>I can not understand why some people in the warmer parts of say the >USA say that ferrets have to be housed indoors due to the fact that >they can not cope with the outdoor temperatures in winter. I'm guessing there are several reasons for this. Europe historically views the ferret as a working animal. Americans, seem to view the ferret more as a house pet throughout our past. I realize that the Britts also view them as house pets as well, but what I'm saying is that just like dogs and horses, you also recognize that they have their place as a working animal. We've not utilized the ferret that way nearly as much. It's actually a part of your heritage (hunting with them), is it not? Because most Americans have not had the privilege to see these animals living outdoors living up to their top hunting and athletic potential, they are just unfamiliar with it all. I think for the most part, you need to understand that Americans baby all pets. I mean there is probably nothing that we haven't tried to make a sort of house pet. Including horses! We humanize them so much. Your animals are acclimated to outdoors. Ours are not. And if an animal has not been raised in the outdoors, you cannot just put them outside and think that they won't be horrendously uncomfortable or susceptible to the dangers of hypothermia (under coats are not full enough from indoor living). So, our ferrets, truly could not just go outdoors in those temperatures. I don't think. Someone please jump in to explain this further and to correct me if I am wrong. Now how is it that we ever began to think that these "winter animals" as I like to call them (because they cannot tolerate the heat) should have remained indoors all of this time. We'll it's easy. They prefer to curl up in big thick blankets despite what the temperature is, even if it's too hot. Also when the animal isn't used to the chill, he shivers badly. Most of our ferrets, if you shoe them outside during fall and winter, will spin around and jump into our arms or head for the front door of the house after a while with bright red noses from the cold. We look at these things as evidence that they would not do well out in the cold (and given that they are never outside in the cold here, that conclusion would be correct). My ferrets live downstairs where I keep it at about 65 or cooler year round. Many ferret owners raise an eyebrow when they feel the temp down there. But my ferrets were raised in it. They are used to it and enjoy it. Their fur has also adapted to those temps. I myself, wonder about the animals outdoors in temps cold enough for snow. But I also recognize that these are indeed winter like animals. So I try to run a compromise by keeping them really cool. I personally feel like any animal can get too cold. Oh I forgot, another thing that fuels the American view on this is that these animals are domesticated. Like the dog and cat. And they don't do as well outside as they do indoors because of it. This is true with most/any domesticated animal I believe. I don't know that either lifestyle is wrong, per say. I think extremes are wrong. I think living outside at 0 degrees c without complete shelter, tons of straw and blankets out of the elements is not right. I also think that living indoors at 80 degrees without ever being exposed to a natural rythym of light or unfiltered natural light through out their life is wrong. I think the ferrets needs are very complex. To keep a domesticated animal as if it were wild is not giving it all that it deserves. And to keep this animal that is clearly more comfortable in cooler/colder weather and that needs the right ration of light and dark in a dark basement or a house lit up all day and most of the night kept at hot temperatures is not meeting all it's needs either. Lastly, all living creatures need the outside. Us included. They all need to feel the grass between their toes, the dirt under their nails and the sun on their backs. [Posted in FML 5500]