>There seems to be a vast chunk of confusion by a reporter as to
>ferrets and their status in your recent article on wild animals and
>health risks.
>
>Depending on the state involved they are classified as domestics or
>exotics, largely based on which state department handles their
>permits and the moneys involved.  They are not classified as wild
>animals.
>
>Ferrets have been domesticated perhaps since the time of the Ancient
>Greeks, where they appear in writings though it is unclear if they
>are being used then as tamed wild animals or domestics.  By the time
>of the Ancient Romans they are found in descriptions as domesticated
>animals, including by such noteworthy individuals as Pliny.
>
>You will find them being cuddled, or draped over necks as our
>affectionate domestic ferrets do today, or being used to scare
>rabbits from burrows to be caught in nets or killed by dogs in many
>woodcarvings, sketches and paintings from the Medieval and
>Renaissance periods.  There are multiple sites shows samples of such
>artwork; here is my personal favorite:
>http://www.doctorbeer.com/joyce/ferrets/frhistpg.htm .
>
>The U.S. has had ferrets present here since they first arrived as
>rodent control for ships and granaries during the colonial period.
>They still are the mascot of the Massachusetts Colonial Navy due to
>this history.  Before the advent of rodenticides they were much more
>common in the U.S. till their recent re-discovery in the last 30
>years by the companion animal market.  If you check with the
>magazine "Modern Ferret" you will learn of an old book discussing
>rat control in New York City using ferrets during past centuries in
>the years before the commonly used poisons arrived in an article by
>Robert R. Church who is investigating ferret history and natural
>history as a graduate student in the anthropology department at the
>University of Missouri.
>
>Ferrets have had an effective USDA approved rabies vaccine since
>1990 and in 1998 the CDC work which found them very safe in relation
>to rabies was completed, with them since then being among the only
>three animals who have short quarantine times after possible
>exposures if they have been vaccinated.  The other two such animals
>are cats and dogs.  You can find the "Compendium of Animal Rabies
>Control" which all of the states observe in some form, and CDC
>information on this question at the following addresses:
>http://www.avma.org/pubhlth/rabcont.asp
>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/Ques&Ans/q&a.htm
>
>There are anywhere from 1 million (the low-ball estimate from places
>that did not realize that ferrets live about 7 or 8 years usually)
>to 10 million companion animal ferrets in the United States (with
>most estimates being in the 5 to 7 million range), and three U.S.
>veterinary texts on their care which is important since they not
>only need vaccinations, but also are prone to certain tumors and
>other conditions.  To get a feeling on why they are not pocket pets,
>please, see http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth and the
>links at http://www.ferretcongress.org .
>
>In terms of zoonotic potential influenza is the largest factor when
>one takes into account their risks of exposure and personal
>vulnerabilities.
>
>As you can see, the statement made in your science section which
>listed ferrets as wild animals:
>
>  >Most experts argue that domestication is not easy, because such a
>  >relatively small number of species have undergone it. But
>  >categories have blurred in recent decades. A number of exotic
>  >pets, including parrots, freshwater fish, ferrets, even tigers,
>  >other big cats and wolves, are bred in captivity, meaning that
>  >humans have begun to direct their evolution through selective
>  >breeding.
>
>can be described in an understatement as being inaccurate.  Given
>how popular domestic ferrets are you likely have upset a great many
>readers, I'm afraid.
>
>Sukie Crandall
[Posted in FML issue 4190]