Woodland's
Most Wanted
Yes, folks, it's Woodland's
Most wanted... Mr. Ferret!!! The woodland community has been endlessly
terrorized by this odd little maniac. If you see any animal with any of
the following characteristics, please contact the Yak network via e-mail:
[email protected]
Ferrets have
a short attention span and basically two speeds: stop (collapse and sleep)
and go (pell-mell around the room).
Color, size,
and sex (of altered animals) is meaningless in terms of their behavior.
All ferrets share basic behavioral traits (another proof of man's hand
in the domestication of the ferret).
Ferrets like
to "stash" objects and explore everywhere they can reach.
It is theorized
that ferrets have nearly the problem-solving capabilities as some primates.
Most ferret owners have or know someone who has the "amazing Houdini ferret"
that has moved objects to use as steps, opened doors, opened drawers, climbed
objects, and planned detailed routes to their objective or to explore that
"neat place they don't belong."
Ferrets do
have vocal means of expression, including slow and rapid "clucking" (sort
of like the Cadbury Bunny only faster), hissing, screeches, and "pops"
(also known as "barking").
Ferret body
language includes tail swishing, the "weasel war dance," the otter-slide,
and the "I'm laying on my back, belly-up, aren't I cute!" They will also
flop flat on the floor when tired, much like a bear rug.
Ferrets can
sleep so soundly they look dead. These "heavy sleepers" can be picked-up
without waking them and appear "limp." The only way to be sure they are
alive is to carefully observe their rising and falling chest (they breathe
slowly when this tired, so watch carefully), wave their favorite treat
under their nose, or squeak a toy (which usually wakes them bolt-upright
on the first squeak). More than one new owner has rushed their ferret to
the vet thinking it was dead or sick, only to have the little one wake
up and yawn at the doctor's office, wondering what all the fuss was about!
(no picture
avaliable)
Once
more, this critter is wreaking havoc, and is believed to be armed and dangerous!
Take extreme caution!
