PORT ANGELES — A loose ferret was seen running amok in downtown Port Angeles, startling customers and business owners as it scurried for safety.
The critter was last seen Thursday afternoon at Olympic Stationers, 122 E. Front St, where it had entered the store from the alley.
“It was looking for a place to hide,” said Christine Stockman, a ferret rescuer who is keeps 10 ferrets of her own.
Stockman was contacted after the ferret was seen trying to enter Itty Bitty Buzz, 110 E. First St., and Port Book and News, 104 E. First St.
Stockman set up a live trap outside of Olympic Stationers to try to save the animal from the mean streets. Ferrets run the risk of being eaten by predators, getting hit by cars or falling into a storm drain and drowning.
“Ferrets tend to be very curious,” Stockman said.
“They’ll go right up to strange dogs, or raccoons.”
Stockman thinks the ferret is either hiding in the basement of Olympic Stationer or somewhere outside the building.
“If it’s in the basement, there’s a ton of places to hide,” she said.
The ferret is described as having very dark hair, either dark brown or black.
Stockman said it is likely a pet that escaped from its owner or was purposefully dropped off.