Ferrets can quickly get into dangerous situations. They are intensely curious, nearly fearless, highly persistent, and have the ability to squeeze into very small openings. These traits may lead to serious injury or death. Ferrets also like to chew on soft or plastic objects such as foam, pencil erasers, rubber bands, buttons, and other objects commonly found around the home. These objects can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage. An intestinal blockage can be fatal and usually requires emergency surgery.
Ensuring a Safe Environment
Area of Concern | Hazard | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
Appliances—washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and refrigerators | Exposure to electrical wires and moving parts, as well as entrapment inside a machine. Ferrets have been known to fall asleep in the laundry and end up in the washer or dryer. They also have crawled into refrigerators and stoves while the door was open and been trapped inside. | Seal all holes larger than 1 inch. Lower appliances to the floor and block access from all sides. Always check inside refrigerators, dishwashers, and stoves before closing the door or running the appliance. Examine clothing before placing it in the washer or dryer. If possible, restrict access to the laundry room at all times. |
Air ducts | Entrapment, leading to starvation and dehydration | Seal all holes larger than 1 inch where ductwork passes through a wall or floor. |
Open railings | Falls | Enclose railings or restrict access to only the lower level of the home. |
Electrical wires | Electrocution | Use a plastic wire protector. Apply bitter-tasting spray to discourage chewing behavior. |
Open doors or doors with gaps | Access to outdoors, where the ferret may become lost or injured | Locate and possibly restrain ferrets before opening doors. Attach a door sweeper or weather stripping to the bottom of a door with a gap. |
Cabinets | Exposure to cleaning supplies, medications, and other toxic materials; entrapment | Secure doors using sturdy, childproof locks. Seal any openings between the cabinet and floor or baseboard. |
Windows | Falls; access to outdoors | Ensure screens are free of tears and fit securely. Because ferrets can tear holes in screens, it is best to keep windows closed. |
Reclining furniture | Crushing injuries when position is changed; entrapment in wires or clamps | Remove from home or modify to a stationary chair. |
Couches, overstuffed chairs, rocking chairs | Suffocation or serious injury from being sat on; being killed by chair rockers | Supervise ferrets around couches, chairs, and similar furniture. Staple a carpet protector or sheet pulled tight to the underside of the couch, or consider replacing it with a futon. Inspect cushions before sitting. |
Houseplants | Possible poisoning hazard | Remove from the home or place out of reach. (Remember that ferrets are excellent climbers.) |
Box spring mattresses | Possible crush injury when someone lies on the bed | Staple heavy fabric pulled tight or a plastic carpet protector to the bottom of the box spring. |
Rugs | Crush injury while hiding or tunneling underneath | Remove rugs or be careful when walking on them. |
Spongy, chewable household objects, including pencil erasers, balloons, Styrofoam, rubber bands, door stops, and tennis shoes | Intestinal blockage, choking | Keep items out of reach of ferrets, either locked up or in areas that they cannot reach. Do not overlook waste in trash cans. Keep phone numbers for your local veterinarian and poison control hotlines accessible (ASPCA Poison Control Center, 888-426-4435; Pet Poison Helpline, 855-764-7661). |
Bathrooms—toilets, bathtubs, sinks | Drowning | Keep toilet lids down, and possibly use a child lock. Do not leave tubs or sinks filled with water unattended. |
Before obtaining a ferret or ferrets, it is essential to “ferret-proof” your home ( see Table: Ensuring a Safe Environment). Seal all holes larger than 1 inch in walls, floors, or ductwork and in appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, stoves, and washers. Use wire mesh rather than tape, which ferrets can remove. Put away anything small enough to be swallowed. Do not overlook toxic items, such as houseplants. Lock drawers, cabinets, and doors; be aware that childproof locks may not stop a ferret. They are very good at manipulating objects with their front paws and have been known to open zippers and untwist bottle caps. Get down to ferret eye level and look for small spaces behind furniture and around fixtures such as radiators and pipes, especially those that narrow and taper, where a ferret could become lost, stuck, or suffocate. Recliners and sleeper sofas also pose a hazard. When they cannot be adequately supervised, ferrets should be confined.
The “tunneling” instinct has also led to ferrets being stepped on while under rugs and sat on in couches. It may be helpful to provide ferrets with ready-made enclosures to satisfy the tunneling instinct. Consider flower pots, blankets, large piping, or rugs. Do not use items that might unravel or be chewed up.
Ferrets can be kept as pets in all states in the United States except California and Hawaii. However, some cities, such as New York City, prohibit owning ferrets. You should check with your local fish and game or wildlife department before purchasing a ferret.
Special consideration should be given to households with young children. Ferrets bite and scratch as a part of play and to protect themselves if handled roughly ( see Biting). Rough handling may also injure the ferret.
For More Information
Also see professional content regarding management of ferrets.
