dougstermw Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 (edited) I was ferreting a new permission which is about a mile uphill from my house and out of the town (that we recently moved into) on 28/12/15. It is a water storage tank with high bankings around it which have burrows a plenty. I started off ferreting beside the brick built pump-house nearby and put a 2yr old jill polecat called dixie and also used ziggy, a 4 year old hob polecat, both are experienced workers. I was a bit concerned that the ground was very soft and sandy and was a bit worried it might cave in. 2 rabbits bolted in quick succession in to nets and were despatched.Another was heard thumping underground so i quietly waited for it to hopefully bolt. Then all went quiet. After 1 hour Dixie appeared, with no evidence of a kill underground. 3 hours later and no sign of ziggy. Usually if my ferrets kill underground they come back up. I realised he was in trouble and to try to dig into sandy ground like this would cause a big cave in.With darkness arriving fast i decided to leave the 2 rabbits inside the burrows and seal the entrances and return later with a live capture trap. I returned at 7pm and opened up the burrows rabbits hadn't been touched. I set the trap baited with a rabbit and left and returned next morning, still no sign. Thinking he was probably the victim of a cave in i lightly sealed the burrows and returned a day later, still no sign.I have been ferreting for about 29 years and have never lost a ferret in action and was most upset, at myself for puting a ferret into sandy burrows and maybe causing him a horrible death. On friday 22/1/16 i let my 3 labs out my back door and they went immediatly to my ferret huches which was unusual,There was a scream from under one of the hutches and on looking there was ziggy. I could't believe he had got out and travelled all the way down to my house, he wasnt skinny but had 5 ticks which i removed.. I took him to the vet and he's fine, never thought i would see him again and we are amazed at his return, we live in a fairly large town so his return was not by chance, the only thing i can think is that he smelled the other 6 ferrets i have 4 of which are his offspring. Anyone heard of such a incredible homecoming ? Edited January 24, 2016 by dougstermw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 That is quite incredible. As the ferret is now your favourite I suspect that you may be reluctant to use him again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 Aah yah big softy. Nice tale mate, thanks for sharing and I'm glad you got him back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted January 24, 2016 Report Share Posted January 24, 2016 Very impressive, glad to hear you have got him back. Also impressive that he survived a month outside with some pretty nasty weather mixed in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 An amazing story; pleased all ended well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.w. Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I'm astonished by this tale, but I'm pleased all ended well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougstermw Posted January 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Yes it is something i have never heard happen to anyone else, but how did he know what direction to head in ? Reluctant to use him again ? Would not use any of my ferrets in that location again but will be out at my usual ferreting ground which is on a sporting estate , next weekend , weather permitting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 A great read ...... can we have a photo of that clever little chap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougstermw Posted February 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 sorry malkiserow, tried to put a photo of ziggy up but not clue how to :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 hi doug to upload photo take the following steps, once you have done it a few times will become second nature. 1) take your pic 2) transfer from you device to computer by importing picture 3) copy and paste or save to my pictures on your computer 4) open the following link http://webresizer.com/resizer/ press select photo and it will open your computer files, click on my picture and double click on the picture you want to resize, click upload and then apply changes. then click the download link which will download to your computer, save again to pictures. when yo write a post click the attach button at the bottom of the post and this will allow you to select the optimised resized picture for your post. then click post, sounds like a lot to do but once you follow directions it can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Yes. They ain't so dumb as you think Don't bank on it happening mind you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev12g Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 I was ferreting a new permission which is about a mile uphill from my house and out of the town (that we recently moved into) on 28/12/15. It is a water storage tank with high bankings around it which have burrows a plenty. I started off ferreting beside the brick built pump-house nearby and put a 2yr old jill polecat called dixie and also used ziggy, a 4 year old hob polecat, both are experienced workers. I was a bit concerned that the ground was very soft and sandy and was a bit worried it might cave in. 2 rabbits bolted in quick succession in to nets and were despatched.Another was heard thumping underground so i quietly waited for it to hopefully bolt. Then all went quiet. After 1 hour Dixie appeared, with no evidence of a kill underground. 3 hours later and no sign of ziggy. Usually if my ferrets kill underground they come back up. I realised he was in trouble and to try to dig into sandy ground like this would cause a big cave in.With darkness arriving fast i decided to leave the 2 rabbits inside the burrows and seal the entrances and return later with a live capture trap. I returned at 7pm and opened up the burrows rabbits hadn't been touched. I set the trap baited with a rabbit and left and returned next morning, still no sign. Thinking he was probably the victim of a cave in i lightly sealed the burrows and returned a day later, still no sign.I have been ferreting for about 29 years and have never lost a ferret in action and was most upset, at myself for puting a ferret into sandy burrows and maybe causing him a horrible death. On friday 22/1/16 i let my 3 labs out my back door and they went immediatly to my ferret huches which was unusual,There was a scream from under one of the hutches and on looking there was ziggy. I could't believe he had got out and travelled all the way down to my house, he wasnt skinny but had 5 ticks which i removed.. I took him to the vet and he's fine, never thought i would see him again and we are amazed at his return, we live in a fairly large town so his return was not by chance, the only thing i can think is that he smelled the other 6 ferrets i have 4 of which are his offspring. Anyone heard of such a incredible homecoming ? Glad you got him back mate. A lad not far from me lost his ferret the wind had blown his hutch over ( cheap rabbit hutch type) the ferret had been gone for acouple of days he had checked the gardens up and down from him but no luck....then after acouple of days he took rubbish out back garden and found his ferret in his garden very wet and a little skinny.....I was shocked to find out it was back.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Shot 1958 Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I have had a Similar experience with one of my hob polecats a couple of years ago one escaped from the cage,I never thought that I would see him again so I went and purchased another to keep the remaining hob company ,after about week while I was feeding them in the morning PJ as he is called suddenly appeared non the worse for it ,so I now have three ferrets ,PJ has escaped again on a couple of occasions since then ,but he has always returned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old06 Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 That is truly amazing that homing instinct was so strong glad all is well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.