closing tag is in template navbar
timefactors watches



TZ-UK Fundraiser
Results 1 to 30 of 30

Thread: Ferrets

  1. #1
    Craftsman Integrale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Durham UK
    Posts
    448

    Ferrets

    Need some help and advice.

    Seems a solitary ferret has moved into my garden. Have seen it off and on a few days over the last week.

    I went into the summer house today and it smells musty. A few pots turned over, and a new hole in the floor. Think Mr or Mrs Ferret has set up home. No evidence of a bed.

    Appears sociable. Follows you around and insistently sniffs shoes and trouser bottoms. No malice, aggression or appearance of feeling threatened, even when I gave it a shower with the watering can to get rid of it. Darn't put my hand out.

    It seems to be alone and looks relatively young judging by it's size. No one around here keeps them. Live in the country. Never seen any ferreting going on in the countryside around us. Don't think it has escaped. I didn't think they lived in the wild. We have otters, weasels and stoats about. No doubt what it is.

    Will it disappear before the winter? Don't want it getting into the house or garages. Should I call the RSPCA to try to trap it and rehome it? Used to living with truely wild stuff moving in for a bit, but not domesticated breeds.

    Any advice welcome.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using TZ-UK mobile app

  2. #2
    Grand Master number2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    North and South.
    Posts
    30,579
    Polecat?
    "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."

    'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.

  3. #3
    Special furry slow-worm.
    Clearly.

  4. #4
    Craftsman Integrale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Durham UK
    Posts
    448

  5. #5
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Southern Spain
    Posts
    23,658
    Blog Entries
    1
    Coúld be a `polecat but rather light for one and also seems too tame. Most likely a pet gone walkabout.
    Call the RSPCA to come pick it up.

  6. #6
    Grand Master oldoakknives's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    20,046
    Blog Entries
    1
    If it's that friendly it's a lost pet. Probably hungry and thirsty.

    RSPCA. Or local ferret rescue.

    https://www.weardaleferretwelfare.co.uk/who-we-are

    https://www.littlepawsferretrescue.co.uk
    Last edited by oldoakknives; 25th August 2019 at 16:01.
    Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.

  7. #7
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    804
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by oldoakknives View Post
    If it's that friendly it's a lost pet. Probably hungry and thirsty.

    RSPCA. Or local ferret rescue.

    https://www.weardaleferretwelfare.co.uk/who-we-are

    https://www.littlepawsferretrescue.co.uk
    Agreed. Unlikely to be that friendly if wild...

  8. #8
    Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Northern Ireland
    Posts
    6,697
    No help to the OP, but I used to sell collars leads and harnesses for ferrets. It puzzled me that such a thing existed, but I sold literally hundreds of them over a period.

  9. #9
    Craftsman Integrale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Durham UK
    Posts
    448
    Ownership is so common that I thought someone on here would have some experience. Common with country types.
    Thanks for the advice. Going to a local animal welfare centre tomorrow for some help.

    When cooking just now it re-appeared.

    If possible I may consider keeping it if it is tame.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using TZ-UK mobile app

  10. #10
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Southern Spain
    Posts
    23,658
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by Integrale View Post
    Ownership is so common that I thought someone on here would have some experience.
    I wrote the book on it. Literally. 30 years ago.

    They make véry good pets with a way better sense of humor than cat and dog combined. They are playful and surprisingly smart.

  11. #11
    Grand Master magirus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Up North hinny
    Posts
    39,473
    I used to go out ferreting with my dad and his pals when I was bairn, over 50 years ago. Can still smell that rabbit pie!
    F.T.F.A.

  12. #12
    Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Hertfordshire
    Posts
    2,829
    Blog Entries
    1
    If you end up keeping it, I think they prefer to be kept in pairs

    Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

  13. #13

    Hello

    Leave some food and water out for it and find out what watch it wears!

  14. #14
    Grand Master VDG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Whitehole
    Posts
    18,967
    Give it some food, water and a bath, and keep it.

    Fas est ab hoste doceri

  15. #15
    Craftsman Integrale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Durham UK
    Posts
    448
    Bathing ferrets.....
    Some weird folk out there.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using TZ-UK mobile app

  16. #16
    Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Edinburgh
    Posts
    4,567
    Ferret shampoo. Who’d have thought it? Gorgeous wee creatures indeed.

  17. #17
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    SE England
    Posts
    27,035
    Probably an escaped pet.

    Wild Polecats are rare in most parts of the country.

    My middle son used to keep a Hob and a Jill and they are fantastic intelligent pets, although one bit my leg and I still have the mark!

    They can really stink so keep in an outdoor hutch or do what they do in the US, have their scent glands removed so they can live indoors if required.

    Commercial ferret food is easily available, Wellbeloved etc.

    Beautiful creatures.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  18. #18
    Craftsman Integrale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Durham UK
    Posts
    448
    Thanks all.

    It's still there. Definitely living in an old rat hole under the summer house and frequenting it.

    Went out earlier and walked about inside for 2 minutes and it appeared at the door. Disappeared to the side with the rat hole.

    I'm keen to keep it around. Better than rats. We also have a shrew problem which it could keep under control. Our last dog died 2 years ago and since then alerts have moved into the garden. Unintended benefit of canines.

    I'm not into keeping animals in small cages. May get a hutch with an open door policy and simple let it use that for food water and sleep. Not sure about handling him.

    Turns out my wife knows someone who keeps ferrets so we'll get advice from various parties, including the ever knowledgible TZ crew.

    Could be an adventure this.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using TZ-UK mobile app

  19. #19
    Grand Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    sussex uk
    Posts
    15,483
    Blog Entries
    1
    Make a pen for it outside, save it living "rough", let local farms know you have it as it might be lost and the owner looking for it ( I say let farmers know as the owner will probably work it on local farmland for the rabbits).

    mike

  20. #20
    Grand Master oldoakknives's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    20,046
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by Integrale View Post
    Thanks all.

    It's still there. Definitely living in an old rat hole under the summer house and frequenting it.

    Went out earlier and walked about inside for 2 minutes and it appeared at the door. Disappeared to the side with the rat hole.

    I'm keen to keep it around. Better than rats. We also have a shrew problem which it could keep under control. Our last dog died 2 years ago and since then alerts have moved into the garden. Unintended benefit of canines.

    I'm not into keeping animals in small cages. May get a hutch with an open door policy and simple let it use that for food water and sleep. Not sure about handling him.

    Turns out my wife knows someone who keeps ferrets so we'll get advice from various parties, including the ever knowledgible TZ crew.

    Could be an adventure this.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using TZ-UK mobile app
    It's obviously doing the best it can, but can't help feeling it would be better off being looked after by someone who keeps ferrets. Have you given it food and water?
    Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.

  21. #21
    Craftsman Integrale's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Durham UK
    Posts
    448
    Yes to food and water.
    It is healthy and thriving.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using TZ-UK mobile app

  22. #22
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    SE England
    Posts
    27,035
    If you decide to handle him wear some stout gloves!

    If he has been a pet, as I suspect, he won't mind being handled at all.

    Good luck with it all.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  23. #23
    Master sish101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    County Durham
    Posts
    4,022
    Any photos of the little chap?

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using TZ-UK mobile app

  24. #24
    Master Franco's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    South Yorkshire
    Posts
    1,359
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by sish101 View Post
    Any photos of the little chap?

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using TZ-UK mobile app

    Yes, message n.4

  25. #25
    Master sish101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    County Durham
    Posts
    4,022
    Thanks.
    Quote Originally Posted by Franco View Post
    Yes, message n.4
    Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using TZ-UK mobile app

  26. #26
    I'd love a ferret but they do smell quite a bit. I'd be happy to find a friendly 'wild' one. Best of both worlds. All the ferret fun but none of the costly pet stuff to worry about!

  27. #27
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    553
    Quote Originally Posted by Integrale View Post
    I would say thats a Polecat

    https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-adv...ic-ferret.html

  28. #28
    Quote Originally Posted by Integrale View Post
    We have otters, weasels and stoats about. No doubt what it is.
    Quite.

    Weasels are weasely identified - stoats are stoatally different. I can take or leave those 2 but otters are otterly engaging.





    I'll get my coat.

  29. #29
    Grand Master hogthrob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    16,848
    Quote Originally Posted by Integrale View Post
    That's a weird looking cat.

  30. #30
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    SE England
    Posts
    27,035
    Quote Originally Posted by andyb28 View Post
    My son's pair looked exactly like that and were ferrets.

    Really the only difference now is if they are captive bred or wild.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Do Not Sell My Personal Information