Hey Gang.
 
OK Ok here's my two cents on the feral ferret subject.  On Widbye Island
in the Pudget Sound just north west of Seattle there was at one time a
colony of either feral ferrets or polecats.  Not sure which but it was
there until about ten to fifteen years ago.  Now I have heard from over
ten folks who have lived in the Berkley Hills area northeast of Oakland
Ca.  that they have seen and fed and at least two claimed to have made
friends enough with a family to actually pet what they called "Wild
ferrets".  Now I have not seen either group but I was sceduled while
in the Navy, to train once upon a time on Widbye Island (which was
cancelled).  We were told not to disturb the wild ferrets on the island.
Everything else was eligible as a food source.  So the US Navy knew that
wild ferrets lived there and didn't want any training excersice to
endanger them so they must have been there.  That was back in 1967.  I
have heard that the population died out there about 1990 or so but don't
know that for sure.  Anyway, I do know the New Zealand does indeed have
a population of feral frets.  So much so the Minister of Agriculture and
Forests (I believe that is correct..) has made private ownership of
ferrets illegal.  You can keep what ya got now but not add any new
fuzzies.  I believe that this will not stand but for now....Oh well,
foolishness seem to go on forever at times doesn't it?
 
As to the question can ferrets go feral... I would have to say yes I
believe they can and have right here in the USA.  Why should our frets be
any different than frets in other parts of this world?  I also know that
many of my frets will definetely eat mice.  If they can get one it is
gone!!!
 
My prayers go out to Jeanne Carley with her injuries.  Get well lady...we
need you in the fight.  You are a warrior for frets everywhere!!!  Yeah I
know, I live here in Reno, but I am a Californian Native but I can't even
go there to visit with any of my fuzzies.  Everything is known to the
State Of California to cause something harmfull to someone ya know!!LOL.
 
Everyone out there stay fuzzy and stay alert...we need more lerts..LOL!!!
After All It Is For The ferrets!!!
 
Fred Hurd
Reno, Nevada.
[Posted in FML issue 4027]