What to do if you find a ferret

​​

​People are often surprised to find a ferret out-of-doors and not sure if they will just survive in the wild. They DON’T belong there! Ferrets are totally domestic and cannot survive for very long outside. Many times ferrets will approach people because they are desperate for food, water or human attention. If you find a ferret in your yard or while out walking, here is how you can help it:

​

• Catch it – A ferret left outdoors may wander off or be injured by a car or other animal, so catching it right away is important. Most ferrets want to be saved but might nip if frightened. You can also put a blanket inside a cat carrier and coax the ferret into the carrier. If you are nervous about being bitten or the animal looks ill, use gloves to pick it up.

• Keep the ferret in a secure cage or cat carrier. Wire dog crates will NOT contain a ferret. Use a large box with high sides if you don't have a pet carrier but be sure there are air holes if you need to close the box top.

• Provide water & food – Ferrets outdoors may have been unable to find food or water, so both are vital. Use a heavy ceramic bowl for water, or it may get tipped over! You do not need to buy specific ferret food if you plan to house the animal temporarily; many ferrets will eat dry cat food and its fine on a short-term basis. Ferrets rarely overeat but if it is especially thin and looks starved, limit food to a small handful at first; starved animals need to begin eating again slowly. 

• DO NOT put the found ferret with your own ferrets or around your other pets until you are sure it is free from parasites or illnesses.

• Take the ferret to a vet,to check for a microchip and ask for help and advice.

• Could There be an Owner? do you live in a residential area? This could be someone’s pet who escaped.

• Register the ferret as Found on Pets Located using the link above. This is free for the finder and your details are protected.

• Look for signs or posters for a lost pet within a radius of several blocks up to ½ mile. Ferrets have been known to travel further, but it’s more usual for them to try to find a close, safe spot in a garage, patio, or barn.

• Call RSPCA and contact local rescues and shelters to see if anyone reported a lost ferret. Also call any pet stores or veterinary hospitals where owners might post lost notices.

• If you are able to keep the ferret for a few days you can post your own found ad. Make the ad vague with no photograph so callers have to clearly describe the animal and the area where it was lost. Sadly, people exist who will try to claim a pet that isn’t theirs.

• Look for lost advertisements in local papers or on Facebook.

• If you cannot find the owner and decide to keep the ferret, read the advice on Caring for Ferrets on how to care for a ferret and get them vet checked,  microchipped, vaccinated and neutered.

• If you cannot find the owner and you cannot keep the ferret then contact your local ferret rescue (or animal rescue, RSPCA or vet) for assistance in rehoming it.

 

What to do if you lose a ferret

 

By Amanda Pressland on Thursday, 17 July 2014 at 11:50 -   Ferrets Lost And Found UK

​

The following list may help you find your ferret make sure you have done the following:  

• Double checked everywhere in your house and garden. 

 

• Put some food and bedding into a cat carrier, or similar, in your garden which the ferret can climb into and fall asleep.   Use the ferrets own bedding in this.   Even empty a vacuum hoover content nearby with a strong smell of home (if indoor ferret).

​

• Register your lost ferret on Pets Located using the link above. This will match you up with ferrets that have been found in your area in the same time period. Please note there is a £10 plus VAT fee for logging lost animals with Pets Located.

 

• Create lost posters (include a picture, description and contact details and ask them to check gardens, garages, sheds, greenhouses and other out houses. You may also wish to offer a reward). Posters should include a picture of the ferret, a description (mentioning any noticeable features), contact details and if you wish to offer a reward then mention this as well.   

 

THEN go knocking on ALL DOORS in your road and surrounding roads (those that back onto your property and running parallel or adjacent to your road, ferrets can travel a distance), put leaflets through any doors that aren't answered.   This will ensure if your ferret creeps through a cat flap or is seen in a garden the people know what it is they are seeing and contact you.  Remember to mention that ferrets often like to sleep in unusual places and could be curled up in a shed etc.  THIS REALLY CAN HELP GET FERRETS FOUND AND HOME QUICK.

 

• Put up posters everywhere you possibly can  Remember to position them so that they can be seen by both drivers and pedestrians, in ‘high traffic’ areas on lamp posts. Most newsagents, pet shops, vets and supermarkets are happy to display a ‘lost’ poster.

 

• Post a description of the missing ferret with photo onto the following, so "LOST FERRET, colour, sex, if neutered/entire, Location lost from (area/town/county), Date lost, any distinguishing features, microchipped"

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/163368557175824/?fref=ts  

​

https://www.facebook.com/FerretHelp 

 

http://www.gumtree.com 

 

http://www.animalsearchuk.co.uk/report-a-missing-pet.php 

 

http://www.nationalpetregister.org/ 

 

Also any other "Lost & Found Pet" pages for your area in FB (simply search for variations on those words and the town/county you live in) 

 

• Contacted all local and exotics vets in your area 

 

• Contacted the RSPCA & Blue Cross (if you have a branch near) 

 

• Contact your local ferret rescues, small animal rescues, and wildlife rescues 

 

• Ask the local postman/milkman to keep an eye out when doing their rounds. 

 

• If you have a pub nearby let them know, ferrets are for some reason attracted to pubs! 

 

• Post an advert in the local free ad paper or newspaper and check these for matching found adverts. 

 

• IF your ferret is microchipped make sure you advise the Contact them to log the information of your missing ferret. You will be required to give them your microchip registration number details. https://www.petlog.org.uk/

 

Lost / Theft Preventions Tips 

It is always wise to try and plan for the situation if your pet gets lost and a few simple precautions are: 

 

Get your FERRET Microchipped - it only costs a few pounds to have your ferret microchipped and logged on a central database. It is a one off fee so well worth having your ferret microchipped. This service is offered by the rescue for all ferret owners.

 

Missing Pet Kit - Have a missing ferret kit ready for the eventuality that your ferret does go missing. This can be a recent photo of your ferret, local contact information for vets, animal shelters and your council’s animal warden. Microchip number and contact information for the Microchip company. Make sure your ferret is registered with  the UK National Missing Pet Register, so that you can list your pet on the missing database swiftly.

​

​