Posted: April 1, 2011, 9:30 p.m. EDT
Do deaf ferrets interact with other ferrets differently? Each ferret is an individual with different reactions. However, while there are individual differences among all ferrets, some common behaviors exist in deaf ferrets — whether alone or with others.
1) A deaf ferret may be extreme in its vocalization. The ferret may be nearly mute, or it may vocalize incessantly. When alarmed, upset, angry or extremely excited, either type of deaf ferret can “screech”— not quite a scream, but a screech. It’s a loud, random vocalization that the ferret cannot hear. Hearing ferrets may screech, too, but this is rare and usually only done in emergency situations.
Screeching can be disconcerting to a person who never heard it before. Starhawk Clark, a ferret owner from Georgia told me that he and Patrick kept hearing this screeching after they adopted their little deaf ferret, Faye.
“Faye and Salem had been playing and having a grand ole time” Clark said. “They both scurried behind the sofa and the screaming started. Patrick and I looked over the sofa to find Faye had Salem pinned down on his back, screaming her lungs out at him. Poor Salem. He fled for dear life closely being pursued by Faye. Thus begins the saga of Faye the Deaf Banshee.” Neither ferret was the worse for wear; and only the parent’s nerves suffered.
Deaf ferrets do not know that they are loud or sounding unusual. I had one ferret that continually hissed. She hissed for no reason. Just walking along she would hiss, hiss, hiss — as any other ferret would chatter a normal dook sound.
2) When deaf ferrets “talk” to other ferrets, they are often ignored or misunderstood. Such misunderstandings can lead to a skirmish.
3) Deaf ferrets can be popular leaders (alpha ferrets) or they can be loners. Those that are loners do so in an extreme manner. Many people describe these individuals as being in their own little world. Even so, they still get along with the group.
4) Deaf ferrets seek out their world in different ways. They love to mouth things, collect things, protect toys, seek out soft things to touch, play in water, taste things, and watch their world in what looks to be such thoughtful ways. They explore their world with all their senses.
My husband and I fill our deaf ferrets’ world with smells. Smell is highly important even to hearing ferrets. I think that this sense above all paints pictures of their surroundings for them. You can well imagine how important it is to a deaf ferret.
A little quirk many owners report to me is that their ferrets love to flip their heads back when they hold them, as if they want to watch their world upside down. Who knows why. Possibly this may have to do with a different development of the vestibular system (part of the inner ear responsible for the sense of balance) in their ear. I like to think it is another way to see the world and stimulate the other keen senses they have.
5) One thing to beware of is that a deaf ferret cannot hear another ferret cry “surrender,” so they can be quite rough on other ferrets (and their owners). A deaf ferret can learn what is appropriate and what is not from its group, but it takes lots of time and socialization.
Deafness As A Good Thing
“One of the best things about my deaf ferret is when I take her outdoors,” said Melissa Smith of Ontario, Canada. “Her hearing sister, Okojo, finds the trucks and cars outside our apartment highly disturbing. Itachi, on the other hand, is calm, relaxed, and enjoys herself outside. Unbothered by worries of noisy vehicles and people, she happily putters around in the grass and bushes, in a silent world of her own. Also, unlike many deaf ferrets, Chi has been trained to be undisturbed by being approached or picked up suddenly, though she has this perpetually surprised look on her face [like] ‘Oh, what’s happening now?’ In spite of her deafness, she is a great little ferret and I’m glad we have her.”
Many times deaf ferrets do better outside their homes than hearing ferrets. Jack Smith loves telling others about his outside adventures wi