Hi. :D

[Fatal hilarity]

I like ferrets, though I've only encountered one in real life once and wasn't close enough friends with the owner to really feel comfortable trying to communicate with it.
I've considered getting one, even though I live in California. Tons of people get one anyway...

So is there anything you'd like to see of Disney's mustelids? I hate asking this again, but I just get really eager...

[kishi]

I'm not gonna lie, it's dangerous to keep a ferret in California. :\ Just read a week ago where one nipped a vet tech and was confiscated by the wildlife officials. Though she's not being put down, she's being separated from her 'sister' whom she'd lived with all her life. A shelter in Arizona is taking her and they're watching the lady who had her, so her other ferrets are in danger of being taken as well.

And all because someone's too thick headed to realize that domestic ferrets -are not- wild animals. 90% of them are spayed/neutered already, and they can't survive in the wild at all. Hence the domestic thing. They depend on people to take care of them. So this crazy thing with California and gangs of wild ferrets is insane.

Now gangs of gun toting weasels are a different story, but I've heard they like to hang out around L.A. ;D

[Fatal hilarity]

Why in the world is biting so horrid? I've heard the same thing about dogs, actually. C'mon, people- they've got canine teeth, they're predatory carnivores, what else are they gonna do? Most pets bite affectionately, anyway.

I don't intend to let many people know about my having a ferret, anyway. And if I do, it's only because my dream is to become a public figure in art. Artists tend to get away with more minor stuff like that, it seems...

[kishi]

Because people think ferrets = raccoons or rats. Racoons/Rats automatically = rabies to some people.

Fact is, ferrets are extremely resilient to rabies and there have only been something like...two confirmed cases of ferret rabies. And those were caused by direct contact with an already rabid animal. (In other words, they were bitten.)

I dunno about getting away with it. :\ Would it be worth losing them?

[wifeofsmartass]

May 6, 2009 5:04:26 GMT -5 kishi said:

Rosie and Scarlett. Rosie is a big girl and cuddler and Scarlett is the one who is a pain in the butt. Scarlett likes to bite me on the arm...but not hard enough to make me bleed, just enough to pinch. They're both so cute though I can't stay mad at her.

Awww, how cute!! They sound like they're a lot of fun!! What sweet little babies!!! ^_^

[Fatal hilarity]

Seriously? A lot of people think ferrets as vermin? Despite all evidence to the contrary? Geez. Most of the population doesn't even know what polecats are, or any American mustelids besides otters, for crying out loud.
Ferrets are among the most adorable pets in the world, I think. Rats are fairly common pets too, and they're pretty darn cute too.

That's not what I mean by getting away with it- I mean that people would probably care less about it if you're a celebrity, and therefore have a greater chance of keeping the ferrets. I think Paris Hilton had one once? I dunno- I don't really give a darn about her.
Not to say that I wanna be a celebrity, though. Well-known and respected, yes, but not worshipped.

[kishi]

Yes, sadly, people think they're related to rats. :\ Which I've never figured out myself...they have sharp little canine teeth, definitely NOT related to any kind of rodent. I actually had a lady at the pet supply store give a little horrified gasp and declare that "Ferrets are creepy. They're nasty little rats." and I said "They aren't rats, they're related to otters." The sad thing is, most people that say that never actually meet any of the animals they declare they 'hate'.

My dad was afraid to have ferrets because of all these old news articles that said they ate babies' faces off. (It happened, but they were Ferret/Polecat hybrids and those are dangerous as they almost always take after the polecat parent in personality.) Now he thinks they're the most hilarious things. When I bring them out he says "Come here -weeeeasels-!"

I never count on getting away with anything. Apparently even Paris Hilton got in trouble over it...I saw an old news report where she was scrapping with the California government to be allowed to keep them. I don't know how that turned out though...I did read later that she was keeping them at a ranch somewhere. Who knows?

[Fatal hilarity]

They barely even resemble rodents of ANY kind. I can understand people mistaking possums for huge rats- and I think they're pretty cute, too, in a sort of scruffy way, and I've seen people keep them as pets as well- but ferrets hardly anything like rats.
I don't get stupid people... what makes them tick?

[kishi]

I don't know either. :\ I wish I -did- know what makes them keep going in spite of being so dense. XD

I guess it's like on Monsters Vs. Aliens:

Dr Cockroach: [referring to B.O.B.] You must forgive my friend, but as you can see, he has no brain.
B.O.B.: Turns out, you don’t need one!

[Fatal hilarity]

That made that line ten times more thought-provoking... and I'm in awe of how popular idiot characters are among idiots.