Polecat?
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.
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Polecat?
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
If you end up keeping it, I think they prefer to be kept in pairs
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Leave some food and water out for it and find out what watch it wears!
Give it some food, water and a bath, and keep it.
Fas est ab hoste doceri
Bathing ferrets.....
Some weird folk out there.
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Ferret shampoo. Who’d have thought it? Gorgeous wee creatures indeed.
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.
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.
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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
Yes to food and water.
It is healthy and thriving.
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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.
Any photos of the little chap?
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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!
I would say thats a Polecat
https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-adv...ic-ferret.html