a peaceable little kingdom

[alonewiththemoon]

A story was posted in the Ferret Mailing List today about a mother ferret whose youngsters had recently weaned but was still producing milk who took in a litter of orphaned baby rabbits. Here's an insanely adorable picture of the mother and kits. It goes to show, I think, that predatory instincts aren't necessarily stronger than maternal or nurturing instincts, which is a rather nice thing to hear. Although hopefully those little baby bunnies raised on ferret milk didn't grow up to be cannibals.

Seti is at Angell waiting for his ultrasound now. He was pretty nervous in the waiting room and it tore me up to leave him there. But it's what we need to do...

Comments

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

Crossing fingers for Seti.

That photo is indeed insanely adorable.

[sbazzy.livejournal.com]

AAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

i can't take the cuteness. my head just exploded.

[alonewiththemoon]

The person who told the story also said you should have seen the mother ferret cleaning the rabbits' ears like a good ferret mom :-)

OMG

[dancer.livejournal.com]

That ferret mom and bunny picture is the cutest! Its nice to see them getting along.

I think it depends on the animal really. I've heard some say that some rabbits freak at the scent of a ferret, but mine haven't (and I've never known anyone with buns to have this happen). Similarly, I've seen ferrets be around my rabbits and not care too much for them (though, the rabbit was larger than our cat at the time, so that could have been a factor) :)

Re: OMG

[alonewiththemoon]

Amelia met a rabbit once and didn't really seem to think much of it one way or another. The rabbit didn't act afraid, but it did stamp its feet at her. I think the degree to which a rabbit is scared might depend on how far removed from wild European rabbit stock it is.

Amelia totally would trigger on the smell of mice though--I'm quite sure she would have killed one, given the chance. On the other hand, there's a classic ferret mailing list story about a male ferret who adopted a little house mouse friend and would give it kibble from the food bowl. So you really do never know...

[firefly124.livejournal.com]

Best luck with Seti. And yes, that is an insanely adorable picture!