I am curious with all this discussion, how would one tell if an
individual animal was a cross between the domestic ferret and either
polecats or mink?  Aside from the behaviour, would you expect to see
differences in size, body structure, coloration etc.?  I grew up in
Michigan and never once saw or heard of a hunting ferret there.  Here I
see 'hunting' ferrets advertized in the more rural areas of Victoria
(Australia) quite often and have heard that they are sometimes crossed
out with polecats.  I have no direct knowledge of such breedings though,
so no idea true it is.  I've often wondered though, if our second ferret
Cino didn't have a bit of polecat somewhere in his background.  He's
definitely different than our first ferret or other ferrets I've had or
known, though of course we love him either way!
 
Amanda Orbitani
woozels Ana and Cino
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[Posted in FML issue 4679]