The subject of ferret IQ is an interesting one.  Personally, I think that
the "IQ" varies as much or more among the ferret population as it does
among the human one.  If someone were to come into my home and randomly
select a ferret for IQ testing, the results would vary wildly depending
on the choice.
 
If they tested Ollie, for example, they might decide that ferrets are
slightly dumber than posts.  On the other hand, if they selected Doc, you
might see a headline reading "Scientists discover another sentient
species."
 
Doc is a "Geek." At 3.5 pounds, he is far smaller than his 4 - 5 lb.
'brothers.' He has one ear that was chewed on so much that it lies down
rather than sticks up on his head.  With the one visible ear he always has
a quizzical expression.  He's the one who gets pushed away from the treat
plate.  He's the one to get beat up if any of the others is having a bad
day.  Doc is a very smart ferret, though.  He generally doesn't get mad.
He gets even.
 
Tanner is generally the one having the bad-day.  Whenever I see Doc running
by, I can usually count on Tanner being in close pursuit.  The other day
Tanner was standing on a large couch-type pillow which was on the futon.
Doc quietly slipped under the back edge of the pillow, turned over on his
back and with a heave, sent Tanner sliding off onto the floor, landing
with an undignified thump on his rear.  When I left for work, Tanner, tail
poofed to the max, was still trying to catch Doc.
 
Yesterday, I finished watching a DVD movie.  I went over to the TV cabinet
where we keep the VCR and DVD player to put the disk away.  I never noticed
Doc standing there.
 
Now this TV cabinet has been in our den for about a year.  It's the type
with the glass door covering the component section.  You have to push in
on the edge of the door to release the latching mechanism, then the door
swings partly open so you can grab the edge and open it the rest of the
way.  The ferrets have tried half heartedly to open it, but were never
successful.
 
I barely got back to my chair when Doc, having watched me open the door,
walked over to the cabinet, pushed in on the edge of the door with his nose,
expertly flicked the door open with his paw and climbed in.  I grabbed his
rear as he was sliding over the VCR.  He got a scolding from me.
 
Again, barely back to my chair, I see Doc once again doing the nose push,
paw flick, and dive into the cabinet.  Again I grab and pull and really
give him a thorough tongue-lashing.  This time he trots away out of the
den.
 
Less than a minute later Doc comes back, but this time leading Ollie over
to the TV cabinet.  With Ollie standing there, Doc pushes the door edge
with his nose, flicks the door open and stands aside while Ollie jumps into
the cabinet.  Doc continues to stand there, then calmly looks over at me
with the expression that says, "Dad, Ollie is in the TV cabinet.  Aren't
you going to get him?"
 
Doc does get even.
 
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 3320]