Hey Ferret Lovers! Happy Memorial Day! Eric and the Fuzzies and I hope you're all having a good time this Memorial Day weekend. The rain here in New York makes it a bit of a trick to do much of anything, but we're still using the weekend to remember all of our great nation's heroes. Speaking of heroes, a lot of folks think of Dad as a hero, I know I do. His day is coming up soon (June 15th), so go take a look at some of the great "Ferret Dad" merchandise at our FerretDesigns.com web site. Remember, all proceeds from FerretDesigns go toward helping keep this newsletter coming.
--Mary
|
In this Newsletter- Albino Ferrets: Are They Weaker Than Colored Ferrets?
- Stop Foot Nipping Now!
- Update on Modern Ferret Magazine
Albino Ferrets:
Are They Weaker Than Colored Ferrets?
By Mary R. Shefferman It is a common misconception that albino ferrets ("white" fur with pink or red eyes) have health problems because people don't realize that albinism (lack of pigmentation) in ferrets doesn't work against the animal the way it does in wild species. Albinism in ferrets is a unique case in the animal kingdom. Albino ferrets are basically no different from "colored" ferrets. They are more sensitive to sunlight because of the lack of pigmentation, but that's really the extent of it. Although it's commonly known that albino animals are weaker or less healthy, this doesn't apply to ferrets because they are domesticated. An albino animal in the wild is at a great disadvantage -- it can't hide from predators and it can't sneak up on prey. As a result, albino animals of wild species die young and therefore tend not to reproduce (thus not passing on the albino gene, which is why albinism is rare in wild animals). If they do survive, they end up with nutritional deficiencies because they can't hunt very well (because the prey can see them coming). With ferrets, albinism was selected for during the domestication process to make the animals more easily seen by ferreters (people who hunt rabbits with the help of ferrets). Thus, albinism became a desirable trait for the domesticated animal -- a trait that was an advantage in survival. Because the albinos were raised under human care, they did not have the disadvantages seen in albinos of wild species (that is, they were protected from predators and were given food the same as other ferrets were). Albino ferrets had all the advantages of colored ferrets -- and still do today. The key is that albino ferrets have always been protected from the things that create problems in albino animals of wild species. So albino ferrets don't have those problems. If you're thinking about bringing home an albino ferret -- or if you already have one in your family -- you can expect him or her to be as healthy as any other ferret.
Want more about albino ferrets? Shopping at the Modern Ferret Store helps support this newsletter! |
Stop Foot-Nipping Now! It's a fact of ferret life: Ferrets like feet. Feet usually have a strong smell, which is just the thing for our very smell-oriented friends. Feet also smell like you, which is even more appealing to a ferret who likes you. The problem is that a lot of ferrets aren't satisfied with just sniffing your feet. They want to drag them off and hide them, too. Or they just want to groom them by gently nipping at them. Some ferrets figure that nipping your feet or ankles is just a good way to get your attention. All that's fine except … it can smart! A lot of ferrets are just trying to smell your feet when you pull them away. Like any other coveted thing, your ferret grabs onto to it … with his teeth. This is something that can be difficult to train a ferret not to do, since they do love exploring strong smells. We usually keep on shoes or slippers when we're around our ferrets. It's just easier for us. It also helps prevent us from stepping on a ferret who just wants to get a good snort of foot odor. But many people like to go barefoot when they're at home. There is hope for keeping your feet safe from toe nippers, but you'll have to put in some effort. The process is similar to teaching your ferret not to nip at your hands. The difference is that you usually have your hands out and around your ferret all the time, so your ferret has the opportunity to learn about them. You need to give your ferret the opportunity to learn the same lessons with your feet. Start by applying basic nip-training techniques: 1. Make the foot taste bad by applying some Bitter Apple spray or other chewing deterrent product (like Phooey! or Bitter Lime). This will help discourage nipping, without harming the ferret. 2. Don't make it a game. Ferrets learn that it can be a "fun trick" to nip a toe and watch the person get all excited, make noises, and jump around. The easiest way to stop this type of foot nipping is to pick up the ferret and shout "Ouch!" or "No!" when the ferret nips -- instead of doing that little dance. 3. Set up a "time out" cage (use a small carrier or something similar) for when your ferret nips your toes. Put her in the carrier for 5 minutes when she nips; she'll learn that she loses her freedom when she nips. 4. Be consistent. If nipping a foot once is cute or funny, then the ferret will keep doing it. Any nip -- whether it hurts or not -- should be treated as if it is unacceptable. With a little luck and some diligence, you can train (or re-train) your ferret to keep from messing with your feet.
Update on Modern Ferret Things Although it's been rather cool lately, we're pretty sure that warm weather is coming! Now's a good time to reread this article: Keeping it Cool: How to Prevent, Recognize, and Treat Heatstroke in Ferrets
http://www.ferretnews.com/articles/ferret-heatstroke.html We keep on revising the Ferret News web site and the look of the emailed newsletter. Please tell us what you think about it! We're hoping figure out how to get a search function on it so that it's easier for readers to find the articles they are looking for. We're also hoping to come up with a logo! That's all for now. Go hug your ferrets!
-Mary & the Fuzzies: Trixie, Koosh, and Gabrielle
Stay tuned for more. You can always get updates by reading my blog (a blog is an online journal). I keep it sporadically and it usually runs to the more personal stuff. But you might like it. It's at http://www.modernferretblog.com/mary
Ferret NewsPlease let your ferret friends know about this newsletter and encourage them to join. http://www.ferretnews.com Shopping at these web sites helps support this newsletter so we can continue to send it for free to all who want it: http://www.ferretdesigns.com http://www.ferrettradingpost.com You can provide feedback about this issue at: http://ferretnews.com/feedback.html or by sending email to:
mary modernferret.com
or to
feedbackferretnews.com Disclaimer:
http://ferretnews.com/disclaimer.html
The shortened version of the disclaimer is: If your ferret is ill or you think your ferret is ill, bring your ferret to a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian. Copyright 2003 Modern Ferret magazine.
All rights reserved.
http://www.modernferret.com Tell us what you think of this issue.
HOME | NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE | PRIVACY POLICY
DISCLAIMER | CONTACT | LINKS | TOPICAL INDEX
©2002 - 2008 MODERN FERRET MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.Get Your Ferret Supplies Online  | 
