something.

http://worshipallah.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/allah21.jpg
This is why I've got stairs that go up to my bed, couches, etc so they don't jump up and down (which is where a lot of the back problems from slipped discs can happen thanks to the long spine with less support).

I've got three weiner dogs, clearly I'm compensating for my lack of multiple weiners, damn this unicock body.

[Clove]

This is why I've got stairs that go up to my bed, couches, etc so they don't jump up and down (which is where a lot of the back problems from slipped discs can happen thanks to the long spine with less support).

I've got three weiner dogs, clearly I'm compensating for my lack of multiple weiners, damn this unicock body.You need a detachable one so you can try different models as necessary.

[4a6c1]

That is really cute actually. Semper Fi Pie and weiner snitzel.

[AnticorRifling]

That's Bella she's about 3.5lbs. Runt of the litter, she won't get any bigger and she'll probably end up blind (go go double dapples with their crazy eyes). My other weiners are bigger (I've got them in three sizes, wee, not so wee, and freakin huge).

[4a6c1]

I want a greyhound. But I'm waiting until I own property.

[Clove]

My other weiners are bigger (I've got them in three sizes, wee, not so wee, and freakin huge).That's what she said...

[AnticorRifling]

That's what she said...

Why do you think the wife puts up with me?

[AestheticLife]

Why do you think the wife puts up with me?

You have 11,000 more posts than the next guy willing to stick her?

[AnticorRifling]

It's gotta be way more than 11,000.

[NocturnalRob]

You have 11,000 more posts than the next guy willing to stick her?
Nope. Only about 6,000 or so. But I'm posting as fast as I can!!

[AnticorRifling]

Son of a....

[Clove]

Actually he's only 5,400 ahead of me. His wife isn't too picky (obviously).

[NocturnalRob]

Obviously

[4a6c1]

Ok so I'm giving AR some twilight blue encrypted text from Silithus when I find it so he can have a pretty pretty tabard for his horsie?

[NocturnalRob]

WRONG THREAD, WHORE!!

[4a6c1]

Goddamnit. I hate you.

[NocturnalRob]

I'm sorry.

http://mangodogpark.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/sad-little-beagle.jpg

[Beguiler]

OMG what a cute puppy!

Not as cute as my three weiner rats, but danged close! My little Maximus has that big sad eye thing going, too..

[NocturnalRob]

yeah, beagles rule. i had 4 growing up. loved those little fuckers.

[4a6c1]

There was a study done at UTMB about how some dogs (yo quiero, Taco Bell?) have been bred to look like human infants - large eyes, globular heads - so that they trigger a biological mothering instinct when we look at them.

Of course this outcome perplexed me when I considered my half-brothers boyfriend, who owns one of those little shiverdogs.

And made me wonder about the rest of us, who dont like them at all.

[Clove]

OMG what a cute puppy!

Not as cute as Clove's two weasels, but danged close!Fixed.

[Cephalopod]

Ferret grooming (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlJDPtW7lvU)

[Clove]

The days are getting longer and the weasels are more uppity. Especially when they can hear that I'm home. Tantrums in their cages starting around 1pm while I was trying to watch the Olympics. Sunny, 40F... good day to take them to the coffee house to burn off some energy.

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/6056/1002992m.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5739/1002995.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4999/1003001o.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7826/1003003p.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/619/1003004u.jpg

[Clove]

Today we went out for a coffee and then hit the pet store for litter and a new toy. A good time was had by all.

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/3176/1003052.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9485/1003045.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6595/1003041w.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9436/1003038c.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/1586/1003037v.jpg

[Clove]

Cricket makes a friend.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8567/1003077mt.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9901/1003078t.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9967/1003079v.jpg

[Clove]

Lots of rain and high rain this weekend. Power-lines down everywhere. Umbrellas are almost useless the wind is so bad I almost ended up in the next county like Mary-fucking-Poppins. But anyway the weasels enjoyed playing with the umbrella as it dried.

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9938/1003141.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3753/1003140.jpg

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3521/1003138r.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7746/1003136.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7695/1003135.jpg

[Clove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_LkoiySBwU

[AestheticLife]

Cricket makes a friend.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8567/1003077mt.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9901/1003078t.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9967/1003079v.jpg

Looks like a fugly version of the chick from Mythbusters.

Well done (by association).

[Clove]

Looks like a fugly version of the chick from Mythbusters.

Well done (by association).lol wut

[AestheticLife]

lol wut

http://www.whodudo.net/files/imagecache/smackdown/files/Kari%20Byron.jpg

[Clove]

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/9349/1003192v.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8955/1003194.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8237/1003195r.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4631/1003202.jpg

[Clove]

It's time for a new ferret vet. The nearest AFA recommended vet is in Hartford but FACT suggested one nearer. Hopefully this one will be more experienced with more than just routine and emergency procedures. Ideally a practice that can spay/neuter.

The vet we've been seeing is nice but the entire practice seems unfamiliar with ferrets in general and I think the straw for me was when I asked them to research a bulk ferret heartworm solution.

I explained my points of concern, largely minimizing their exposure to pesticides balanced with treating the most dangerous parasites. In the ferret the primary parasite risks are heartworm, fleas and earmites (in order of danger). 1-4 adult heartworms are fatal in adult ferrets and tests very ineffective. Since any infected mandibles from fleas or mosquitos can pose a risk 365 larval heartworm prevention is ideal.

On the other hand fleas and mites can be addressed as needed. A bad flea infestation can cause anemia in an adult ferret in addition to stress (which they don't tolerate well). But there's time to deal with it if it becomes a problem and in New England 6 months of OTC treatments are more than adequate as a preventative.

So I suggested a 9:1 dilution of 1% Ivomec in propylene glycol and a .1 ml/lb oral injection monthly. This formula has been used in Europe, Australia and the US for like 20 years. Ivermectrin has been safely used for like 30 years in everything from horses to humans.

Vet never heard of it. But was worried that the solution would lose its effectiveness if stored for longer than a few days (though the manufacturer states it can be kept in a dark container for up to 2 years). 1% Ivomec is 99% propylene glycol... so diluting it in more propylene glycol shouldn't affect it and makes the most stable suspension. She was happy to sell me Revolution though.

Hmmm. A drug that's way more pesticide than I want and costs 50x more than Ivomec. No thanks. She left a long, impressive message on my answering machine but wouldn't return my call when I asked to speak directly to her.

The formula and dosage was taken directly from Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery.

Epic fail. The search for a new vet begins.

[Cephalopod]

Ferrets key to bridging the digital divide between cities and rural areas (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7541455/Ferrets-key-to-bridging-the-digital-divide-between-cities-and-rural-areas.html)



Published: 7:00AM BST 01 Apr 2010

Specially trained ferrets are being used to deliver broadband to rural areas following groundbreaking techniques used by an internet provider.

The animals have been used by Virgin Media for over a year to help lay cables for its broadband service, the company has disclosed.

The ferrets wear jackets fitted with a microchip which is able to analyse any breaks or damage in the underground network.

[Cephalopod]

Epic fail. The search for a new vet begins.

Sorry to hear about this... When I had ferrets, I was lucky to have Dr. Karen Purcell as our vet. She's semi-famous in 'ferret circles', and she was incredible. I think she moved to New Hampshire now, though.

[CrystalTears]

I wish that wasn't an April Fool's story, because that's awesome. And it's not like ferrets haven't worked in that capacity before.

[Clove]

Virgin's the fool for not taking advantage of highly skilled weasel labor. Just sayin'.

Today a pretty blonde lady pulled over her car to play with my weasel. Yeah. Her kids wanted to see them.

[4a6c1]

Today a pretty blonde lady pulled over her car to play with my weasel. (THE END. PARAGRAPH OVER?!)

Actual weird rest of the statement that looked alot less awesome outside your head: "Yeah. Her kids wanted to see them."

[Clove]

I'm just reporting the truth... I can't control the images you conjure with it :P

[Clove]

Cricket and Tornado decided to "help" with aquarium maintenance tonight. Maintenance efforts were delayed by a photo op...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apyNNLpK5ok

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/7783/1003234k.jpg

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/1053/1003237k.jpg

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2407/1003238.jpg

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1207/1003239k.jpg

[Clove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzhbWR713hU

I thought this was one of the best ferret YouTube's I've ever seen. The song is "Jong" (Young) by a Dutch group the Topstars and it fits the ferret theme nicely. The refrain (in English) is:

I am young
The world lies at my feet
Life wants to meet me
I do what I want, I seize the day
The world lies at my feet
Life wants to meet me
I do what I want, and this is especially
Anything not!

Okay so Google did pretty good until "this is especially anything not!" but you get the picture. Ferrets embody youth and fun, period.

[Clove]

Just in case I lose the formula

Ferret Revolution Dose 18mg/kg or 0.51mg/oz

Revolution 5-15lb cat = 45mg/.75ml or 1mg/.0167ml

[Clove]

Stoats on the Discovery Channel's "Life" series (predators and prey episode) last night. Weasels represent!

Gave the boys their first Revolution was only able to get about .6 ml from the .75 ml tube with an oral syringe. From 2lbs to 3lbs the dose varies by about .075 ml so .3 ml each ought to be effective and safe. Next year I'm totally going with an oral Ivermectin suspension though, this is too much of a PITA.

To keep them from licking each other we went for a walk in the historic graveyard. Tornado found an "open grave". I was letting him walk with his leash attached (but not in-hand). Next thing I know all I see is leash hanging out of a tunnel over a grave. Whoops. Luckily no bones came up with him (or snakes or spiders).

[Clove]

http://www.lolferrets.com/displayimage.php?pid=87&fullsize=1

[Clove]

Today I learned that Tornado likes hot chocolate.

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/3609/torihotchocolate.jpg

[Clove]

Took the ferrets to run out a nest of rats in my friend's garden yesterday. Weasels 6. Rats 0.

[AnticorRifling]

That's awesome.

They are closing in on my weiners' kill count.

[Clove]

Postal workers wondering about wiggling package bound for Puerto Rico find ferret

Postal authorities in Lynchburg, Va., discovered a ferret after checking out a package marked for overnight delivery to Puerto Rico that started moving on its own.

Postal workers contacted a postal inspector after they spotted the wiggling package.

After trying unsuccessfully to track down the sender, the inspector got a search warrant and the next day animal control officers opened the box.

Inside they found the ferret, which was accompanied by a cage, toys and food.

The Roanoke Valley SPCA named the ferret Stamps and put it up for adoption and this week, Craig Bradley and his wife took the ferret home.

They’re the cofounders of the Big Lick Ferret Shelter & Hospice.

-- Associated Press

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/04/ferret-virginia-postal-package.html

I am in UR mail scaring your postmaster.