Sorry to the original questioner for the LONG delay in answering this one.
 
Q: "Can you tell me what you think ferrets need the most....are shelters
    providing for these needs?"
 
A: Ferrets need a) raisins, b) socks, c) corners, and d) that tender little
   strip of flesh just behind your knee.
 
I always assume ferrets need the same basic things as humans, modified
perhaps by their unique psychology.  There is a well accepted hierarchical
list of human needs, defined by a character named Maslow, that lists human
needs as
1) Physiological Needs,
2) Security Needs,
3) Social Needs,
4) Self-Respect,
5) Self-Actualization.
There are a lot of variations in how these categories are titled, and
there is some minor controversy on their exact hierarchical nature, but
for the most part it is well accepted.  You will notice the needs move
from the external (environment) to the internal (psychology).  You should
also notice each category tends to overlap the other, because they are
actually multi-modal continuums rather than discrete categories.  As an
evolutionist, I have to consider that IF this human list reflects basic
human needs, THEN because other mammals share many of our psychological and
physiological characteristics, they probably share these needs as well.
Since it is doubtful (it is at least clearly anthropomorphic) that a ferret
has the mental ability for true self-respect or self-actualization, I will
combine these two under a single category, "Individual." With that in mind,
I consider these to be The Ferret'S Hierarchical List of Needs:
 
1. Physiological Needs: Ferrets require clean air, fresh water, and
wholesome food, in quantity and quality sufficient to sustain them in a
healthy condition.  Ferrets require a physical environment which maintains
them in a healthy condition, where extremes of heat and cold are within the
ferret's physiological needs.  Ferrets require secure, uninterrupted sleep
in a darkened and quiet area.  Ferrets require frequent exercise ranging in
levels from light to strenuous, depending on individual age and condition.
Ferrets require rapid access to quality medical care.  Ferrets require an
environment free of viral or bacterial pathogens, chemical toxins, body
wastes, decaying food, and pests or parasites.
 
2. Security Needs: Ferrets require an environment free of fear or long
term stress, including fear or stress caused by over-crowding, bullying
from other ferrets or animals, cage stress, inability to hide from view,
nutritional stress, and inability to form an environmental territorial
bond.  Ferrets require a place of retreat, with a defensible opening, such
as a personal nesting box.  Ferrets require human curatorship free of
physical and emotional abuse.  Ferrets require a location which can be
considered personal territory.  Ferrets require consistent, long term
stable curatorship.
 
3. Social Needs: Ferrets are, by nature, independent creatures which
live solitary lives, so they have minimal social needs.  However, through
domestication, ferrets retain many socialization behaviors common to older
kits or young juveniles, which includes the need for frequent physical
contact and play.  Also, as domestic animals, ferrets require frequent
human interaction, including grooming interactions, play, and mental
stimulation.  This need is all the more important with extremely young or
old ferrets, ferrets suffering from illness or injury, or ferrets unable
to maintain close contact with other ferrets.
 
4. Individual Needs: Ferrets require frequent mental stimulation with the
opportunity to problem solve.  Ferrets require the freedom to explore or
investigate and to satisfy curiosity.  Ferrets require the ability to make
personal decisions regarding activity and feeding schedules.  Ferrets
require toys or other objects in their environment with which they can
interact.  Ferrets require the chance to be a ferret.
 
Ferret shelters, like all other animal shelters, intuitively recognize the
importance of the first category and will emphasize it above all other
needs.  In many overcrowded shelters, physiological needs are the only
ones met, either because of lack or funds or volunteered help.  However,
even in well staffed and funded shelters, it is a rare situation when all
four categories are understood and programs are initiated to met them.  In
almost all cases, this is due to a lack of understanding rather than a lack
of caring.  Still, if the goal is to provide the best possible environment
for a ferret, then some recognition that the ferret has more than
physiological needs must be made.  While ferrets are not humans, they are
ferrets, and they require a curatorship which strives toward meeting their
individual and collective needs.
 
Bob C and 15 MO' Hairy-Legged Snakes
[Posted in FML issue 3167]