You know, it's crazy, but as long as I've owned ferrets I've never
caught them doing this sort of thing. I knew they did it because of
what other people told me. And I'd find things by gates that weren't
there before that they'd use to get out. A couple times, when I saw
things moved by the gates ... it was accidental. I've never seen a
ferret do very purposeful and precise "tool using" before like in that
movie. There was no "accident", or dozens of tries. He knew exactly
where to put it and did it every time. I've seen many extraordinary
problem solving attempts, but this is different because of the use of
an item. It's one of those situations where you "know" something ...
but seeing it with your own eyes knocks the socks off of you.

The only other tool using animal I know of aside from humans, are apes
(all primates?), parrots and now they are saying a species of octopus
does. An octopus was filmed purposefully hunting coconut shells and
then traveling with them to build entire shelters. I don't quite
understand how thats' a "tool" though. I mean birds use grass and
sticks for nests and homes. But they don't say that finches use tools.
Anyway, I know for sure parrots use them. They are quite often seen
holding a feather in their foot and using it as a back scratcher. I
also saw a quacker parrot using a stick to stir its "soup". He'd put
some food in his water, go down to the bottom of the aviary, choose a
twig, climb up and stir it. He'd eat the soup, then add food and stir
again.

Are there any other ways ferrets use "tools" and manipulate objects?
I've not seen so. But I've been raised with them every since I was a
little girl, so I overlook a LOT as it is common place to me.

Wolfy

[Posted in FML 7054]