Ferreted rats many, many times. Found most ferrets wont take to ratting, just come out, but then you get the special ones who likes it, they love it. Yes they can get bitten, and badly, but never lost one yet.
Another thing i hear people say on these threads, but never yet ever seen, this thing about does protecting their young...never had a does protect it's young from ferret, dog or man, ever! They are more into self preservation imo.
But then again i could never get away with using a smoker, found it killed more to ground than bolted. Dogs and spades cant be beaten for a good day on the r