Springtime leads to doors and windows propped open for fresh air, strolls in the park with your pet, and the start of vacations and weekend getaways. Unfortunately, all of these can lead to escapes by ferrets (and other pets) who want nothing more than to frolic and chase butterflies.

Ferrets are naturally curious and totally fearless. They have unlimited determination in accomplishing some things they have set their minds to and are very quick learners. Once a ferret learns something, it is difficult to "unlearn" them. This is particularly true if it is something harmful like opening the cabinet to the kitchen chemicals or jumping the barrier keeping ferrets out of harms way while moving furniture.

The most common way ferrets escape homes are:

• Pushing open a window screen or unlatched door or scratching through a hole
• Crawling out the dryer vent
• Finding a way to the water pipes under cabinets and bathtubs
• Hitching a ride in a purse, bag or trash can
• Squirming loose from a collar or leash
• Jumping or falling off balconies.

The good news is that ferrets are friendly and will approach people like an innocent child when lost and confused. The bad news is that not all people or places are ferret friendly or the finder decides to become a keeper.

If you lose a ferret, acting quickly is a necessity. My first lost ferret travelled a quarter of a mile in less than three hours. The first thing to do is a through search of the vicinity to make sure the ferret is not asleep somewhere out of the ordinary. Linen closet and hall coat closet shelves; hanging garment's hoods, sleeves and pockets; inside boots and slippers; upper drawers of dressers, desks and the kitchen; holes under box springs and couches; inside refrigerators and other appliances... these are just a sampling of a place a ferret has been reported found in. As you may have heard before, think of the ten places a ferret could not possibly be and start looking there. Check all doors and windows for loose screens or holes. If there is the slightest chance the ferret could get outside, it probably did.

If you can't find the ferret after an hour, the next step is to make signs for posting. Print clearly in letters at least 4 inches tall "LOST FERRET". Add to this the word "REWARD" and your phone number. Put these up within a mile of your home in as many directions as people travel. If you live in an apartment or condo complex, make sure every unit has a sign hanging near the mailboxes or front door.

If you live in a ferret free zone (FFZ) or pet free building - call a friend or your state's club or ferret rescue to ask if you can put their phone number on the signs.

For a free listing of ferret shelters, contacts, vets, supplies, clubs, etc., in your state, send a LONG self addressed stamped envelope to:

STAR* Ferrets

PO Box 1832

Springfield, VA 22151-0832.

The reason the signs are so simple is this:

1. You want them up quickly and readable from a distance
2. What you call a sable, someone else may think is brown, what you call a neutered male, someone else may think is a female, etc. Keep it simple so you get all ferret calls.
3. The word REWARD will bring honesty out of some people who would otherwise want to keep the ferret for themselves. The reward amount is up to you, but $20 is usually a good start.

The next step is to call and put up signs anywhere a person who has found a wild animal or pet would call or visit. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Pet shops - look in the phone book
• Vet clinics - also found in the phone book
• Animal shelters - if there are several in your area, call all of them
• Wildlife centers - animal control can give you their numbers
• Cat and dog rescue groups - the animal shelter can refer you
• Ferret clubs and rescues in your state (and over the line if you are close to another state)
• Feed and grocery stores - where people would pick up cat food and litter for a ferret until the owner is found

Tell your mail carrier, tell the kids in the neighborhood, inform your neighbors and take long strolls in the evenings near buildings, looking in any window wells, drain pipes, sewers, etc. Ferrets prefer to travel with some protection, staying close to the ground out in the open and hugging walls and parked cars when moving around during the day. They will be attracted to the sounds of people. Check trash dumpsters, porches that feed neighborhood cats or wildlife, playgrounds, etc.

Hopefully you will find your ferret very quickly. The longer it is missing, the more the possibilities are for a stray dog or wild animal to hurt or kill it, a car to run over it, or a person to find it and keep it. In my experience, most ferrets are picked up by people and either taken to a pet shop or animal shelter and not claimed, or the finder becomes the keeper. I have heard of one car killed ferret and one dog killed ferret. Only 15% of the ferrets found in my area are reunited with their owners. To increase your chances of finding a lost ferret, here are some things you can do to prepare for and prevent the situation.

1. Teach your ferrets to respond to a noise or sound. Preferably a loud one. Shaking a can of raisins, squeaking a toy, or blowing a particular whistle can get a ferret out from under a couch or out from under a car.
2. When the ferret is out of the cage, it should wear an H-style harness or collar. The harness will not choke a ferret if it was to get caught on something, and if the ferret gets outside, it will look more like a pet than a wild animal. Take an address label, add your phone number, and wrap it in clear tape to the harness or collar. Or contact "Ferret Finders" for their ID tag kit - 408-735-7526. These are ID tags that will not burden the ferret with a heavy tag or hook.
3. When you are not paying attention to the ferret, put it in its cage or ferret proof room. Ferrets sleep 16 hours or more in a day, and don't mind being in a safe and familiar spot for this activity. In fact, they prefer it. If you set a routine, the ferret will adjust its sleeping schedule around it. The ferret won't expect or demand to be out unless you are around. It may take a couple of weeks for the routine to set in, but the ferret will adjust.
4. Make sure your neighbors and the kids in the area know what a ferret is. If they see one, they will call you automatically instead of trying to shoo it away because they do not know what it is. (Exceptions made in FFZs.)

Think of a ferret in this light - how much unsupervised activity would you give to a two-year-old human child? Now, apply the same philosophy to your ferrets. I've had ferrets get their toenails caught when inside a couch, climb into a false ceiling by way of the cat tree, get their head wedged and not able to free themselves, and slip between the walls between two rooms. Thank goodness I noticed the furries were missing, extremely quiet, or heard strange noises and I was around to investigate.

I hope you never have to look for a lost ferret. One of my cats walked out of the house unknown to us after being an indoor kitty for all of his three years. He was found two weeks later due to the signs we put up - he never left our back yard. The neighbor girl had seen him and we had to catch him with a live trap. He was too frightened to come out when we called. He looked like a starving prisoner of war. He is all better now, yet still tries to slip out the door despite his ordeal. I have heard of ferrets living under houses for a week or more, stealing cat food and garbage scraps. The quicker you react, even under false alarm, the better your chances are for retrieving your ferret should it become lost. Remember, ferrets are fearless, and we have to find them before they get injured or starved. Ferrets are totally dependent on humans for their survival - it is a sign of good ferret owner to make a big deal to rescue your pet. Signs can always be taken down, lost reports rescinded, but it takes forever to mend a broken heart.