The other problem is entirely environmental in nature.  There are
profound changes in the brain structure of both polecats and ferrets
due to early maternal separation, early handling, being subjected to a
barren environment, and even the complexity and orientation of objects
within the environment.  For example, studies have shown irresolvable
hyperactivity is seen in both polecats and ferrets raised in barren
environments, handling a pregnant jill can cause kit hyperactivity that
can persist into adulthood, and boredom and apathy stemming from cage
stress and frustration can profoundly influence many behaviors, including
curiosity.  Such problems have made me come to the conclusion that simple
observations of caged animals have little value, at least for those
animals of high intelligence.
 
So, how can I suggest ferrets have been bred for enhanced curiosity?
(and as far as I know, I am the ONLY person who has suggested such
events in print so if I am wrong, the failure is all mine).  After
carefully reading all the available references on ferret, polecat, and
polecat-ferret behavior, while I was certain I saw a pattern of increased
curiosity in ferrets, perhaps as a result of decreased fearfulness, I
still needed something to support the hypothesis.  The New Zealand feral
ferret issue provided indirect support.  Making the assumption that
curious animals are captured at higher rates than less curious animals, I
ferreted-out capture rates per trapping nights for ferrets and polecats,
lumping together the capture rates for polecats throughout Europe.  What
I found was that feral ferrets were captured at rates significantly
higher than polecats (I am withholding the exact numbers and info so I
can conserve them for scientific publication at a later date).  Baits
and trap design was a concern, but the European capture rates were
consistently similar when correlated to local polecat density regardless
of trap types and baits.  For whatever reason, feral ferrets are easier
to trap than polecats, either because of increased investigative
behaviors, decreased fearfulness, or some combination of both.
Currently, I am attempting to factor in local prey density to eliminate
the possibility of hunger as a driving force, but my instincts suggest
the influence will be minor or nonexistent.  If so, curiosity MAY be the
difference driving the higher rates of capture for New Zealand feral
ferrets when compared to European polecats and I will have the hard data
to support it.
 
Bob C
[Posted in FML issue 4307]