gollum 1 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Greetings fellow ferreters Had a bit of a shocker today... Was working a hedgerow this morning and My Jill came out in a very timid and alarmed state. She had a very musty smell and had been clearly bitten on the head. The Hob followed, he was his normal self but he too had been bitten. I asked the landowner if he recognised the smell on the Jill and his guess was FOX! Now the worrying and strange thing is that the holes did not look big enough to allow a fox to get in though I do tend to trust the farmers opinion on the smell as he has had many an experience with foxes over the years. I didnt recognise the smell but it certainly wasnt the fear musk that ferrets give off when scared. (I,ve had that when my Hob met another much bigger Hob and he was so scared he shat himself!) How to describe a smell? All I can say is musky and foul! Very unpleasant and definitely organic!! Both ferrets clearly got in to a scrap with something...but what???? The Jill was shaking with fear when she came out and took some coaxing to get her to my hand, which is unusual lately. I think she is ok, have thoroughly examined her and there are no other obvious injuries anywhere but I am alarmed that she has been hurt and scared, and worried that neither of them recognised whatever it was that attacked as a threat! If it was a fox then I reckon my ferts are the toughest on the block, and probably the luckiest too! Gotta say the bite marks look too small for a fox though... Any ideas folks? G. Quote Link to post
Danny123 1 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Could they have come into contact with a doe rat with young or just an angry rat! If it was a fox i would have thought there would be a bite mark on the ferrets-unless they were lucky. Quote Link to post
danf 0 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 If a fox had made contact with your ferret's im afraid they would of been dead..if it was a rat the dog ferret would of easily killed it that is if the jill did not first without the rat bolting in the mean time..On the smell bit ferret's dont musk off when fighting rat's ..so the only other two options i have to offer are.. they was a big dog Stoat down the hole or a mink.. Millet I totally agree with you chap mink would be my thought. Its a shame it didnt bolt and a terrier wasn't waiting .D. Quote Link to post
hairybull 3 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 How big was the bite? Feral cats have a shocking smell to them also- first hand experience!! I have pulled foxes and cats from holes like my hand (not very big!!) wouldnt even think a big rabbit would get down there sometimes. Quote Link to post
BenBhoy 4,706 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 yeah speaking from my own experience have to say if it had been fox then the ferrets would be worse than just bitten heads. could quite possibly be mink, was it near a river/stream etc? mink are right litte sh1ts. Quote Link to post
jazz_11 5 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 sorry to hear that mate... hope there ok... whatsadog ferret, can some please tell me.. Quote Link to post
jultaylor1972 2 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 sorry to hear that mate...hope there ok... whatsadog ferret, can some please tell me.. A hob or male ferret. Quote Link to post
ASME IX 1 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 hope they make a speedy recovery mate what ever it was the ferrets must have backed it up,iv bolted cats,stoats and foxes,with the ferrets they dont tend to stay around ,the smell of the ferts seems to worry them i dont know,i came to the conclusion that its a case of the hunter is being hunted!!!! what does the bite look like ie ,space between teeth,puncture size?? any chance of a picture? kind regards asme9 Quote Link to post
earth&hounds 94 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 you will probely find there was a wild polecat hob there and the smell of them is fear had that last year ferret shot out at 100 mph and a big poley hob came to the edge of the hole and he was BIG Quote Link to post
gollum 1 Posted March 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Thanks for all the replies folks, the ferts are fine, had them out today and they happily entered buries without hesitation. So glad to say the trauma hasnt scarred them psychologically I think the Mink suggestion could be possible as there is a stream relatively close by and we have had high water recently which I am told brings them on to this land. Whatever it was I am glad my ferts are ok and will hopefully steer clear if they ever meet the mystery biter again. Cheers G. Quote Link to post
will98 0 Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 sounds nasty mate shoulda digged the hole ou and foun the animal Quote Link to post
earth&hounds 94 Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 it could have been a chinese water whippet Quote Link to post
gsi2000stokie 5 Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 same happened to me matey. i would say a fox for sure. mine had marks on her face where she had defended herself. i heard her screaming down the hole and kneeled down to see what was going on and could see the fox trying to get a better grip of her but it let go for just a second when it saw me which gave a chance to escape. 2 hours later i made sure the fox knew what it felt like. going back a few years is that. Quote Link to post
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