You know nothing about ferrets,
but found one wandering in your backyard.
Now what?
1. Bring the ferret indoors out of the
heat (or extreme cold).
Ferrets don't do well at all over 80ºf and can suffer
heatstroke and die. They do much better with cold
weather. You can restrict him in a bathroom, or even
the tub with lots of towels to insulate from the cold
porcelain. Watch out for the family dog! They can kill
a ferret in the blink of an eye. Ferrets are trusting
souls and will walk right up to a vicious dog, none the
wiser that its life is in danger. Many are killed this
way in backyards and even by a ferret owner's own dog.
Cats are usually not a problem but can bat at them and
scratch an eye. Keep the ferret away from hamsters,
gerbils, birds, etc. Though they probably won't eat
them, they could kill them.
2. Food and water are
essential.
They are not rodents! They do not eat lettuce,
broccoli, etc. Ferrets are carnivores and need a meat
based diet. That means a good ferret food is best, but
a decent dry kitten food will do. Even an inexpensive
dry cat food is better than lettuce, which will not be
eaten. Provide food and water 24/7.
3. Fleas are more than
just a nuisance in ferrets.
They can cause fatal anemia. Any good
KITTEN-SAFE flea shampoo is okay. So get the little guy
cleaned up. Bathing a ferret is about like bathing a
dog. They might not particularly like it, but they
don't fight it like a cat. NEVER use flea dip, flea
collars or products meant for dogs.
4. Ask around the
neighborhood if anyone is missing a ferret.
They're great little escape artists and someone
may be frantically looking for their ferret! Sometimes
people don't even realize they're missing for hours and
hours because they assume the ferret is fast asleep in
some hidey hole, which is the norm for many ferrets.
Check with neighborhood kids. They sometimes know what's
going on in their territory.
5. Put out "FOUND
FERRET" posters.
Ferrets usually don't get too far, but can get
several blocks from home, even across busy highways with
luck. Ferret lovers often form a deep attachment and
people who lose them are just as devastated as someone
that lost the family dog or a close member of the
family!
6. Newspapers usually
provide "Found" ads for FREE!
Don't describe the ferret because you may get
calls from people that just want a free ferret. You can
place a "free to good home" ad later if its home can't
be found and a person or shelter that will take the
little guy can't be found.
7. Call us
Send a E-Mail to
info@aferretclub.com or call Netta @ 631-842-8753
/ Nina @ 631-957-2612
Last but not least,
thank you for caring enough to rescue the little guy and
getting on the web to search for help!
