Q:"I've noticed you remarked there are not a lot of folk stories regarding ferrets. Does this have anything to do with people just not liking them?" A: I wish folk who didn't like me would stop making up stories... I have an extensive collection of animal folktales from all over the world and there is an almost universal disregard of certain groups of animals. An overemphasis is placed on large carnivores and domestic food animals. For example, stories about the weasel guild are infrequently found *ANYWHERE*, yet stories about the canine guild or cattle abound everywhere. Why? That is a really good question. I have read many good arguments from some really intelligent people, but the simple truth is, there is no correct answer. Rather, the answer is as complicated as the human psyche and as complex as the relationships and perceptions of humans towards various animals. As a general rule (*VERY* general), humans who lack a domesticated animal culture tend to see large powerful carnivores as "good guys," which changes as humans place more reliance on livestock. In the later case, powerful predators become "bad guys." The wolf and fox in Europe and the mountain lion and bear in North America are good examples of animals that were seen positively prior to extensive livestock farming, but perceptions turned negative as they moved into direct competition with humans. Still, that does not explain why small mustelids are generally overlooked (on a world-wide basis) in terms of folklore. Ferrets in particular have been ignored in folkstories, even though those of rabbits (ahem) abound. One idea suggests ferrets weaseled their way out of folklore as they were replaced by cats. Well, to me that is a bit simplistic because it assumes several things which probably haven't happened. 1) It assumes pre-cat ferret stories were not recorded or have been lost. Not likely; they may have changed after the introduction of cats, but there still would have been the older use. 2) It assumes universal acceptance of the cat with universal rejection of the ferret. Again, not likely. 3) It assumes cats actually replaced ferrets in a period of time just prior to the recording of folktales. No evidence of that either. While an interesting hypothesis, without data it lacks merit, but it is interesting. Another idea is that the stories are (were) there, but we just don't recognize them. Perhaps poor translations are hindering identification, or perhaps one word was used for several different animals. For example, there were 4 weasel-like animals living in the Great Plains, yet in most of the Native American languages, one (maybe two) word was used for all. Often, the folk method of animal classification placed animals in groups we wouldn't consider them to be part of. Take the black-footed ferret as an example. It was called a "black-faced prairie dog" by one Native American tribe, a "black weasel" by another, and still another tribe called the BBF a "little raccoon-badger." Most just called it "weasel." I have found this to be true in many East European languages, where the word for "ferret" and "polecat" is exactly the same. So, there could be more stories about ferrets, but we have translated ferret as something else. I also find this idea wanting because lack of ferret stories are paralleled by a lack of stories about weasels and polecats in general. Even if mistranslated, there are still very few stories to consider, and they are *STILL* underrepresented. I personally think both ideas are wrong. Not that either one couldn't have some truth to them (obviously they do to some degree), but because they ignore the human (or cultural) perception of animals. Almost always these viewpoints (or hypotheses) consider the past as extensions of today, with attitudes and viewpoints just like ours, only maybe a bit more primitive. In truth, the past is like a tremendous symphony, but all we can hear is the occasional note. The previously discussed hypotheses regarding the lack of ferret folklore are simplistic; they are akin to someone trying to reconstruct a Mozart piece after hearing a few seconds of several instruments, spaced over the entire performance. Someone once said, "The past is a foreign country." The culture, the language, the attitudes are all different and they are not yours. Even attitudes in our own country have drastically changed in the last 50 years. The key to understanding MODERN attitudes towards ferrets (why the CaCaLand Fishing Gestapo and Dingleberry Eaters of America hates ferrets) is locked into an understanding of what the attitudes towards small mustelids were in the past. In other words, some of the reasons why ferrets and small mustelids were ignored in the folklore are behind some of the PR problems we face today. That is why, even though it might sound silly to do so, I read old children's books, folktales, and even look up old jokes and songs. I want to have an understanding of HOW these animals were percieved, so that I might have a better understanding for WHY they are treated the way they are today. In part 2, I will trace some of these attitudes towards ferrets and small mustelids, and show why even though some of them are silly, they are at least understandable. In part 3, I will show why there is a CONTINUING problem with public awareness towards ferrets, and the key to controlling bad PR, ferret legalization and public resentment is directly related to the failure of modern ferret clubs to pull together to form a truely national organization. In part 4, I give you a true ferret folktale, never before seen by modern man. Or woman. Or womyn. Or berdaches.... One final comment. These posts are a combination of scientific fact and personal opinion. They are what *I* question, ponder, think and believe. You are welcome to dispute ANY fact or opinion. If you disagree with what I say, I welcome the opportunity to debate the issues and find a common truth. But don't waste my time with attacks on my belief system or person; you can be childish somewhere else. Name calling and vile slander are the tools of self-absorbed neurotics who only wish to harm those they cannot control or possess. The real illumination brought out by flames is of the character of the person lighting the match. It is sad, really. Bob C and 18 MO' Ferrets in Missouri Folklair [Posted in FML issue 2832]