>I really hope you're not entertaining the thought of "using" ferrets to
>control prairie dog population, for if you are, you will kill nothing
>other than the ferrets.  Ferrets have no chance of survival on their own.
>A domestic ferret would probably see a prairie dog as a playmate rather
>than something to kill.
 
Yes, I've considered it, not actually to kill the prairie dogs; just to
drive them from below ground.  And I wouldn't be using a pet ferret -
probably one from the line of working ferrets that do still exist in this
country and England.  It would be a pet who would also do some hunting.
 
>but the ranchers, in their desire to destroy the prairie dogs poisioned
>millions of acres of land (public land,I might add).  They didn't make a
>dent in the prairie dog population, butthey poisioned and starved the
>black footed ferret to extinction.
 
I wouldn't use poison either, that's one of the advantage's of using a
ferret - and I wouldn't be on public land either.  That IS a shame that the
black foot was driven to extinction.
 
>Ferret lovers, at least those in the US, don't see their ferrets as "only
>pets", they see them as family and not as expendable working animals.
 
I don't see any of my animals as "expendable," even my working animals.  My
animals are "family" too.  And get better treatment and love than many
people do (Sad to say).  I believe people should be treated as well as
animals.  Oh and I wouldn't turn aferret loose to die in the wilderness.
 
I still don't know if hunting is illegal in the USA, would someone comment?
 
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.  Just would like some more
discussion.
[Posted in FML issue 2242]