Playful pair of ferrets are latest addition to school’s collection

A PAIR of ferrets have become the latest addition to the collection of animals at All Hallows Catholic College.

The school has its own farm on site with animals including ponies, llamas, chickens, sheep, pigs and goats.

Students help to look after the creatures as part of a daily farm club when they visit the farm to see the animals and make sure they have enough food and water.

Eggs from the chickens are sold by the school and the pupils also grow their own vegetables.

There is an animal care and zoology club which staff hope are equally as successful.

The school has also now introduced BTEC Animal Management courses at levels two and level three.

Donna Stratford, a science technician and the school’s farm manager, went down to a ferret rescue centre in Rugeley and the school adopted a pair of female ferrets.

They are living with a collection of smaller animals who live inside the school to aid students learning.

The adopted pair are older animals - named Hermione and Luna - and have been well handled so are friendlier for the pupils to pick up.

They have been and students have found they are still very playful.

Mrs Stratford said they are proving popular with the students.

She said: “Young ferrets are extremely playful and have a tendency to nip like a kitten or puppy would. Although they rapidly learn not to, it can be a bit off putting for novice handlers.

“Ferrets are a domestic animal, but they are related to polecats, stoats, weasels, and badgers. Like all carnivores they are innately playful, curious and active.

“They enjoy being handled and coming out to play in the area we have made for them and are proving popular with the students.”

She said although ferrets are thought to have a tendency to bite, Hermione and Luna have been well behaved.

She said: “A wellhandled and properly fed ferret is very unlikely to bite, in fact they make much better pets for younger children than rabbits.”