Words of caution about ferrets and exotics:
 
I had birds with my ferrets.  The ferrets survived, two of the three birds
didn't.  The only reason that the third bird survived was I had enough sense
to find a new home for him.  We were very cautious with the birds and
ferrets, they weren't allowed out together.  Accidents happen.  My old
roommate let her bird out, I didn't know.  I let the ferret out, she didn't
know.  We both realized the error of our ways when we heard the fight...took
us about 2.2 seconds to get in the bedroom, it must have only taken 2.0
seconds for the ferret to kill the bird.  The bird was a $200 grey cheek
parakeet, and he was very special to us.  The other bird that we lost was
housed in a hanging cage in the corner of my room.  High enough that the
cats and ferrets couldn't get to them.  Well, sort of.  The cat managed to
get on my headboard (about 2 inches thick) and leapt up, caught herself on
the edge of the cage, then fell.  So did the cage.  It popped open, and the
birds flew away.  One landed on the back of the sofa, the other on top of
the curtains.  The ferret managed to make a beeline for the bird, never saw
a ferret run so fast.  She wasn't just curious, she was out for blood.  She
caught and killed that bird in a matter of seconds.
 
I also had iguanas.  They were mean iguanas; cute, but mean.  They had been
abused by their previous owners (would I ever get a pet that didn't have
special needs?  <grin>) One day, I went into the 8-foot high, six-foot long,
two-foot wide plexiglass cage I built for the iggys to feed them.  The
ferret was out, but I figured I could handle it.  The ferret wandered into
the cage, and I saw the panic in the iguana's eyes (they were huge iguanas).
Fearing for my ferret's life, I moved too quickly to throw the ferret out of
the cage.  I did get him out (sorry, Shadow, for throwing you!  <g>) but as
I turned to make sure the iguana was still there, he *lunged* at me, mouth
open, attacked me.  He latched onto the fleshy area between my thumb and
index finger, drew blood, and would *not* let go.  It hurt soooo badly.  I
lived alone back then, and I literally started to fear that he'd continue to
attack and I wouldn't be able to do anything (his tail alone could have
sliced my face or knocked me unconscious, no exaggeration).  I just kept
flinging my arm up and down in an attempt to throw him off of me.  It
finally worked, and he went flying.  The next day I sold the iguanas and the
huge plexiglass tank to a pet store.
 
My point: if that iguana could hurt me that badly, and he was going after
the ferret, he could have done serious damage to Shadow as well.
 
That's my two cents! have a good day everyone :-)
 
Kymberlie Becker
Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association
"Forget Puppy Love...There's nothing Greater than Ferret Love!" TM
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/ferretlady
[Posted in FML issue 2009]