From:
ChaoticFer8s@aol.com
Date: 2001-04-09 20:39:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] keeping ferrets in the dark
Hi - Just a comment or two. In most homes I would imagine that ferrets are
exposed both to natural light and to artificial light when it grows dark. As
has been commented, they are burrowing animals and I bet most notice that
when their ferrets are sleeping, the seek cover. All my ferrets have sleep
sacks in cages. Since most stay out 24 hrs. a day, they sleep under the
comforter on my bed, under the bed in a big sleep sack, in two chest drawers
(where I keep them when not using them <G>), under the bureau and in a sleep
sack & bedding pile for burrowing in a corner of an alcove. I keep lamps on
all night since I am often up at night. Between 2 and 4 a.m. my ferrets have
an active play period and eat as well. Oh joy. They always wake me up which
is why I am writing this at 3:30 a.m. The kits are also awake and playing
right now.
Curious as to how many people here have ferrets that play in the night too.
Suspect in nature, they would be on a nocturnal food hunt for night critters.
Cheers, Meg
In a message dated 4/9/01 11:51:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
shiloh_001@m... writes:
<< Regina wrote about being curious about how darkness is not constant in
nature. That's very true (one of my pet hobbies is astronomy!), but keep in
mind, in nature, ferrets sleep in underground dens. Light doesn't get down
through soil very well unless a ferret drags a flashlight down and figures
out how to turn it on...which I wouldn't put past a ferret for a second!
I would imagine people have done the cyclical light variance, but I'm not
one of them. I suffer from seasonal depression in the winter. Between that
and wanting to see my ferrets other than Saturday and Sunday when I'm off
during the day I just have give up their "natural inclinations" to allow them
to be my pets. If this injures their health I have to be philosophical about
it because I'm sure that not interacting w/ me 5 days out of the week for a
number of months would have just as negative influence on the little cuties.
I don't know about anyone else, but my ferrets do come out and play in the
middle of the night. I either hear the cage rattling or, if I can't find
someone to put them in their cage at night, they find my toes (yeowch!)
Pat and the Furry Inspirations, missing Sonny & worrying about Tess
>>