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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 4:14:48 GMT -5
Well his is probably a dumb idea lol but it's worth adding to the suggestions I suppose.
A forum section or folder on other mustelid pets and their care and breeding, etc.
I know a few people who have ferret relatives as pets. Mink are a growing pet in Europe and especially in France. Here in the States, I know a guy online who tames them for hunting muskrats and he is in the process of waiting on kits to be born. His videos are awesome lol and his mink are so precious.
I plan on getting a ranch mink one day from a fur farmer friend in MN, but things aren't set in stone really. They require a ton of work and training, but they are tamable and a ranch mink is considered domestic but it's domestic traits lay mainly with physical genes and not temperamental. However, since Europe and Russia have been breeding mink for pet purposes at the same time as pelt, European mink are just as social as ferrets and can live in groups and play together. An American bred one needs more work on sociability.
Does anyone own any skunks or mink or even a marten? Or even thought of it or once had one?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 4:29:20 GMT -5
No but I once had a conversation with someone who has a skunk, on deviantart, and it seemed pretty interesting! not my sort of pet, but he sounded sweet.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 6:41:06 GMT -5
Problem is, in the instance of skunks they are illegal to have as pets in about 48 states unless you have a special wildlife license. I'd assume minks and the like are similar, and I've heard they can be nasty. Probably not something you want to encourage people to go out and own, people go after these exotic animals and many times are not prepared for how much work they really are.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 18, 2013 8:24:03 GMT -5
I've seen your friend's you tube videos, if they are the ones I'm thinking of- training ones?
As for a separate section- I know absolutely nothing about them, other than the fact that Europe has been working with, and breeding them as pets for several years now.
Long and short is I can't verify any info on care or socialization that I might be able to dig up
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 11:16:05 GMT -5
I have heard so many good things about skunks!! They are definitely banned as pets on Vancouver Island.
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Post by Heather on Apr 18, 2013 11:32:49 GMT -5
We have a member on board who has 2 skunks I believe....one for sure. They're illegal in quite a few states and are definitely illegal here in Ontario...can't swear for the rest of the provinces. We did have a discussion at one time on the forum about the mink. I know little to nothing about them (other than the ones on the river's edge and the ermine that occasionally take up residence in my garage). I know that a couple of people have inquired about getting mink and were turned down. From what I've read, they make living with ferrets a cake walk. I turned down a mink rescue several years ago, when I discovered that the wee sod had to be kept solo and would probably kill my rescues if he got hold of them. I would question longevity as lets face it farm mink are not kept long (18 months I believe), so coat qualities not longevity is the goal. I've watched the videos of the mink being worked....I personally would like a pet that wouldn't be able to take my finger off in one bite. Ferrets bite hard enough (I've been bitten through to the bones in my hands a number of times...didn't like it  ). I noticed that these guys when working their mink wear heavy gloves. That implies that mink often lace into their owners either when excited or just whenever. I notice that most people who have mink exercise them hard...so I'm guessing a bored mink is a destructive mink so keeping them stimulated would also be an issue. I've seen the photos of Nemo (he's so cute) and I've watched the videos of them working their minks. I have to admit at one point I did think I wanted one.....with the little research I've done, I changed my mind....That's just me though...to each their own but I would seriously do major homework before bringing one of those guys home. ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 19:34:49 GMT -5
Yeah skunks are really sweet animals surprisingly, and laid back or so everyone that has them told me, however, they require human grade foods (meat and roots, veggies) - which is great of coarse, but it's costly and there can be no kibble option for someone not willing to put in that cost. Some states have a skunk legal however, no black and white colours allowed and I think only 2 or 3 states allow all skunks in general. They're very very illegal here in TN. If you have a skunk it will be euthanized. Our skunk population, about 80% of the south's wild skunks carry distemper and rabies so it's a bit of a kill all down here even a pet one.
Mink however can be owned with an exotics license as they are very savage for sure. I have dealt with wild ones here and there and they're only cute from a distance lol. If I do decided to get one of these, I will need that license and an outdoor enclosure which I can build, and an indoor one. They aren't easy to keep, that's for sure. I have been talking to the mink man about training and keeping them and still deciding if I'd want to do with that.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2013 5:44:08 GMT -5
omg ermine live in your garage???  |
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Post by Heather on Apr 21, 2013 12:21:36 GMT -5
Yes, she (we refer to her as a she, she may well be a he) often sleeps in the bank of stored cages against the back wall. It was funny to come in and see this little black tipped tail hanging out of a hammy or these big black eyes looking at me from over top of a box. Some of the cages still have hammies which for some reason or another I've never bothered to remove. When a rescue comes in I often just toss the cage in the garage, hubby then stacks them against the far wall. Last year we took about 10 or so to the dump. The ermine stick around until they've cleared out all the mice that live there and then they move on.
ciao
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