Ferrets in the Garage......
Unless your garage is air conditioned with climate control, DO NOT keep your
ferret in the garage in summer!!!
Based upon my research, ferrets do best at temperatures around 65 degrees.
(Though I personally know some ferrets who strongly disagree with this.)
Temperatures above 80 degrees can cause problems for ferrets, and temps of
85 and above are threatening to their health and survival. Above 90 degrees
and you will have all the conditions present for a fatal heatstroke!!! I
have a little guy here named Buddy who barely survived a heatstroke. He was
kept in a garage in summer!
Experience tells me that ferrets become very spoiled very quickly, or
perhaps they just acclimate to their very "soft" lives. Even though the
books say 65 is optimal, my girls think they are freezing if the temp gets
below 72 degrees. On the high side, I have boys that think they are dying
if the temperature gets even slightly above 80 degrees.
Regarding air conditioning, if the temps in the home fall in the safe ranges
outlined above, there should be no problems. Be careful not to place them
too close to a vent so the air will not blow directly on them. Be sure your
ferret has a towel or sleeping bag to get in if he/she gets too cool. Some
like temps cooler and some warmer, notice if your ferret chooses to stay
covered or uncovered and you will be able to figure out the optimum climate
for your ferret.
Ferrets Outdoors....
Another person mentioned "keeping a ferret tethered in the yard, weather
permitting." No matter how securely you have a ferret tethered, there is
always a GREAT RISK of them escaping. DO NOT allow any ferret outdoors
unless it is on a leash with a human attached to the other end of it!!!!
As a shelter, I get dozens of ferrets in that are FOUND WANDERING and VERY
LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. They likely escaped due to owner negligence or slipped
off these "tethers", leashes, or other seemingly safe contraptions. NEVER
FORGET they are escape artists, and they never stop trying to "see what is
out there". They are like small children and it is up to their owner to
protect them. If a parent allowed a two-year-old the freedom some allow
their ferrets outdoors, especially if they are unsupervised, criminal
charges would be filed against them. If you don't have time to watch the
animal personally, DON'T let it outside.
If you DO walk your animal on a leash or other type device, an excellent
safety precaution is a separate collar with a bell, name and phone number.
Should the ferret escape from the leash, the collar will stay on and the
bell will help you locate the animal again. If you can't locate it and
another person finds it, the collar will be seen immediately and they will
realize it is a pet and NOT a wild animal. (In my area people shoot first
and go to see what it "was" afterward.) Then upon inspection of the animal's
collar, they will find the animals name and YOUR phone number, and it is
likely that your ferret will be returned to you. Without this
identification, you will probably never see your fuzzie again.
You can easily secure a piece of thick paper, or index card, to the ferrets
collar by wrapping the "label" and collar over and over with clear packing
tape. On this paper clearly print the necessary information. Trim the
piece of paper so it is narrower than the tape so the ends of the label is
sealed and stuck down to the collar.
[Posted in FML issue 1463]
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