Hi all!  I stumbled across some interesting facts about ferrets the other
day and thought I would share them....
 
Did you know that ferrets are one of nature's most ruthlessly efficient
predators?  And do it very successfully.  The ferret comes equipped with
four long, sharp front teeth ideally adapted to grasping flesh.  When
European hunters used ferrets to flush game from tunnels, they bound the
head and nose with twine, because once the animals got hold of a target,
they would not release it.  Animal behaviorists have theorized that the
sound and smell of infant humans are particularly attractive to humans,
which in the wild prey on suckling young.  It is described as the "common
ferret", cousin to the weasel and badger.  Did you also know that their
somewhat funky smell can be diminshed by weekly baths?.  Ownership fo the
ferret is opposed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the
Centers for Disease Control, the Associate of State Public Health
Veterinarians and the Humane Society of the United States.  Their reason:
There is no rabies vaccine proven effective for ferrets, which are highly
susceptible to the disease.  David Herbet, a specialist in captive wildlife
for the HSUS states that "they are naturally nocturnal animals confined in
diurnal households producing a neurotic pet in many cases" .  A JAMA article
warns against exposing children to the animals "for even brief periods".
Dr. John Paisley, Co-author of the JAMA report says, "its odd to have an
animal of any sort jump into a crib and start chewing on a baby.  I don't
know why they go biting people just kind of willy-nilly."
 
Now, before ya'll think that I have completely lost my mind, I want to
clarify something: This is how far we have come in educating not only the
public, but the press.  This were excepts from an article published in the
Virginian-Pilot in 1988.  By the way, it was estimated even back then, that
there were a half million ferrets owned in the United States, and that
50,000 ferrets were estimated sold each year.  So far, and yet so little
progress...
 
Happy Ferreting!
 
Lisa
[Posted in FML issue 2054]