Both domestic ferrets and wild European polecats were introduced into New Zealand by the thousands to control the rabbits and rats also introduced there. Given the mild climate, abundant prey, lack of competition and lack of larger predators, they thrived. Bob Church postulates based on his research, that hybridization and natural selection has weeded out most of the domestic ferret genes, and it's really polecats that are living in NZ now. A pure domestic ferret would have as little chance surviving there now as anywhere in the US. In other words, it might survive a few days at best. It is worth noting that many of the pet ferrets in NZ (until they were banned over a decade ago) were themselves hybrids, less often neutered or spayed than in the US, and kept outdoors. They might have had a better chance of survival if escaped. Linda [Posted in FML 8126]