I have an apology to make to Jim Young; I thought he was a J. Young that has been blasting me from California regarding the feral ferret issue for the last month. This mistake was compounded by a problem with my e-mail service (pine) which has lately been scrambling some of the posts I receive and send (Several sharp-eyes friends have noticed the top couple of lines have been missing or words duplicated or scrambled. I figure its the server since the problem does not exist with I mail through netscape). Usually I check the address, but in my FML issue, it was unreadable. I was already in overdrive from a J. Young post read earlier that day, and assumed the two of you were the same person. For that I am sorry, and I would have presented the post differently had I known. (I wrote it assuming Jim was in the USA, specifically from California) It's my fault and I'm sorry. However, my points are valid, even to Jim Young's neck of the woods. In the 1980's, a symposium was held and printed in Acta Zoologica Fennica (I can send the exact reference to those who want it) in which the introduction of mustelids in New Zealand were a principle subject. Caroline King, probably one of the world's top authority on mustelids has also published repeatedly on the subject. Their findings suggest ferrets are limited to the North and South Islands only, and in limited numbers around marshy areas. Also, not all, but most papers on introduced New Zealand mustelids discuss stoats and weasels (in the US, stoats = shorttail weasel and the weasel = the least weasel) and rarely mention ferrets or polecats. A few phone calls told me why. Because, compared to the amount of impact of the former species, the ferret/polecat's impact is quite limited. C. King, in her last two books addressing the subject repeatedly states that *NO* evidence exists that the ferret or polecat is responsible for the elimination of a single species. No mustelid can be fingered as the culprit. Why? Because the extinctions are in the past, the mechanisms are unknown, and there are numerous other animals just as guilty, including humans. It is clear a number of bird species were destroyed and a larger number are now threatened, but blame must be assigned to all involved, which includes (but not excluded to) rats, cats, and dogs. In fact, R. H. Taylor (1984) lists 22 introduced or feral mammals on the New Zealand islands, all of which have had a direct or indirect effect on the mentioned exterminations. Of the carnivores mentioned in 12 papers I refered to for this post, the most common animals related to the extinctions were the black and Norway rats, feral cats, pigs and stoats. In the *few* instances ferrets were mentioned, they were far down on the list in terms of impact. Several authors stated outright that ferrets were not considered because of their low population compared to the other species. One author suggested mustelids had little impact compared to the cat, pig and rat. Indeed, less than 5 papers have ever been published in major journals about the ferret in New Zealand for any subject, and most of those refer to the Pukepuke lagoon population. I have copies of most of the documents relating to the release of ferrets on New Zealand (from the governmental perspective) and the numbers were staggering, so say the least. They also show that polecats were also released, as well as polecat-ferret hybrids, so it is highly probable that the animals living there now are not true-blooded ferrets, but a hybrid. The records for what the private sector released are fragmentary, but suggest that vastly more mustelids were released over a much longer period of time than ever by the governmental agencies. This is perhaps one of the few places on the planet where thousands of releases, open predatory niches, and unlimited food (in the case of the already established rabbit) were available at the same time. It is no wonder that the ferret became established. By the same token, no place is like it in any non-island ecosystem. You cannot find these conditions in Europe, Asia, North or South America, Africa, or even Australia. Islands only, and few of them. California is not an island. This is not to minimize what has happened on New Zealand, but it is important to understand the differences between systems, and the historical events (human or otherwise) which impact them. Jim Young was correct in pointing out the problems associated by the introduction of a carnivore to an island ecosystem. But those objections are invalid in regards to the US situation and quite specific to New Zealand. One final word regarding ferrets specifically in California, and in competition with American mink. Caroline King (1983) states: "The polecat is similar to the mink in size, shape and population characteristics. The contrast is in their response to direct persecution by man. In England, control measures exterminated the polecat in the 19th century, but failed to prevent the spread of the mink in the 20th." The ferret is a domesticated version of the polecat, with reduced hunting instincts, perceptual differences, and domesticated temperment. In all regards, the polecat is the better predator, but cannot prevail against man and predatory competition from the mink. If polecats could not prevail against 19th century technology and hunting techniques, and the mink can overcome 20th century efforts by the same people in the same location, who in their right mind would suggest ferrets can do what polecats cannot? Again, Jim I am sorry for mistaking you for someone else; it was not intentional (even I know what nz, au, br, etc., mean on the end of addresses). That is no excuse, and I am sorry. Mo' Bob and the 18 Red-faced Weasels (missing Gus) [Posted in FML issue 1754]