Lost Ferrets

by Troy Lynn Eckart, Ferret Family Services
Better Safe Than Sorry
  1. As careful as we try to be to not let our little ones get out of our homes, it could someday happen. One particularly helpful trick is to teach your ferret to come to a special noise, such as a whistle, bell, squeaky toy, or other noisemaker. Whenever you use the noisemaker, call your ferret and when they come give them a special treat. In the first stages of training you'll need to do this every day, then wind down and skip a day or two and start again. Only use this particular noisemaker for the training so that if ever your ferret does get out you can attract their attention by this noisemaker.
  2. Take pictures frequently, particularly during coat changes.

If it Happens...
  1. Search every inch of your home, high and low, and even where you think your ferret couldn't possibly be, including top shelves. Then search again in case they moved from one spot to another. If you have any tube type containers check inside to make sure they didn't get trapped and couldn't get out (rolled linoleum, mailing tubes, rolled carpet, etc.), behind furniture and in appliances. Use your noisemaker!
  2. Call friends and family to come help with the search, even if you have to roust them out of bed at 3:00 a.m.!
  3. Do a thorough search of your yard and neighborhood. Check under and in outbuildings and porches. Leave a trail of Ferretone, Linatone, raisins, or your ferret's favorite treat for your ferret to sniff out and follow home. Place a cage outside with their bedding and food and water. Live traps can also be used but be sure to check them every few hours. If you have more than one ferret, take another with you on the search, letting them lead you. They may 'ferret' out places you wouldn't have thought of or seen. Use your noisemaker!
  4. Go door to door with a picture of your ferret and leave notes on doors and cars where people are not home. Ask your mailperson, paper delivery person, and anyone you see walking their dogs if they've seen your ferret and tell them what to do if they find your little one.
  5. Make up a lost ferret poster and include a color picture if possible. Place the posters up on telephone and light poles, display boards at stores and gas stations and give to neighbors. On the poster offer a "REWARD" but don't put the amount. Don't forget to put your phone number but don't put your address, and instructions what to do if someone finds your ferret (when my very first ferret got out a neighbor put a plastic clothes basket over him and Nipper promptly tipped it over and continued his adventure). If your ferret requires medication, be sure to put this info on the poster too.
  6. Contact your local animal control, police dept and animal shelter. Take a poster to them and ask that they display it in plain view (we don't want it stuck under a pile on their desk). Call back frequently and stop in to see if anyone has found your ferret.
  7. Place a lost ad in your local and area newspaper and on the radio stations. If there is a school, church or community center nearby, ask that they display one of your posters on bulletin boards. Advertise on Internet mailing lists and on lost animal sites.
  8. Don't give up hope. Try looking at the times your ferret is normally active. If anyone feeds animals outside, check those areas frequently in case your ferret is eating there too. Watch for tell-tale signs such as small diggings or ferret waste. Follow all leads.


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