(Part 2 of 3)
It should be noted that comparisons of the frequency and readiness of
elicitation of vocalizations between BFF's and domestics are interesting but
not really valid.  This is because the noted differences are in all
probability related to the greatly contrasting captive and domestication
histories of these two species, rather than any such intrinsic differences
between them.  BFF's have only been held in captivity since 1985 (with the
intent of keeping contact with people as minimal as possible), while pet
ferrets have a long history of domestication.  BFF's feel threatened,
frightened and startled much more easily and over a far greater range of
circumstances in captive environments than do domestics.  For example, a
cage-bound BFF will likely feel threatened when its cage is opened for
routine caretaking, while a pet ferret is likely to perceive having its cage
opened in a positive light (it is getting attention, and it might even be
time to be let out for exercise).  Hence, this similar situation will likely
elicit different vocalizations: a bark and/or hiss from the BFF, and either
no vocalization or excited "dooks" from the domestic.  In light of this, it
is the similarities and differences in the actual vocal repertoires of the
the two species that are of particular interest.  Both hiss and beep, and in
the same general contexts.  The difference in the preferred type of bark
used by each is probably real, and not just an artifact of their varying
captive histories.  At the Pueblo BFF facility we also had a colony of
Siberian polecats which we used for behavioral research that could be
applicable to BFF's (Siberian polecats are the species most closely related
to the BFF).  Interestingly, the polecats use both single barks and
chattering barks.  However, it is the single bark that they usually give
(sometimes in a surprisingly explosive manner!), and use the chattering bark
only infrequently (they use chattering barks much more frequently than BFF's
use single barks).  The vocalizations discussed above do not comprise a
complete list of those that are common between BFF's and domestics.
 
One final note regarding BFF vocalizations.  The points we made above (and
in Part 1) are based on observations of BFF's living in a variety of captive
environments, ranging from cages to large outdoor preconditioning arenas
where the BFF's lived in actual prairie dog burrows.  No one knows the full
details of how BFF's in the wild utilized their vocal repertoire, because
this aspect of their natural lives had yet to be well studied before the
species was driven to extinction in the wild.
 
Considering the general manner in which they move, BFF's are much quicker
and faster, and more agile than domestics.  In fact, it is striking as to
just how much slower domestics are.  BFF's are also much better jumpers, and
have a very quick "reverse gear." Having worked with BFF's and Siberian
polecats, the movement of our domestics is somewhat comical because they
appear to move in slow motion by comparison.  Apparently, domestic
"slowness" has been bred into them after all these years of domestication.
Differences in speed and quickness aside, both species use the same general
methods of locomotion: when moving slowly both "walk" (one front foot and
one rear foot are moved forward at a time); when moving faster than a walk,
they progress by means of the characteristic weasel bounding locomotion, in
which the front legs are moved together as a single unit as are the rear
legs, also.  (We will post the 3rd and final segment tomorrow)
[Posted in FML issue 1734]