Interesting behavior with BP and ferrets

[OsirisRa32]

They have been domesticated and used as a working animal for over 3000 years. They were first domesticated for rodent eradication. But have further been developed and are used for rabbiting. In rabbiting, the ferret is not suppose to kill the rabbit. Its suppose to go down a rabbit hole and drag the rabbit back up to the surface.
It is key that the ferret not kill the rabbit.

And I assume like most predators, the young has to be taught by the parent how to hunt and survive.
Excluding the cats' natural instinct to kill. Though, since cats are so instinctual, they are able to go feral so quickly and easily. Where as there have been no known feral ferret populations in history. Studies show that it would be fairly difficult for a domesticated ferret (especially in the US) to go feral.

The ferrets' wild counterpart, the European polecat, is everything a wild weasel is. They're the wolves to dogs in regards to ferrets. While they can interbreed to produce a hybrid, their adult behaviors are very different from each other. A ferret retains the juvenile traits of their wild ancestors, which is generally what the domestication process does.

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The domestication process also alters brain regions and their respective size, shape and connectedness as well as biochemical pathways and receptors...as well as (at least in several ag species) the overall size of the animal when compared to their wild ancestors.

[aldebono]

They have been domesticated and used as a working animal for over 3000 years. They were first domesticated for rodent eradication. But have further been developed and are used for rabbiting. In rabbiting, the ferret is not suppose to kill the rabbit. Its suppose to go down a rabbit hole and drag the rabbit back up to the surface.
It is key that the ferret not kill the rabbit.

WOW! I never knew that! I am going to have to do some extensive useless learning on this as it is fascinating.
Thanks!

[satomi325]

As far as I know, American ferrets are much smaller and less muscular, but it could just be due to the fact they are sterilized at around 4-6 weeks of age and fed crappy kibble. They are also more prone to adrenal disease and insulinoma compared to their European and wild counterparts. European lines are often crossed with polecats to make them a more robust working animal.

But in general, the general gist of domestication is to retain the juvi mental and physical traits.

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[satomi325]

WOW! I never knew that! I am going to have to do some extensive useless learning on this as it is fascinating.
Thanks!

It's pretty interesting. It's illegal to do in the US (except Colorado, I think??). It's fairly popular in Europe since rabbits are a pest animal there. Many of the working ferrets have to get their tails docked as well.
There's a pretty neat youtube video showing how rabbiting is done.

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[aldebono]

I have been stalking the rabbiting on youtube.
Is the hunting with dogs and ferrets illegal now? I was seeing some talk about how they are hunting with falcons and eagles and even a cheetah to get around the laws.

When I was dating a Brit. He said the rabbits were so prolific and a nuisance. He also said they had some sort of disease from the overpopulation? Any info on that?

[satomi325]

I have been stalking the rabbiting on youtube.
Is the hunting with dogs and ferrets illegal now? I was seeing some talk about how they are hunting with falcons and eagles and even a cheetah to get around the laws.

When I was dating a Brit. He said the rabbits were so prolific and a nuisance. He also said they had some sort of disease from the overpopulation? Any info on that?

It's illegal in the US, but I'm pretty sure its still legal in Europe (maybe its restricted in certain areas?). I don't check EU laws. But
I was talking to some Europeans on a ferret online group who did it. This was within the last 6 months. So unless the laws changed since, ferreting is still being done.

And I do believe there was some sort of rabbit illness or infection going around. But the name slips my mind now. Sorry.

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