Found a Ferret? What to Do Next
What to do if you find a ferret...
If you’ve found a ferret outdoors, it is likely to be a lost pet rather than a wild animal. If it appears injured or unwell, call a vet immediately. Otherwise, contain it safely, offer water, keep it out of direct sunlight and arrange a microchip scan.
Domestic ferrets are unlikely to survive for long outdoors, which is why it is important to act quickly if you find one.
How to Keep a Found Ferret Safe
- A found ferret may be frightened, hungry, injured or in pain, so approach it slowly and calmly. Even a friendly ferret may bite when it is scared. Keep children and animals away, and use a towel or even a pair of welding gloves if you need to handle it, until you are sure it is safe to handle.
- Try to secure the ferret in a well-ventilated cat carrier. If you do not have one, use a secure, ventilated container that it cannot climb or squeeze out of. Ferrets are notorious escape artists. Never place a ferret inside a sealed plastic box or bin.
- Add a dry towel or blanket to give the ferret somewhere warm and comfortable to rest. Keep the carrier in a quiet, shaded place, away from direct sunlight. Ferrets cannot sweat to cool themselves and can overheat very quickly.
- If the ferret appears injured or unwell, contact a vet immediately.
What to Do if You Cannot Catch the Ferret
If the ferret is being a slippery customer and you cannot contain it safely, place an open cat carrier near where you last saw it. Put a dry towel inside, move back and watch quietly from a safe distance.
Do not chase the ferret, as this may frighten it and cause it to hide or run farther away. Contact a local ferret rescue if you need help catching or containing it.
Food and Water for a Found Ferret
Give the ferret constant access to fresh water, ideally in a heavy, shallow bowl that cannot easily be knocked over.
Ferrets are obligate carnivores and require a meat-based diet. If the ferret is alert and able to eat, offer proper ferret food if it is available. Alternatively, give it a small amount of plain, cooked, boneless chicken without seasoning, sauces or oil.
Avoid processed meat, chocolate, sweets, fruit and dairy products. Never give cooked bones. You can watch our short guide to what ferrets eat or watch our longer ferret-feeding video.
How to Find the Ferret’s Owner
Ferrets do not usually travel very far after escaping, so begin by speaking to neighbours and checking local community groups. Contact a local veterinary practice and nearby ferret rescues and rescue centres in case the owner has already reported the ferret missing.
You can also report the found ferret through Pets Reunited and post in the Ferrets Lost and Found UK Facebook group.
When posting online, keep the ferret’s gender and colour private. Ask anyone claiming to be the owner to provide a recent photograph and describe the ferret’s identifying features. This will help you confirm that the ferret genuinely belongs to them.
Getting a Found Ferret Scanned for a Microchip
A local vet or ferret rescue may be able to scan the ferret for a microchip. If the chip has up-to-date registration details, they can use it to help contact the owner.
If you are near Crook in County Durham, Blue Ferret Boarding has a microchip scanner and may be able to help. Please contact us before travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Found Ferrets
What should I do first if I find a ferret?
Approach the ferret calmly and try to contain it in a secure, well-ventilated cat carrier. Keep it away from children and other animals, provide fresh water and place the carrier somewhere quiet and shaded. Contact a vet immediately if the ferret appears injured or unwell.
What can I feed a found ferret?
Proper ferret food is the best option. If none is available, you can temporarily offer a small amount of plain, cooked, boneless chicken without seasoning or sauce. Ferrets are obligate carnivores, so avoid fruit, vegetables, dairy products, sweets and processed meat.
Can I give a found ferret cat food?
Cat food is not designed to meet a ferret’s nutritional needs and should not be used as its regular food. Ferret food or plain cooked chicken is a more suitable temporary option while you arrange help.
Will a vet scan a found ferret for a microchip?
Many veterinary practices and ferret rescues have microchip scanners, although it is sensible to telephone before travelling. If the microchip is registered with current information, the vet or rescue may be able to contact the ferret’s owner.
Are there wild ferrets in the UK?
Domestic ferrets are normally kept animals, but wild polecats and polecat-ferret hybrids can also be found in parts of Britain. They can sometimes be difficult to tell apart. If you are uncertain about the animal you have found, take a photograph from a safe distance and ask an experienced ferret rescue or wildlife organisation for advice.
How can I check that someone really owns the ferret?
Ask the person to provide a recent photograph and describe the ferret’s sex, colouring, markings and any other distinctive features. Consider keeping one identifying feature private when posting online so that you can use it to verify the owner.
Can I keep a found ferret overnight?
Only keep the ferret temporarily if you can provide a secure, well-ventilated and temperature-controlled space away from other animals. Give it fresh water, suitable bedding and appropriate food. Contact a vet or rescue as soon as possible for further help.
Should I give a found ferret to someone who offers to take it?
Unless the person can prove that they are the ferret’s owner, do not hand it over simply because they have offered to give it a home. There is no reliable way to know whether they have suitable accommodation, understand a ferret’s specialist needs or intend to care for it responsibly.
Continue trying to locate the owner. If the owner cannot be found and you are unable to care for the ferret safely, contact an experienced ferret rescue or recognised animal-welfare organisation. They can advise you, assess the ferret’s needs and arrange responsible rehoming if necessary.
Contact the RSPCA in England and Wales, the Scottish SPCA in Scotland, the USPCA in Northern Ireland or the ISPCA in the Republic of Ireland. Contact the organisation before travelling, as its ability to accept an animal may vary.
Need Help With a Found Ferret in County Durham?
If you have safely contained a ferret near Crook or elsewhere in County Durham, please contact Blue Ferret Boarding before travelling. We may be able to scan the ferret for a microchip and help you decide what to do next.
We are not an emergency veterinary service. If the ferret is injured, very weak or appears unwell, contact a veterinary practice immediately.
Have you lost your own ferret? Read our guide on what to do if you lose a ferret.
