>From:    Urban Fredriksson <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: A bit more on angoras...
>>I've heard nothing from Sweden to suggest they are any less hale
>That it's hard to get mothers to take care of their litters is, I think, a
>clear indication that they aren't.
 
Since we in the US only have altered angoras this is something we haven't
been exposed to.  As Urban indicated this is likely to be a shorter term
problem.  It wasn't long ago that the Waardensburg patterns (blaze, panda,
DEW) had exactly the same problem here.
 
>>People keep complaining about the populations becoming more inbred but then
>>resist the efforts to reduce that.  Silliness.
>In most cases it is, but I understand those who want to keep new diseases
>out.  Enlarging the gene pool is generally good.  I'm often surprised to see
>how many ferrets looks like they could be relatives of mine actually are.
 
This is why Sweden has a long quarrentine period.  I have yet to hear of any
of the Swedes that were imported though "catching" foreign diseases once
they got here.  I believe the period is long enough to protect the Swedish
ferret population from rabies (positively here) and ECE (as sure as possible
from based on tests done by Dr. Williams)
 
This issue of disease control IS important.  I'm glad there is serious
dialog on it.  There have been those that speculate that ECE came into this
country with Canadians or with Germans.  There is no scientific evidence of
either.  Just anecdotal speculation.  Much more likely is a virus that
mutated or came into a contact with ferrets from another animal.  Wild eyed
fear is not going to help, but serious discussion and planning for careful
importation and exportation will.  The ferrets will cross borders.  People
want to do it enough.  Care in how its done will lead to better experiences
with it.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://www.zenferret.com/
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[Posted in FML issue 1887]