From:
"Marie Bartholdsson"
Date: 2005-09-19 00:52:46 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] RE: Adrenal disease
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <BAY109-F31E47587E77AECE4704B0BB6920@phx.gbl>
>From: sukiec@optonline.net
>BTW, I have heard it postulated that there MIGHT genetically be strains of
>polecats and perhaps >domestic ferrets in Northern Europe which cope better
>with larger light exposures than those in >more temperate parts of Europe.
>That is only a postulation, but after more is know about the >basics of
>adrenal disease it might be an intriguing possibility to investigate givne
>the "Midnight Sun" >factor.
Bear in mind that any polecats exposed to the midnight sun, living under
natural light conditions, are also subjected to a very long winter period.
The summer period with long days is brief compared to the much longer period
of colder months with very short days, which will actually make up most of
the year that far north. So the season will be intense but short. I'm not
sure how far north polecats go in Finland/Russia/Asia, but they don't go too
far north in e.g. Sweden (not above lat 60, approx.).
Another aspect to consider regarding photoperiods and seasons, is that
polecats/ferrets living under natural lighting will have very well defined
seasons. Much more so than indoor ferrets who often have both prolonged and
poorly defined seasons (as compared to the outdoor climate).
Yet another aspect would be that ferrets seem to be "overly reproductive" as
compared to wild polecats (in Sweden). Ferrets will generally come in heat
both stronger and more often than polecats. A ferret jill kept in the same
indoor environment as a polecat jill will typically come in heat earlier in
the year and multiple times, while the polecat jill often start later and
might only have one heat.
That, to me, suggests there might also be genetic component, along with
perhaps a whole bunch of other factors. Maybe some ferrets are more
inclined, or predisposed, to adrenal/endocrine disease than others.
Marie