From:
Lee R. Wilson
Date: 2002-03-01 16:32:00 UTC
Subject: Re: re: tails and tales
Why do ferrets wag their
tails, usually when in confined spaces (such as a tube or
tunnel) and about
to pounce?
RE: "My own completely unscientific, unsubstantiated and
totally goofy theory is
that they are setting up sonic vibrations on the tunnel walls
to better
judge the distance to their prey. PLEASE NOTE: this is a "for
fun"
explanation only!! But I'd be interested to hear any
reasonable hypotheses.
The only problem I can see with your theory is that the sounds
created by the excitedly wagging tail hitting the sides of the
bag or the tube or the doorway clue the prey (an unsuspecting
fellow ferret a foot, or a cat in our case) right in to the
presence of a lurking ready-to-pounce ferret, so nothing is
ever truly surprised except maybe the lurker who always
wonders why he never catches anything! LOL!