watford based weasel?

[The Woodman]

I never fed my ferrets tinned fish because I felt that the salt in the brine might have done them harm. That was based on a comment from a ferret keeper many years ago who told me that any salt would kill a ferret. I don't know if that's true.

[valleyforge]

Large or regular quantities of salt would certainly be harmful to ferrets and indeed to most other land mammals too. You are right to mention that.

I should have made it clear that the polecats only have tuna in sunflower oil, not in brine ... and only because their former keepers told me they enjoyed it.

It's not a major part of their diet though, just an occasional treat.

[mrbright]

many thanks for all your helpful advice, i will endeavour to follow all, seems capture is the best advice, my mums neighbour has taken photo of it eating his cats food, my son seems very eager to adopt, if caught.
have they any natural predators dogs etc.

[valleyforge]

It wouldn't be fair to say that they have natural predators, because they shouldn't be living wild in the UK.

They are at greatest risk though from traffic and from people ... from those who might inadvertantly poison them by laying rat or mouse poison, to those who mistake them for mink, but mainly from 'pet lovers' who don't take the trouble to learn about their special needs, their physiology and diet.

Ferrets and other small mustelids seem to retain some 'folk memory' of descendance from some much larger primitive ancestor, because they will often be prepared to 'take on' very much larger animals. In their heads they are always wolverines, so none of the more sagacious or naturally smart breeds of dogs, or foxes or cats will likely bother them, though I would be very wary of having ferrets in the presence of any breed of terrier.

Ferrets can make terrific pets, though I strongly believe that keeping them under artificial lighting conditions in the home can significantly shorten their lives.

[hedgehugger]

It is not unknown for dogs to kill ferrets.
If you do catch and decide to 'adopt' him (or her), it would be wise to get him/her neutered. It can reduce agression (not saying ferrets are aggresive but some get a little 'bitey' in season), will certainly reduce any ferrety odour, and in the case of females, being left in season can bring on aplastic anaemia, which in extreme cases can cause death. (presuming not neutered due to being ginger coloured).

Albino ferrets (pink eyes) can look orangey due to oils in the coats, but are in fact white.