Operation Relocate the Ferret
April 30th, 2008, 3:10 pm · Post a Comment · posted by sjohnson
As Animal Control Officer Martin Martinez entered Hillcrest Park Zoo this morning holding a caged ferret, he was greeted by several voices yelling, “It’s mine… No it’s mine” followed by laughter as everyone shared in the joke.
Grinning from ear to ear, he held the cage out as a group of school children from the Clovis Nazarene School and their chaperones swarmed around him so they could get a look at the newest zoo resident.
Their excitement and curiosity was matched by the small white weasel, which poked her nose out of the cage and examined the youngsters.
I could see immediately how much joy she brought the kids, and had no doubt she was loving it too.
While the children giggled and met the ferret nose-to-nose, the adults laughed and talked about the publicity the small mammal had caused.
“Snowball”, a female ferret found April 21 in a resident’s outdoor dog kennel, was delivered to the zoo after city officials were unable to determine who her owner was.
At least 6 people claimed to own her but none were able to provide any proof that she belonged to them, Martinez said.
Even more inquired about adopting her, Martinez estimated more than 100 people would have lined up for a chance to take her home, but officials were unable to make her available because her ownership was in question. Her predicament made her famous.
Newspapers as far away as the San Francisco Chronicle published her photo and her plight was featured in the CNJ and on the local evening news.
Clovis police Lt. Jim Schoeffel said Monday, the only fair thing to do was give her to the city zoo, to avoid turning her over to the wrong owner.
He established Wednesday as the deadline for proof of ownership, but none produced it.
Zookeeper Kathy Yanotti said the ferret will not be placed on display, but will instead be used as an educational animal.
The zoo keeps several animals in a facility at the back of the park for use in classrooms, presentations, or when groups tour the zoo.
I have visited this building a couple of times. Inside are several animals that are either hard to display or have other things going on, such as an armadillo that can climb or dig out of darn near anything, or Wally the alligator who outgrew his baby pool and is waiting for a new pond.
I also know the animals in there get a lot of attention from the zookeepers who come in and out throughout the day.
Snowball was taken from her travel cage by zookeeper Lisa Fox. As Fox exchanged “meows” and “quacks” with a parrot watching from a corner cage, she showed tenderness and affection for the elongated fur ball in her arms, gently stroking her head and tickling her nose.
A few minutes of exploring Fox’s shoulders, weaving in and out of her long ponytail, and she was introduced to her new cage.
A sweet, affectionate, mild-mannered critter, I have no doubts Snowball will get tons of attention if nothing more than for the simple fact she is hard to resist. I have been told I can come back and visit her, and I probably will.
It was a tough situation. Ideally, Snowball would have been reunited with her owner and returned to whatever home she slipped away from.But I have confidence she will be satisfied in her new life. Just look at all the people she has gotten to meet already!
