Three days ago we adopted our fourth ferret.  Guiltily enough, he was a pet
store purchase.  (We have two others who are shelter adoptees and my first
ferret was from a pet store as well.) He is a gorgeous Champagne 5.5# gib
and physically is the closest thing I have ever seen to my "dream" ferret.
 
This guy, along with one other ferret, was at a grand opening of a pet
store, and was being sold by a woman who was doing a presentation on
parrots.  So, the ferret was not *officially* sold through the store.
 
The owner was very evasive about giving me any information about where the
ferret was from, was not sure how old it was (she thought between 6 and 9
months), had no medical records for him and he had no name.  She did say
that he had a biting problem and he nipped me on the hand and my son on
the cheek.  These were not hard bites, and I have reformed another biter
in the past, so I thought this guy was something I could handle.
 
I'm beginning to wonder if I was wrong.
 
The store was packed with people, so we didn't have an opportunity to do
much interacting with him at the time.  However, when we got him home and
had a chance to let him run around, he became very aggressive, and bites
really hard after he is picked up to be petted.  He also bites when you pet
him in his cage.  He bites hard enough to draw blood nearly every time you
hold him, even with gentle handling and soft words.  He flies into a rage
when scruffed or has his jaw pinched when he bites.  He seriously malled
my son after being scruffed, and now my son (who is 15) is afraid of him.
 
I purchased some Bitterapple and that seems to have slowed him down a bit
(he doesn't bite quite as often or not as hard), but if he doesn't smell it
on you, you're in big trouble.  I have resorted to flicking his nose a few
times and that is one technique that doesn't seem to enrage him.  But I'm
not sure if he is a fear biter, and I'm afraid nose flicking may just
compound the problem in the long run.
 
He eats like a horse, has heathy poops, and prances around the house like
he feels fine.  He doesn't seem to be stressed to any significant degree
(moving into a new household has got to be somewhat stressful).  I haven't
yet taken him into the vet to see if he has any physical problems, and I
will this next weekend.  My biggest suspicion is that he has had very
little contact with people and what contact he has had, has been largely
negative.
 
Sorry about the length of this post.  Even after a few days, I am at my
wits end with this guy.  I hate to try to take him back (if I even could),
but I know his future will not be good if he doesn't get reformed.
 
Thanks in advance,
Pam
 
Wrapped in my mongrel wings, I nearly freeze
In the howlin wind and drivin rain
All the leaves blowin round 'n' round
[Posted in FML issue 2961]