Ferrets are incredibly intelligent animals, more so than most
domesticated animals, including dogs and cats.  The determination of
intelligence in animals is extremely difficult because it is so dependent
upon a number of factors, including nutrition, experience, parental
teaching, caging, enrichment, individual variation, and interest.
Complicating the issue is the tendency of researchers to test animals by
biased criteria; that is, the tests are essentially designed FOR humans.
For example, a test that uses sound to solicit a visual search and
identify a specific object would show monkeys and dogs to be highly
intelligent.  Ferrets would fare poorly in such an experiment because
they do not use as much of their brain for auditory communication, and
they are not as visually centered as monkeys and dogs.  That doesn't mean
ferrets are smarter or dumber, it just means ferrets are not as oriented
towards sight and sound as monkeys or dogs.  A test using scent and
vibration may just as unfairly favor the ferret.  Another problem is how
animals are motivated to perform tests.  This is generally done using a
food reward, but in some animals, such as ferrets, other considerations
may be even MORE motivating.  How many ferret owners have seen a ferret
work an hour to find a way to the top of a desk JUST to explore it?
 
One attempt (of many) to realize a more accurate appraisal of
intelligence in animals is to test the ability of an animal to LEARN
how to learn.  One way this is done is by administering what are
called learning-sets, that is, a series of tests that are different,
but have similar solutions.  For example, a series of upturned cups
may be in view, one of which has a hidden treat.  Each time the test
is administered, the treat is randomly moved.  Animals with poor
learning-set abilities never realize a treat is under a cup, but those
with advanced learning-set skills LEARN a treat is under a cup, and
wastes little time tipping them over.  A high learning-set score (how
many attempts are made until a high rate of accuracy is achieved) is
generally correlated with intelligence.  Using learning-set scores,
ferrets not only rank higher than cats or dogs, but also squirrel
monkeys, rats, and marmosets.  They, in fact, rank nearly as high as
Rhesus monkeys!
 
The point here is that ferrets, domesticated from polecats, evolved great
problem-solving capacity to survive their environment, and as a result,
rapidly learns how to learn.  This is a boon for ferret owners, because
learning is a form of enrichment.  That means ferret owners can use a
modified sort of learning-set test AS enrichment!  Here are some examples
I have tried, but be aware the initial learning may take some attempts.
This is especially true of ferrets that have lived their lives in a
sterile environment, but don't give up; ferrets are smart and will figure
out the solution.  Once the solution is realized, start adding variation,
varying treats, changing the test slightly, etc.
 
1. The Hidden Treat Trick: hide a treat under a paper cup, and then
place it in different locations in the playroom.  Once the ferret learns
there is a treat under a paper cup, add a second cup, but without a
treat.  Later on, add a more cups until you get to about five or six.
Once the ferret masters this trick, replace the cups with a box, and
start over.  Later, cover the treat with a sock, sheet of paper, plastic
egg, etc.
 
2. Get Tubular: This trick uses five or six sections of tubing (PVC,
dryer tube, etc.) with a single treat hidden inside one of them.
Randomly change the location of the treat, the position of the tubes,
and the number of the tubes.
 
3. Be An Egghead: Like the cups trick, hide a treat inside a single
plastic egg.  Once that has been mastered, start hiding several
treat-filled eggs around the room.
 
4. The Amazing Ferret Show: I use bricks and cinderblocks, but any sort
of object can be substituted.  Build a tower with a ramp to the top where
you have placed a treat.  Later, add more ramps one at a time, but only
let one lead to the top.
 
5. Is That A Ferret In Your Pants?: Hide a treat inside the leg of a
pair of pants, and place them on the floor.  Once the ferret figures out
the trick, add other pairs of pants, some with treats, some without.  I
suggest opening a zipper and wait with your camera.
 
Bob C
[Posted in FML issue 4201]