HELP!! A ferret is staring in to my house--it's trapped!!!!

smiling76

So I'm in the basement and hear a weird sound--a ferret must have somehow gotten in to our very deep window well of the basement.  It was trying to get in our house.  I LOVE ferrets.  They are the cutest things ever--but I don't know if this one has it's shots and what is going on with it---where it came from, etc.  We have a cat and obviously a baby--and can't take a chance letting it in.

I called the non-emergency police and they said that it's considered wildlife and they will not come out for it.  The animal control won't either for the county.  I have no idea what to do!!!  It's very cold here in Chicago right now and I can't stand the thought of this thing being outside all night. 

The other issue is getting it food/water.  If I open the window he'll jump inside--and ferrets are fast--and sneaky--and I'll never find it!! 

UGH---what the heck am I going to do????

Krissi~n~Justin

I shudder at this.   I would freak out.   And not in a good way.   I am not a fan of all animals.  

TheNerdyKatie

Is there a rescue in your area? Or maybe a ferret group? Or someone that knows about exotic animals?

kada626

put a large box or container under the window, then open the window & it will probably fall into the box.

snowboardbride

omg lol!! I would get DH,  open the window slowly and have him grab him QUICK then put him in a cage...but my luck he would probably get away and get eaten by my cat.

help him!

smiling76

kada626:

put a large box or container under the window, then open the window & it will probably fall into the box.

No--ferrets are great jumpers and super fast.  I'm really familiar with them--but don't want one I don't know in my house.  I'm afraid this thing'll be all over the place--even if I try to grab it.  Plus they can bite--and they can carry rabies.

 

Brewtowngrl

Sorry, I am getting a little giggle out of problem.  How random and crazy is that?  Hope you figure something out. 

Tash13

I'd get a box or cage and thick gardening gloves or a big towel and get it contained.  I'd then look up to see if there are any small animal rescue or ferret rescues in the area.  Either one should send somebody out to pick it up.  If not, see if the humane society in your area will take one or see about local petstores... sometimes one of their workers will take it even if the store won't.  Either way, i hope you help it.  Poor cold, stuck little guy.

meggiekins

Yep, grab a big box or rubbermaid tub, and hold it under the window as you open it. It will probably fall into the box, and then you can decide from there what to do with it. (Obviously don't put the lid on, or poke lots of good-sozed holes in the top and sides if you do.)

I am wondering how a ferret got outside in the first place. Could it maybe be a neighbors? I really don't mean to be rude, but are you SURE it's a ferret and not some other wild animal? You know, before you let it in and everything. Lol.

meggiekins

Also, I found an article written about ferrets by these people. Maybe they could help?

 Midwest Bird & Exotic Animal Hospital
1923 South Mannheim Road
Westchester, IL 60154
708-344-8166

kada626

smiling76:

kada626:

put a large box or container under the window, then open the window & it will probably fall into the box.

No--ferrets are great jumpers and super fast.  I'm really familiar with them--but don't want one I don't know in my house.  I'm afraid this thing'll be all over the place--even if I try to grab it.  Plus they can bite--and they can carry rabies.

 

yeah, I used to have ferrets too. Oh well, that's what I would do. Good luck.

smiling76

meggiekins:

Yep, grab a big box or rubbermaid tub, and hold it under the window as you open it. It will probably fall into the box, and then you can decide from there what to do with it. (Obviously don't put the lid on, or poke lots of good-sozed holes in the top and sides if you do.)

I am wondering how a ferret got outside in the first place. Could it maybe be a neighbors? I really don't mean to be rude, but are you SURE it's a ferret and not some other wild animal? You know, before you let it in and everything. Lol.

Yes--I used to have a ferret many years ago--and am very positive that is what it is.  It's ADORABLE.  The most unique color I've ever seen in a ferret too.  He is sleeping in a corner right now---so sweetly too.  I just want to snuggle him!!!!!!!!  My DH HATES all animals except cats. 

RoRed5

This sounds horrible, but I'm lol'ing a little bit about a ferret being a wild animal.  I know they can carry rabies, but they're hardly native to Chicago, ykwim? (ETA: I'm laughing at the county/police, not at you)

No idea how to help you catch it, but the wild animal clinic PP listed in Westchester is actually now located here:

https://www.midwestexotichospital.com/

It's on North Ave in Elmwood Park.  I had to take my kitty there a few years ago and actually really liked them.

*Bre*

We used to get animals stuck in my bedroom window well all the time. Once a skunk , I had snakes, possums, kitties, and rabbits, too. My dad had a live trap and would stick it down there to catch the bunnies. Cats, we would stick a branch down in there so they could climb out...can ferrets climb? I would at the very least try to lower a water dish and some food down there until I figured out what to do.

smiling76

there's a little water drain in there and the little bugger is hiding in it!!!!  WE went to try and get it and put it in a carrier with a towel so it could warm up and I could take it somewhere tomorrow, but it went and hid and we can't get it out of there.  UGH>  So I put the carrier and towel and an apple out there for the little guy --and we'll see what happens in the morning. 

 

Josie22

Can you get to it from the outside? I would see if you could get a small towel for it to snuggle.

There's the ferret rescue posted above. And this one: Aurora, IL 60506
Phone: (630) 518-2542

You can check Petfinder.com Search for "small & furry" animal. And list Ferret as the breed to find the rescue closest to you.

Crazycrustacean

Do you have a cat carrier? Put some cat food into it & Open the window slowly. Trap him in the carrier. 

GL  

Crazycrustacean

smiling76:

there's a little water drain in there and the little bugger is hiding in it!!!!  WE went to try and get it and put it in a carrier with a towel so it could warm up and I could take it somewhere tomorrow, but it went and hid and we can't get it out of there.  UGH>  So I put the carrier and towel and an apple out there for the little guy --and we'll see what happens in the morning. 

 

Totally put cat food in the carrier. It will take to that quicker than it will the apple IMO. 

*Bre*

Also, to avoid this in the future, get a screen for the water pipe and a cover for the window well. HTH!

smiling76

*Bre*:

Also, to avoid this in the future, get a screen for the water pipe and a cover for the window well. HTH!

THAT is the crazy thing--there is a cover on the window well AND the drain thingy--he popped the drain cover off--but I have no idea about the top cover---hoodini.

 

LoriFalce

Sorry, no way. Minks and weasels are both way too similar in appearance to ferrets. I'd never take the chance.

And I'd be calling a pest control company.

Dobie_Mama

LoriFalce:

Sorry, no way. Minks and weasels are both way too similar in appearance to ferrets. I'd never take the chance.

And I'd be calling a pest control company.

Me too.