ferrets

When new ferrets are introduced to each other, sometimes you’ll have a little squabbling. They might chirp at each other while jumping at the other ferret with their mouth wide open. That’s so they look more intimidating. Most ferrets accept that behavior as a signal to leave the other ferret alone.

Sometimes one will jump on the other’s back, biting the back of the neck (the scruff) where the skin is thickest. It’s thick there for that very reason. Ferrets play with each other by biting each other’s scruffs. Sometimes you’ll hear some chittering or chirps, and sometimes one ferret will drag the other across the room.

Usually, the “draggee” does nothing and allows itself to be dragged. The humans don’t particularly like when the “dragger” drags the “draggee” through piles of poop, though. The ferrets, on the other hand, consider this rather normal behavior.

The best sign of an acceptable level of squabbling is if the “jumpee” becomes the “jumper” … if the one being “beaten up” leaps up and “beats up” the other ferret. Normal play will involve the ferrets taking turns “beating each other up,” chasing each other and sometimes chittering, chirping and barking at each other.

Tomorrow: When they’re being too rough

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