You know nothing about ferrets, but found one
wandering in your backyard.  Now what? 

1. Bring the ferret indoors out of the heat (or extreme cold).  Ferrets don't do well at all over 80ºf and can suffer heatstroke and die.  They do much better with cold weather.  You can restrict him in a bathroom, or even the tub with lots of towels to insulate from the cold porcelain.  Watch out for the family dog!  They can kill a ferret in the blink of an eye. Ferrets are trusting souls and will walk right up to a vicious dog, none the wiser that its life is in danger. Many are killed this way in backyards and even by a  ferret owner's own dog.  Cats are usually not a problem but can bat at them and scratch an eye.  Keep the ferret away from hamsters, gerbils, birds, etc.  Though they probably won't eat them, they could kill them.

2. Food and water are essential.  They are not rodents!  They do not eat lettuce, broccoli, etc.  Ferrets are carnivores and need a meat based diet.  That means a good ferret food is best, but a decent dry kitten food will do.  Even an inexpensive dry cat food is better than lettuce, which will not be eaten.  Provide food and water 24/7. 

3. Fleas are more than just a nuisance in ferrets.  They can cause fatal anemia.  Any good KITTEN-SAFE flea shampoo is okay.  So get the little guy cleaned up. Bathing a ferret is about like bathing a dog.  They might not particularly like it, but they don't fight it like a cat.   NEVER use flea dip, flea collars or products meant for dogs. 

4. Ask around the neighborhood if anyone is missing a ferret.  They're great little escape artists and someone may be frantically looking for their ferret!  Sometimes people don't even realize they're missing for hours and hours because they assume the ferret is fast asleep in some hidey hole, which is the norm for many ferrets.  Check with neighborhood kids. They sometimes know what's going on in their territory.

5. Put out "FOUND FERRET" posters.  Ferrets usually don't get too far, but can get several blocks from home, even across busy highways with luck.  Ferret lovers often form a deep attachment and people who lose them are just as devastated as someone that lost the family dog or a close member of the family! 

6. Newspapers usually provide "Found" ads for FREE!  Don't describe the ferret because you may get calls from people that just want a free ferret.  You can place a "free to good home" ad later if its home can't be found and a person or shelter that will take the little guy can't be found.

7. Call your local ferret shelter,  if you're lucky enough to have one (search using Google) or call me () even if you're not in South Florida.   We're not a shelter and can't take the ferret in, but I can provide advice and I often know of people looking to adopt a ferret if you're local and can't find his home.  A shelter may have heard from someone searching for their lost ferret.  You can also try the local humane society , ASPCA, animal control, Wildlife rescues, or other animal rescue organizations in your area.

Last but not least, thank you for caring enough to rescue the little guy and getting on the web to search for help.