Lost albino ferret rescued after beach adventure

IT'S not the sort of behaviour that would endear you to a potential rescuer, but one cheeky ferret managed to get herself and her two friends taken to safety after having a nibble at the ankles of passers-by.

Willie, an albino ferret, managed to alert members of the public to her plight after approaching walkers in Cramond last weekend.

Three people contacted the Scottish SPCA after encountering the creatures, which animal staff believe may be "working ferrets" used to hunt rabbits.

After rescuing the first ferret, the SSPCA was then called to pick up her two counterparts, Spud and Zippy.

Mairi Stewart, an ambulance driver with the animal charity, said: "We think the ferrets are all from the same home and may have escaped or been abandoned in the area.

"We are also looking at the possibility that they might have been working ferrets and were being used to hunt rabbits.

"Ferrets are great little escape artists so there's every chance that these three have managed to get free from their enclosure."

After Willie was found on Saturday, SSPCA staff returned later in the same day to rescue Spud, a male albino who was found with an injured ear on Marine Drive.

Then a day later they picked up Zippy, a female, after she began running up to people and dogs walking on the beach.

The ferrets are being cared for at the SSPCA's animal rescue and rehoming centre in Dundee.

Mairi added: "They are young, around six to eight-months-old, and still quite cheeky and capable of giving the odd nip. but they have been handled and clearly had no fears about approaching people.

"It's almost as if they were trying to get themselves rescued, but its probably more likely they were looking for some food and attention."

Often kept as pets, ferrets are social animals and live happily in groups, sleeping up to 22 hours a day. Albinos are very common.

Anyone who has recently lost ferrets or would like to offer a ferret a new home should call the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.

[email protected]