Ferret polecat hybrids

[romany52 313]

 

My concern about crossing is one of genetic and keeping the eu polecat lines clean, but I am purest when it comes to this, I hate to thing our wild polecat could suffer because of ferret blood.

 

 

It's already happened.

 

You don't think your average medieval ferreter got all their ferrets back do you?

well I going on the thought that a ferret would die in the wild a hybrid would more likely to suvive. Maybe my concern on this are unfounded.

 

I don't think it really matters mate , the eu polecat is a product of it's environment, if ferret genes got in they would be weeded out again by that same environment in a few generations, like no doubt has happened many times in the past.

[Ideation 8,216]

Ferrel ferrets are already living and breeding in the wild . . . .

[romany52 313]

Ferrel ferrets are already living and breeding in the wild . . . .

 

Are they not on some Scottish island though, where there no wild polecats.

[polecat84 1]

Ferrel ferrets are already living and breeding in the wild . . . .

 

Are they not on some Scottish island though, where there no wild polecats.

[/quot

 

found this

 

 

Colonies of feral ferrets have established themselves in areas where there is no competition from similarly sized predators, such as in the Shetland Islands and in remote regions in New Zealand. Where ferrets coexist with polecats, hybridization is common. It has been claimed that New Zealand has the world's largest feral population of ferret-polecat hybrids.[16] In 1877, farmers in New Zealand demanded that ferrets be introduced into the country to control the rabbit population, which was also introduced by humans. Five ferrets were imported in 1879, and in 1882–1883, 32 shipments of ferrets were made from London, totaling 1,217 animals. Only 678 landed, and 198 were sent from Melbourne, Australia. On the voyage, the ferrets were mated with the European polecat, creating a number of hybrids that were capable of surviving in the wild. In 1884 and 1886, close to 4,000 ferrets and ferret hybrids, 3,099 weasels and 137 stoats were turned loose.[17] Concern was raised that these animals would eventually prey on indigenous wildlife once rabbit populations dropped, and this is exactly what happened to New Zealand bird species which previously had no mammalian predators

[wullieh 53]

My friend keeps hybrids and pure polecats and after some thought on it i decided to take a kit she was 75% pure, i took her from the age of 7 wks and handled her daily, found that i can pick her up but find if you scoop her up rather than hand down to pick up then there less chance of her turning on you, she is now almoast a yr old and never bitten me yet but hac come close a couple of times but only when i just pick her up rather than scoop her up,

my other friend has bred his own line for the last god knows how many years but two years ago he introduce hybrid to his line and what i seen was as follows.

1, were much faster through the burrow

2, less likley to run to you when on surface of warren

3, if it met a rabbit the rabbit would be killed,no chance of escape due to power and speed.

4, more chances of having to dig for hybrid 5 higher risk of being bitten when it comes out hole due to being mega high,

 

the breeding them into your line is not a problem you just need to work out how much blood you keep in the line and this can and will take some time and effort to get the best results.

also remember to handle them daily as i found out when on holiday mine was not handled for 6 days and it took bit of work to get her back to where i had her.

 

My friend that keeps the hybrids and pure polecats also said that hobs seem to be easier than jills as when the jill comes in too season no matter how you take them out some of them can become a bit scatty even if you thought they were tame.

[wullieh 53]

Ferrel ferrets are already living and breeding in the wild . . . .

 

Are they not on some Scottish island though, where there no wild polecats.

[/quot

 

found this

 

 

Colonies of feral ferrets have established themselves in areas where there is no competition from similarly sized predators, such as in the Shetland Islands and in remote regions in New Zealand. Where ferrets coexist with polecats, hybridization is common. It has been claimed that New Zealand has the world's largest feral population of ferret-polecat hybrids.[16] In 1877, farmers in New Zealand demanded that ferrets be introduced into the country to control the rabbit population, which was also introduced by humans. Five ferrets were imported in 1879, and in 1882–1883, 32 shipments of ferrets were made from London, totaling 1,217 animals. Only 678 landed, and 198 were sent from Melbourne, Australia. On the voyage, the ferrets were mated with the European polecat, creating a number of hybrids that were capable of surviving in the wild. In 1884 and 1886, close to 4,000 ferrets and ferret hybrids, 3,099 weasels and 137 stoats were turned loose.[17] Concern was raised that these animals would eventually prey on indigenous wildlife once rabbit populations dropped, and this is exactly what happened to New Zealand bird species which previously had no mammalian predators

there is some feral colonies in scotland just north of perth, was speaking to a game keeper at a game fair last year who said he traps and shoots atleast 50 a year(bit like the size of fish) but i was also given a ferret at the same game fair but this ferret was only a kit and was soon to be taken home by a club member, and as it grew she noticed differant behaviour in it, and when i looked after it when the owner was on holiday i used gloves as it was such a mad ferret.

so can ferrets survive in the wild yes i think they can aslong as in there area there is a high food source and they dont need to travel far running the risk of being hit by cars, as for in built up areas i doubt the last more than a few weeks if not picked up.

[Ideation 8,216]

Aye they are also further south, i have a friend who traps fairly large numbers, he finds that they have been living inside large rabbit sets.

[stealthy1 3,964]

I personally dont want all my ferrets white, I dont want idiots to breed Angora's, I aplaud those band of ferreters that indure the hardship of breeding wild polecats, that breed EU polecats into the ferret population, just so that the pet folk keep their distance from us that want to work our animals, my polecats will kill anything that wont bolt, and thats the way I like it, I dont want them to walk past stubborn rabbits, I want them dead or in the net, one way or another, I want the rabbits, and I'm not to lazy to dig, If I want numbscull ferrets, I will buy them

[droid 11]

I don't think it really matters mate , the eu polecat is a product of it's environment, if ferret genes got in they would be weeded out again by that same environment in a few generations, like no doubt has happened many times in the past.

 

I'd tend to agree with you, except that it'd be behaviour/competence that would be weeded out not genes.

 

There's no difference in the genes of polecats and the genes of ferrets. The only difference is their behaviour, and competence at living in the wild.

 

And before anyone asks why it is possible to differentiate between ferrets and polecats using DNA analysis, that uses mitochondrial DNA not nuclear DNA.

[romany52 313]

I don't think it really matters mate , the eu polecat is a product of it's environment, if ferret genes got in they would be weeded out again by that same environment in a few generations, like no doubt has happened many times in the past.

 

I'd tend to agree with you, except that it'd be behaviour/competence that would be weeded out not genes.

 

There's no difference in the genes of polecats and the genes of ferrets. The only difference is their behaviour, and competence at living in the wild.

 

And before anyone asks why it is possible to differentiate between ferrets and polecats using DNA analysis, that uses mitochondrial DNA not nuclear DNA.

 

Either way mate, in a few generations you won't tell the difference. And anyway, numbers fell so low, the new blood could well be of benefit to their future.

Edited June 5, 2010 by romany52

[comanche 2,941]

The pros and cons of introducing the blood of genuine polecats. The "is it a genuine polecat or feral ferret" dilemma . Subjects proven time and time again to attract a host of varying opinions .

 

A while back I found myself chatting to a guy at a zoo about their polecats. According to the keeper in the past they had had some animals that were too shy to be of much entertainment value to the public ,some that were a bit too hissy and others that failed to rear litters . The ones that were less extreme in their habits lived and bred to produce the crop of poleys that were on display at the time of my visit . All dark ,all shimmering with vitality ,all on the ladder of domesticity .

Some would say that if a chap or lass is happy with the animals they keep thats all that really matters .

Others might add that if it looks like a polecat ,acts like a polecat and smells like a polecat.....Only someone with a bigger wardrobe full of anoraks than I might suggest that it is'nt a polecat !

Or a ferret !

Edited June 5, 2010 by comanche

[spencerburgo 8]

i have some polecat crosses there are definatly some differences that stand out from domestic ferrets i find the hobs handle alot better than the jills mine are 2 3/4 wild 1/4 tame and 1 3/4 tame 1/4 wild the hob has never bitten me but ive never worked him on rabbits yet ive got some litters of bred down ones to try this season against my better judgement but they are stunning looking animals and i supose if people want to give them ago then thats up to them but they are definatly not for youngsters on novices as they do take extra care and handling,

 

atb spencer.............

[Coneytrappr 30]

I personally dont want all my ferrets white, I dont want idiots to breed Angora's, I aplaud those band of ferreters that indure the hardship of breeding wild polecats, that breed EU polecats into the ferret population, just so that the pet folk keep their distance from us that want to work our animals, my polecats will kill anything that wont bolt, and thats the way I like it, I dont want them to walk past stubborn rabbits, I want them dead or in the net, one way or another, I want the rabbits, and I'm not to lazy to dig, If I want numbscull ferrets, I will buy them

 

Unfortunately the show folk have already got their hands on plenty of hybrids. Like some sort of status animal.

 

as for the morons who breed angoras...remember that dull individual who was on here once trying to peddle them for an arm and a leg?

[droid 11]

as for the morons who breed angoras...remember that dull individual who was on here once trying to peddle them for an arm and a leg?

 

Rather surprised she hasn't shown up on the forums yet with this year's supply of useless mutants.

 

Mind, she's safe from me.

I was banned off the only pet forum I was a member of that she posted on. Reason: crap poetry.

[stealthy1 3,964]

as for the morons who breed angoras...remember that dull individual who was on here once trying to peddle them for an arm and a leg?

 

Rather surprised she hasn't shown up on the forums yet with this year's supply of useless mutants.

 

Mind, she's safe from me.

I was banned off the only pet forum I was a member of that she posted on. Reason: crap poetry.

 

 

Thats a shame, because I've always found you to be quite lyrical, dont suppose you would post the poem on here, for those of us that are not worthy