Roadside feast for baby ferrets
Sharp-eyed Angelique Riddell spotted a litter of young ferrets tucking into a road-killed pukeko on Woodlands Rd yesterday. Since it was just a stone’s throw from N8N headquarters one of the staff photographers went out and took a few snaps. The ferrets were completely fearless and quite unconcerned about the presence of two humans (and Marley the office cat) just a few metres away.
Ferrets are cute but vicious – one did serious damage to N8N’s poultry flock a few years back (though it was caught in the act and dispatched). There don’t seem to be that many of them around Gordonton – we see more stoats, which have a red coat and a long, black-tipped tail, and lack the mask across the eyes. There are also a few weasels in the district – like stoats but smaller, with a short tail lacking the black tip. (“They’re weaselly distinguished because they’re stoatally different.”)
All are bad news for New Zealand wildlife – N8N will be digging out the traps.
Quite nice looking little critters, unfortunately they have a mean streak in them and I have experienced their nasty ways with some of my chickens too.
Yes, it is a shame they look so cute. And are intelligent – friend of mine had one as a pet. But oh, they have a mean streak a mile wide. Sorry about your chickens.
Surely they can’t be all that dangerous. I understand English rabbiters used to carry their friendly ferret down their trousers . . .
Oho! I wouldn’t try putting one of these darlings anywhere near my trews! (Huge hissing and spitting and thumping last night – ferret vs our cat Marley. Marley is okay, but covered in scratches and her dignity is not what it was. They must go!)
indeed they must go, as in despatched forthwith by sharp-eyed photograhers and every responsible citizen! Alan
Quite right. Three traps set last night, three empty traps this morn. We can wait…
Well spotted. Where is your shotgun? Could have got 2 in one go. Good luck with the trapping.
Not quite sure what happened to them but suspect the cat had a hand in seeing them off. Ah well…
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