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Ferrets/ Otters

Ferrets and otters, like skunks, are mustelids. This means they all exude an unrefined, musk-like odor. They also need to eat frequently (they’re prone to low blood sugar) so they’re pretty much always foraging for food.

 

young river otter

The largest land-dwelling mustelid, the wolverine, is also called a glutton because of its requirement for frequent meals.  (Sea otters are the largest mustelids.)

 

I’m a fool for ferrets and otters. I’ve shared my life with ferrets, which is the only commonly-domesticated mustelid.

 

Ferrets and otters are bon vivants; they love to tumble and gambol. They make me smile and laugh. When they roll over, their front half makes most of the trip before the back half engages and follows suit, which gives them the appearance of being composed of rubber instead of bones.

 

Pet ferrets have special needs

 

Female ferrets need to be spayed unless you plan to let them reproduce frequently. They will die otherwise. (An intact female ferret is at risk for developing fatal anemia due to wildly-fluctuating estrogen levels.)

 

Males should be neutered to keep them more docile. And even when you neuter ferrets and surgically remove their anal scent glands, they still have a pungent, musky body odor reminiscent of the aftermath of “eau de skunk”, so frequent baths are necessary to keep them within socially-acceptable levels of pew! (I enjoyed the smell of my ferrets, as long as I didn’t let them go too long without baths. Other people were less enamored and tolerant of their natural body scent.)

 

Many states allow ferrets as pets

 

If yours does, you can find them in pet stores that carry live animals (not all do, as you know) and you can check craigslist in your region for local ferret or animal rescue shelters that take in unwanted ferrets and re-home them.

 

Expect to pay upward of one hundred dollars per ferret, no matter where you get them. And be prepared to spend an additional hefty chunk of money to feed and adequately house and treat your ferrets every month. (They are curious, active, and love lots of toys, climbing stations or cat tree houses!) And yes, ferrets are communal. You won’t want to get just one unless you plan to spend the rest of your life pretty much attached to it at all times. Your ferret won’t be happy going it alone…

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