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Written by The FERT Team
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FERT (Ferret Education & Research Trust) involves itself in a number of projects aimed at creating awareness regarding the domesticated ferrets and also those designed to educate the public and the animal welfare community. Some of the projects we are involved in are purely run by FERT as a sole body however we are always happy to partner with other likeminded organisations and societies to run joint projects and ventures. If you are involved in a charitable association or commercial business and would wish to partner with FERT then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Below are a number of both current and past projects which FERT has played a part in:-  National Ferret Day - 5th May (annual event)
This was an initiative that was founded by FERT in 2007 to give a focus point for the public and media regarding the welfare and the needs of the domesticated ferret.
Although it differs in date to the US National Ferret Day, this was done by design to ensure that the UK event retains its own identity. We actively promote and encourage all areas of animal care to be involved from veterinary practises, animal welfare centres and also ferret owners.
Previous years have seen the launch of the Green Ribbon Campaign (detailed below) and also the National Ferret Census (detailed below)
| Green Ribbon Campaign (ongoing)
 The green ribbon was launched on the 2nd National Ferret Day in 2008.
For the last two years (2008 & 2009) it has been sponsored by Hall & Woodhouse who are the brewers of Fursty Ferret Ale; a bottled ale available in many supermarkets and direct from their website. The intention of the ribbon is to not only give a very visible indication of personal support regarding ferret welfare but also to allow welfares and rescues who resell the ribbon to raise funds for their own organisations. To purchase ribbons and show your support, please go to http://www.greenribboncampaign.org. Rescues and welfares looking to bulk purchse to resell, please email
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|  Caring For Your Ferret Leaflet
The BVA Animal Welfare Foundation has launched a new practical guide for 2008 designed to enable owners to provide the very best of care for their pet ferret.
Produced in association with the Ferret Education & Research Trust (FERT), the leaflet reflects the growing popularity of these intelligent and curious animals as household pets.
The leaflet was made available to all BVA registered veterinary practices as well as being promoted by FERT at national shows that it attended to give basic advice to members of the public who were interested in taking a ferret as a companion animal. FERT again worked alongside the BVA-AWF in 2009 to revise the original guide with updated information to ensure the literature continues to promote best practise.
"Due to overwhelming demand, the leafet went to its second print run within six months of being published." -BVA Animal Welfare Foundation annual review 2008 |
| Wildlife Information Network; Mustalides - Ferrets: Health and Management (in progress)
 FERT has been named the lead collaborator to work alongside WIN to produce the new volume of its growing library which will be dedicated to improving the standard of care of Ferrets and their relatives (polecats, stoats, weasels, martens etc.)
The volume will provide high quality up-to-date information on their natural history, conservation, captive management, diseases and treatment (with emphasis on the ferret) in a portable, readily-accessible format.
The finished volume is forecasted to be completed mid-to-late 2010.
|  National Ferret Census 2009 (complete)
FERT has joined forces with James Wellbeloved; manufacturer of Ferret Complete ferret food to launch the first national ferret census with an aim to gather as much information as possible about how ferrets are looked after, how many ferrets are there, are they microchipped, what are they fed plus a lot more questions which will all help in future projects.
The census results are available in electronic format at http://www.ferretcensus.org.
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