From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2005-01-29 21:29:46 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Ferrets and their (in)ability to deliberate
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20050129212946.20657.qmail@web50804.mail.yahoo.com>
Hi,
I don't know how you would define deliberation in the
case of ferrets. I'm pretty sure they don't think
things over the way we do but I am equally sure they
can figure out some pretty complex problems over time
and work together to solve them.
I have seen five of my ferrets work together to pull
down a pet gate. We don't have pet gates any more as
a result. I saw two ferrets (Pertwee and Tenchi, both
exceptionally bright) get on opposite ends of the bar
of a large Midwest cage and push up together to open
it after living in that cage for a long while. There
was no cage Pertwee didn't figure out how to open
given time. So while it may not be "deliberation" as
we understand it ferrets are capable of a long
learning process and teamwork.
My favorite example: Keith used to have this
director's chair and ottoman which I hated. They were
the tube and cloth sort of thing which are very light.
We went out for a walk one night and when we came
back the ferrets had dragged the ottoman next to a bar
stool and climbed from the ottoman up the bar stool
onto the pass through into the kitchen where treats
were located. We found Tenchi playing in the sink,
Adric batting the treats onto the floor, and Ayeka and
Ryo-Ohki climbing. We threw away the chair and
ottoman after that.
About five years ago I trained Nyssa to roll over on
command. She would roll over and get a treat. She
decided a belly rub would be better than a treat and
rolled over, then did a half roll and laid on her
back, a signal she wanted a belly rub. That's how
she's rolled over ever since. She changed my
behavior, my reaction, to her doing something I liked.
Was that a deliberate decision?
I honestly don't know the answer to your question. I
do know that some ferrets are smarter than others and
the ones that are exceptional are almost frightening
in what they can learn and what they can figure out.
Regards,
Caity and the fabulous four
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