Once you’re sure that your fuzzy is no longer in your house here’s what to do:
1) Walk around calling your ferret’s name. If your pet comes to the squeak of a toy, use that toy. If it’s not trained to come to the sound of a toy, try squeaking or rattling his or her favourite toy anyways… it never hurts to try!
2) Leave a kennel or box with a few fluffy pieces of your ferret’s bedding in it. Your ferret may just be exploring around the corner and stumble back when you’re not around – sometimes a missing ferret will turn up asleep in the box!
3) Submit “lost” ads in the classified sections of all newspapers and publications both online and in the community. Try to be specific in the description, but not too technical. Saying, for example, that you are missing your ferret and she is a small sable is meaningless to those who are unaware of ferret lingo. Try instead to describe your missing pet as “dark brown and black with an off-white fact and a black mask”. Detailed descriptions can sometimes help people realize that the animal that they just saw run past is a pet.
4) Make up colour posters and paste them in as many locations as possible. Make sure that you include more than one picture of your ferret to ensure that those seeing the posters can get a clear idea of what your pet looks like. It is important to emphasize that the missing animal is a PET and not a wild or semi feral creature and that though it is friendly, it may be frightened.
5) Go door-to-door asking those living around you if they have found a ferret or know anyone that has. I would advise to do your neighbourhood and a couple blocks around it in all directions just for good measure. It sounds silly, but it has worked for me!
6) Call all local animal control agencies and shelters. Report your ferret missing and find out they have found any ferrets or had anyone call in to report that they had found a ferret. Be sure to call back regularly as these places are very busy and your lost ferret is not likely their top priority.
7) Check out all found ferrets even if the description does not match yours – remember that no two people describe something in exactly the same way. Additionally, check out fund ferrets in surrounding areas as well – you never know how far your fuzzy could have traveled.
8) Keep you ears open and remember that most people can’t tell the difference between a ferret and a weasel. If you hear a neighbour mention seeing a weasel under their shed, it may be your pet ferret.
My ferret Ace has escaped twice, and to make matters worse- he's deaf! The first time we noticed some dig marks by the side of the house so I crawled under the house and found him sleeping in the corner. The second time he escaped we were living in a different locale, but yet again, he was under the house! I wonder if anyone else's ferret do the same if they get out?
ReplyDeleteI have heard of situations where ferrets go to the same place when they get out - a friend had a ferret that would head to the neighbour's shed when he escaped.
ReplyDeleteBecause you changed locations, I suspect that your ferret is attracted to the dark area underneath the house, which would be appealing to any ferret! Its probably a good thing that you found him sooner rather than later as who knows where he would have ventured after he was done exploring the underside of your house (and had a nap).
Yes one of my boys got out and i found him under the house..guess its dark and safe for them..
ReplyDeleteWhich makes me beleve they wouldn't survive in the wild ...also with no hunting skills tought to them (as a wild ferret would learn ) i dont beleve they would cope .tasmania laws are changing as council's beleve they would survive .they are no longer alowing ferrets into the state.
Crazy as people can breed many more than anyone would bring in .. so do u think they would survive on there own?