The quantitative effect of visual and tactile stimuli on the prey-catching behaviour of ferrets (Putorius furo L.).

The influence of visual and tactile stimuli on the elicitation of prey-catching behaviour of ferrets was to be studied. For this study 16 animals, males and females, some naive and others experienced in catching and killing mice and rats were used. The behaviour of the ferrets toward 16 dummies with different characteristics was analysed under standardized conditions. Prey catching reactions of ferrets can be elicited by moving dummies. Dummies up to a certain size reliably elicit hunting reactions if they are moving at a speed of 25 cm/sec to 45 cm/sec. Moving objects, more than double the size of a ferret, cause avoiding reactions. Objects with a fur-like surface release more biting than objects with a hard surface. When hunting, ferrets-innately-tend to aim at the most anterior part of the "prey" and to bite into it, independent of whether there is a head-like structure with a neck or not.