From:
rknrobin@zianet.com
Date: 2001-08-14 18:35:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Frogs and Ferrets
Thanks Mike,
I live in Las Cruces NM. What we have are small toads that generally
live in the ground until Monsoon/Breeding season. I know that the
toad can't possibly taste good judging from the ferret's reaction
once it has been in its mouth. But, they never seem to leave them
alone.
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Mike Janke" <mjanke@m...> wrote:
> I don't know where you live, but down here in S. Florida we have
what
> we call Bufo toads. They are extremely dangerous and secrete their
> poison from glands on the back of their neck. Small dogs die just
> from picking one up in their mouth without even biting it. They
don't
> need to be eaten. They would most definitely kill a ferret in very
> short order if the ferret was to get some of their toxin in their
> mouth. Back when I had a doberman, I had to stick a garden hose in
> his mouth more than once to wash out the toxin. He never learned
but
> fortunately, he was big enough and I was quick enough that he never
> got ill from grabbing one.
>
> I would not let my ferret grab any kind of frog, though something
> like a leopard frog is probably not poisonous. Still, better safe
> than sorry. If you're not in the sub-tropics, you probably don't
> have Bufo toads around.
>
>
>
> --- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., rknrobin@z... wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I have read Bob's writing on the polecat diet. I noticed that
> > polecats ate frogs and toads.
> >
> > I have a nice backyard that my 7 ferrets go out to play in in the
> > morning and in the late afternoon when it is cooler.
> >
> > I recently built a pond which, naturally, attracted a frog. Every
> > morning it is a race to see who can get to the frog first. Me or
> the
> > ferrets. When I get there first I put the frog in the neighbors
> yard
> > or take it to the irrigation canal down the street but it always
> > returns. So If the ferrets get the frog first I hear the poor
thing
> > squeal in torment. I have to rescue the frog before they can drag
> it
> > off to their little hidey hole.
> >
> > My question is can a ferret eat a frog? I know that frogs are
> toxic,
> > but are they toxic to ferrets as well?