>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]