Don't worry about mosquitos and ticks.  Your ferret MUST be on heartworm
preventative if there are mosquitos about (and where are there NOT mosquitos
about?) There may be a lot of mosquitos in Michigan, but what people don't
realize is that you do become somewhat immunized to the itchy stuff when
they bite you.  I've lived in Michigan my whole life, and I usually go
through a really itchy period on my first camping trip of the summer.  Then
I'm not bothered by mosquito bites after that.  Try burning a citronella
candle at your campsight.  Works like a charm.
 
As for ticks, after 23 years of living and camping all over Michigan, I have
yet to see a tick.  I have hiked in the deep woods, swam in all the lakes,
slept in cabins and tents, and still never even seen a tick.  If you or your
ferrets do get one, be careful removing it as the head becomes buried
completely inside the flesh.  So if you just yank it out, the head could
cause an infection.  (One trick I've heard is to burn the tick's but with a
cigarrette so that he pulls his head out.  That sounds kind of weird and
possibly dangerous with a ferret.  There are other methods.)
 
I wouldn't put insect repellent on my ferret.  I rarely use it on myself,
in fact.
 
Oh, also, if you go swimming, make sure it's in clear water with a nice
sandy bottom.  There are leeches.
 
What else, what else?  Watch out for wild animals.  I'm sure your fuzzy
is immunized for rabies, but you wouldn't want him to mix it up with a
skunk anyway, would you?
 
We took Sebastian camping in the UP and it was a blast.  He dug trenches
through our campsight and generally enjoyed going on all the walks and
things with us.  It was great fun.  I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself
immensely.
 
-Catherine
[Posted in FML issue 1573]