Still going strong

[Luckee legs 467]

I have two older ferrets that I doubt will survive this winter and I'll miss them when they go. I completely trust these two 

The hob has outlived his litter brother by 2 years and the Jill a litter sister by 3 years and I find it's incredible that at 7 years old, long long past the typical lifespan of polecats in the wild, and despite their obvious tumours and associated thyroid swelling both those old ferrets are still keen to get out and do their thing very well .

[Aussie Whip 4,097]

I think ferrets just keep getting better at working almost up to the end, which makes losing them that much harder. Great animals.

[Luckee legs 467]

3 hours ago, Aussie Whip said:

I think ferrets just keep getting better at working almost up to the end, which makes losing them that much harder. Great animals.

Completely agree, at times I feel I am anthropomorphic about the best old ferrets but when you compare them to young ferrets I see a massive difference. I really trust them to stay down until the job is done and warren clear (most of my hobs will stay while we dig) and then return,  or in hedgerows if a rabbits sneaks away I often spot them tracking it on the surface to the next holes

[Daniel cain 45,306]

My hobs 8 and my Jill's 9 , probably their last season tbh

[Bobtheferret 1,248]

An experienced ferret is such an asset, just go down do the job and no drama. Only issue I find with my hobs is they can get a little to efficient with experience! I had a hob I basically had to stop taking as he killed what felt like every rabbit he came across and in such short order I barely had to time to locate the kill. Not what’s needed. 

[Aussie Whip 4,097]

1 hour ago, Bobtheferret said:

An experienced ferret is such an asset, just go down do the job and no drama. Only issue I find with my hobs is they can get a little to efficient with experience! I had a hob I basically had to stop taking as he killed what felt like every rabbit he came across and in such short order I barely had to time to locate the kill. Not what’s needed. 

That's a good point, they do get too good and it's bad as we mostly don't use locators here. Doing pest control it was ok as the older ferrets would just kill and move on quickly. They were good in big blackberry patches where you couldn't get to the holes.