Sorry, couldn't resist this topic. I do not believe the "ferrets" that are seen in the wild are domestic ferrets, more likely polecats (yes we do have polecats imported in the US), minks, or weasels. Let's look at this logically. Domestic ferrets have been here since the late 1600's and we all know what great escape artists they are. Unaltered females must be spayed or mated or they will very likely die, which means if an unaltered female escapes and doesn't find an escaped intact male if she doesn't starve to death first or be killed by a domestic or wild animal she will die of aplastic(sp) anemia. In the more than 300 years we've had ferrets there are no feral or wild reported colonies in any of the states. Now for survival skills - domestic ferrets do not know how to hunt for food (unless of course they are hunting for a human with a bag of kitten food), they are finicky eaters, they cannot tolerate extremes of temperatures (hot & cold), they have no survival instincts or defenses against other animals (wild and domestic), and they have little fear, if any. Ferrets living out of a barn being fed by the owner and sold as pets doesn't mean they have become wild, it means their owner is quite ignorant of the care and treatment they need, obviously if they are sold as pets this is an indication of tameness. Polecats will never loose their wildness just as a wolf would not. I'll leave this aspect to those that may have experience with wild animals. Just because someone seems to be a reliable source doesn't mean they know what they are talking about. I personally know a veterinarian who does not believe ferrets can catch and pass the human cold and flu, and another that insists ferrets should be vaccinated against feline distemper, and what about the so-called rabies experts that recommend if a ferret bites it be killed and tested. If someone thinks they've seen a "wild" domestic ferret, then they should try to catch it. I will be more than happy to come to their location to be shown I am wrong, although I will bring mustela experts with me just in case it is a polecat or hybrid. And if they didn't have any trouble catching it..... I know I've forgotten some things but this has already gone on too long. Hugs to all and their "domestic" ferrets! tle [Posted in FML issue 1183]