European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Lynn Morion hat her Honda my of ferret of her ferret ranch in Pennsylvania. Frisky ferrets the ultimate pet by Tara Bradley Steck associated press t Hose much maligned  a Badger s lace and a weasel s Bod have been getting a bum rap say a growing number of ferret fanciers. In fact the smelly Little relative of the european polecat which was largely unwelcome in the United states in Fol recent years May of the hottest new pet of the 80s. The ferret fanciers have created a multimillion Dollar Industry. They re the ultimate  says Marcus Schneck 29 of state College. Pa., who owns two ferrets they time themselves exactly to their owners. They generally sleep while you re not at Home and Wake up and play when you Are at  ferrets were domesticated in Egypt Mote than 3.000 years ago and were brought into the United states store than 100 years ago. But they be become Legal As nets in most parts of this country Only in the past decade says Chuck Morton owner of path Valley a m3 at wow Hin. Pa., the nation s largest pet ferret 8 now More than 50,000 ferrets Are produced Yin the United states mostly by commercial says Morton who has More orders than he ice of a ferret averages $125 to $175, which usually includes de scenting and spaying or neutering accessories like cages leashes costars and Good bowls can come to another $ 100 to $ 150. In All. He says it amounts of a $10-million-a-year business. Although their name evokes derisive images Tike ferret faced and ferreting  the Little mammals should t be judged by the rest of their Mistela family which includes ill Humoured Little carnivores like the weasel Mink Skunk Marten Ermine Wolverine and Black looted ferret. Everyone pictures a ferret As a Nasty Little animal Hal kills everything in its path Morton says. They to confused with everything from Hikki Tikki Tavi. Who s a Mongoose that ate snakes to weasels that people think will Gat out and eat every Chicken in the  ferret re Friendly and hug Gable and die with three to five Days if left in the wild Morton says. By contrast weasels and the other members of the Mistela family Are meaner than a treed beat. Ferrets Are related o the other members of he must Ella family the same Way dogs Are related to wolves Morton says. Domestic animals tend to accept Man s values As their own. Wild animals can sometimes be made tolerable through Lear or conditioning but you la never make them i   even Yearin. Mor i. ". Al i. I Fox Morion. 3/, bought a Rollinx. 10 a " a we cd Hill in South. Content  i =11 1 big Din re 10 for cts. Today. I hey annually  12.000 id 1.1.000 from. From 1 running Post Lalion of   Anin a ,. Filling Only one third of their order. Ilio Huo 19 employees. Including n Crow it u Ier to play with the kit or baby in rear. To gel thu Iii  a. I majority have no or Lii Ifni Morton a up facts t? Cal Tont i undo covet Litu to i will  you re talk Tui abut a ak1  a in can , but to pc have Boon  Comine scially on the Liu Penir july in Maylnn Jidi ?5  l  of Pur Juo Cim Ker Cheri never loj t -. From n be Rel " ferret Corno in Lioio than a Don a from dark Rable to Albino male. Viv ii 3 to b and Are 4 to 16 inches Long Fern wifi in pounds and Are 1? to 14 inches Lon onco they Hil m week they Are pet Rall indestructible Lynn Morton  Ferrel were first used Lopre in  from getting into Grain. The sinewy in Imam. I. In i. I How much you give o if  says 1,1 m Pitt Burgh who a a  Broc a i Home they arc sort of like Kittens lha n-.-. They like to play with balls of yarn an us. And they re insatiably curious.  Caf grow up they sleep All the time. Fernan always  ferret Are popular with people  Tiu in apartments or town houses because they re clean and Don t make any noise except for a Happy Chuck la s real easy to hide a  Schneck , their Only noticeable characteristic j n Reavy maj Kodor which can be reduced if they Are do Cen a j they Don t do the bad things that a dog and i at do says Mary Field president of the newly loaned ferret fanciers club in Pittsburgh who owning ferrets that she keeps in her suburban apartment they Don t lift their leg on the furniture or destroy things. And they re As intelligent As a dog or cat they come when they re called and they pick tilings up  Morion says she does t believe ferrets Are just a passing fad although she s concerned that some people will buy them Only for their Novelty. But i Don t think they re a Here today gone tomorrow thing. With a Ferrel you genuinely have a Good pet that learns tricks is quiet and responds to affection whereas fad pets Are just something to look  i that he life ret j lout for Tood. Vclav , a up your i up cmcc1 they tuesday december 24, 1985 the stars and stripes Page 13