Polecatty

Some ferreters do lose ferrets- usually dodgy people who don't care. Unfortunately some just don't respect their working weasels. But losing ferrets can be avoided. All it takes is an understanding of ferret behaviour and realistic expectations. I Never work a hungry ferret, as they are more likely to catch, kill and sleep. I'm always very quiet when setting up as too much noise will make rabbits hesitant to bolt. I also fit my ferrets with electronic collars so they can be tracked underground- so if someone gets stuck or catches a rabbit I can locate and dig to them. I'm also aware of what I can and can't expect from them- if worked for too long they will become tired and need to sleep. They can go hard for up to six hours on a good cold day. Less in the warmer weather as they are cold climate animals and don't deal with the heat very well. It also depends on the fitness of the animal- some leave their ferrets caged all summer and then expect a full day of work once the season starts. These same people are then suprised when their ferrets sleep after a few hours or don't perform well. Working ferrets in the warmer months is risky due to snakes- I know of a number of people who have lost ferrets to snakes down rabbit warrens. I've never lost a ferret and really, with modern technology and an understanding of the animals and the environment there is no need to. Once the warren is empty the ferrets will come back out. They know their job and won't mess about in an empty warren- they'll come up and mill around waiting to be picked up and boxed. Dory- I personally won't hunt with a biting ferret and I expect to be able to handle them in any situation in the field. Even if they are on a rabbit and super jacked up at their highest drive I will not be bitten. I'm no more keen to hunt with a biting ferret than I am to hunt with a biting dog. A careful check for hidden holes will usually be enough to ensure you have them all, and making sure that the entire warren can be watched effectively. Most warrens can be watched by one or two people- some need a lot more! Souff- no wheat bags here. I use a wooden carry box with multiple compartments that I carry over my shoulder. No risk of squishing ferrets should I take a stumble and fall on them! Also much more comfortable for the ferrets.

No I do have a career, lol. Okay so you've explained that dogs don't tear rabbits apart....don't know the story on that one but I'll take your word for it. What I do know is that dogs are in fact often used to tear other animals apart as part of a hunting expedition (namely pigs amongst other animals). I won't make apologies for the fact that I find that totally despicable, wild animals or not.....we humans should exercise a little respect in not wanting to put a prey animal through agonizing pain. I disagree in your thinking that ferreting will teach kids to "evaluate and analyze situations carefully." And it does serve to desensitise kids and cannot be compared to purchasing meat off the shelf at the local supermarket.....there is no killing involved in purchasing ready steak in comparison to going hunting! Dogs damaging rabbits is very undesireable as it can ruin them too much to be used for the table or even as dog/ferret food, in some cases. I also haven't heard of many pig dogs that 'tear' up the pig...their job is to grab an ear and hold on tight! To do anything else would be to hinder the hunt. Grabbing an ear may not be nice, but it is surely no worse than the procedures performed on livestock everyday without pain relief. Tail docking, castration, branding, mulesing...all of these are performed whilst the animal is fully aware. And unlike the pig they are not put out of their misery soon afterwards. Well, I can't speak for all children but it certainly had a positive impact upon me as a child, and did enhance the two aforementioned traits greatly, amongst others. Nor has it desensitised me... once I began to catch some of my own food I became hyper-aware of everything else I put in my mouth and the processes behind it. It made me a much more discerning individual than I may have been otherwise. Whether you like it or not, you are killing something everytime you purchase meat from the supermarket. Aliken it to purchasing puppies from petshops; you may not see it happen, but it surely does happen and you promote it with your dollars. I'm not saying that the livestock industry is bad, as I promote it with my dollars as well. But to condemn hunting whilst promoting death and certain degrees of inevitable suffering in the livestock industry at the same time? That doesn't compute, for me.

Hi Nekhbet, I haven't had any litters, but I have finally found a male who works to my standard. He has two seasons under his belt and is the best I have seen in nine years...in two years time I will know if my young female is a good enough worker and if so... The idea of a registry and book is an interesting one, and something I would like to hear more about. It is very exciting, isn't it? ;) Mine turn into whirling dervishes the second they see their carry box.

I would love to come as I am a very keen ferreter but unfortunately I am a little too far away. I do a fair bit of ferreting but have finished up for the year now- as soon as I see a snake I pack it in. I would hate to lose a ferret. Hope you get a few bunnies and don't forget to throw up a few pics on here after your trip. Would love to see them. Poodlefan, a good dog can be worth it's weight in gold to a ferreter. A good dog will mark warrens [so you don't mess about with the ones that are empty], will hold rabbits in the net so they don't wriggle free and can pick up bolters that slip nets or come out of well concealed holes. A dog isn't necessary but a good one is very, very useful. Sighthounds are great and I've heard of collies being handy as well. Stangest dog I've ever seen helping out with ferreting was a great dane. Moselle...are you also barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen? Because that is similar to your line of thought. Hunting is not a man's job. Hunting is for whoever can do it effectively, be they male or female. Nor do dogs 'tear' the rabbits apart- in fact many rabbiters teach their dogs to retrieve rabbits live to hand without a mark on them. Will ferreting teach kids to be brainier? Who knows. It will teach them to evaluate and analyse situations carefully, however. Ferreting is not just sticking a ferret down a hole and hoping for the best. Not if you do it properly, anyway. Will it desensitise kids? No more than buying plastic wrapped steaks off the shelf in the supermarket will. It may enhance their understanding of reality, but 'reality' and 'desensitisation' are two different things.

I simply can't understand how someone could do that. I just can't.

Poor dog. How disgusting.