Beware: Prairies get flurry of ferrets

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Canada's prairies are soon to see an influx of furry newcomers. 

Wild black footed ferrets' native to North American prairies once flourished along our grasslands, becoming extinct 75 years ago due to social and environmental pressures.

As an endangered species, the North American ferret, a rodent, displays an abnornmal intelligence and playfulness not typically seen in a rodent.  The ferret's personality has been observed to be a cross between a crow when it comes to ingenuity, the playfulness of a puppy or kitten, with the stubbornness of a cat. 

The ferret, an attentive creature is quite social and has a propensity of showing a variety of emotions.

Ferrets, a popular pet for those who find cats and dogs to be high maintenance find a perfect balance with an animal who displays both feline and canine traits. 

If a person can get over the rodent moniker, they may find a creature that will provide years of loving companionship.  Though special diets, exercise and environmental and health needs are to be strictly maintained, a ferret can be a perfect match. 

I was first introduced to Milo, a baby ferret my son and girlfriend brought home two years ago.  Needless to say I was quite averse to having a rodent in my home.  Within a week I thought Milo was unique, though after meeting other ferrets I soon learned they are much the same.

Ferrets in the wild as well as domestic ferrets have a playfulness and intelligence unique in any rodent I have ever seen (having observed lab rats in my profession). 

My second day with Milo, found me looking for my truck keys for over an hour, as well as our small shiny silver TV remote.  I never thought to look in Milo's toy box with his stuffed animals.  Lo and behold, a virtual treasure trove of shiny household items were buried in his toy box, everything from a small 1 inch high silver cat knick knack, my truck keys, the TV remote control, a spoon, a toonie and half a banana.

As I retrieved the items out of Milo's toy box, Milo watched with interest and trepidation and soon went for my ankles with his little rodent teeth. I shooed Milo away and put the items back whence they came and went to work. 

When I got home, I saw through the kitchen window Milo wildly dancing sideways like a whirling dervish along the kitchen floor around all his stuffed animals he had strategically placed in the centre of the floor.  I entered the house and was immediately greeted by Milo nipping at my ankles playfully, looking for attention, affection and play in that order.  It was clear to me he was certainly happy to see me and forgot the morning confiscation of household goods from his toy box, or so I thought.

I walked in the living room placed my truck keys on the coffee table, went to get the groceries out of the truck and proceeded to make dinner.  I also picked up his stuffed animals off the kitchen floor to put back into Milo's toy box, as I went to Milo's toy box it was clear to me why Milo was standing in front of the kitchen door trying to keep me from his toy box.  The previous items, TV remote, silver cat statue, a silver Zippo lighter, my TRUCK KEYS were back in his toy box.  After another round of tug of war with Milo and my ankles, everything was right with the world, my world.  Items previously absconded by Milo were placed where Milo could not reach them, again so I thought, eventually I ended up placing anything shiny in a drawer. When it comes to stubborness, the stuffed toys were soon front and centre on the kitchen floor.

Milo like most Ferrets seem to have a crude type of opposable thumbs though not as advanced as apes and humans which allow better manual dexterity to grab, lift and manipulate objects.  This does not seem to pose a problem for ferrets whose mouth and paws seem suitable for most tasks.

Metro Vancouver Ferret owners actually have a day in August every year where Ferret owners meet and greet and bring their Ferrets to a local park (Central Park, Burnaby) for a day of Ferret socializing where dozens if not hundreds of furry ankle biters romp free range.  For those looking to adopt a Ferret, Metro Vancouver has a Rescue and Info Shelter for potential adoptees.

So prairie farmers, lock up your tractor keys, TV remotes and anything shiny or of value, because Milo's ancestors are coming and your farm will certainly be easy pickins.