Posted: December 1, 2011, 1:25 p.m. EST
Q: I purchased a squeaky toy for my ferret. After I pressed the toy several times to make the squeaky sound, my ferret jumped at it. He snatched it out of my hand and ran off with it. When I reached down to pet him, he nipped me. I picked up the toy, and he grabbed it again, this time he made a hissing sound. Why would he do that?
A: It seems the squeaky noise that they toy makes stimulates something in the ferret. I am not sure if it sounds like a squeak of a kit (baby ferret) encouraging the behavior or if it sounds like dying prey. Either way, the behavior is stimulated and the ferret runs off with the item or it defends the item.
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