I have read the posts on ferrets here in New Zealand with interest. There is some speculation on the developments of ferrets here. For while ferrets are widespread and have essentially populated the whole country there origins are at least, feraly, from introduced ferrets and polecats introduced by the NZ Government in the 1880's to control pests. I did read an article quite some time back where it stated that the ferrets and polecats were shipped out together and it was reported that some escaped their cages and intermixed. These ferrets were not domesticated ferrets. It is most likely they are now hybrids, and this might explain their size here. Large males reach 3kgs and some females 2kgs Domestic ferrets, those whom were bred as pets are unlikely to have the survival instincts needed to thrive, and would need quite large release numbers to populate an area, though it would be possible I would think. The NZ Department of Conservation (DOC) have articled and researched their diets here, and mostly males eat Rats and females Mice, supplemented by invertebrates, birds frogs, etc. Sadly where Rabbit Control etc has occurred the feral ferret populations have sought out alternative food sources and have increased their predation on other wildlife, so now total eradication of rabbits is not normally carried out, it is more control of numbers. DOC have discounted eradication of Mustelids (Stoats Weasels Ferrets) in NZ, and often use ferrets as research in tracking trends in populations etc. Banning of ferret breeding in NZ in 2003 has had little impact if any on wildlife. It was a measure to prevent widespread retail selling of ferrets as popularity for them expanded. If anyone can direct me to Bob Church's released research etc on NZ I would be grateful, as he stayed with me on occasion during his times here in NZ. Ferrets remain popular pets here, though few if any breeders still exist. Ferretfan - owned by Ash and Rosie ferrets Missing so many so mch [Posted in FML 8127]