Feisty french fry-feasting ferret finds new forever home

In “Today’s lighter side of the news…”

A feisty, black-footed ferret found flung on the footsteps of Banning City Hall last month has found a new home at Phelan’s Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the lives of abused, neglected, and abandoned exotic animals through rescue, rehabilitation and education. The frisky, four-legged fur-ball was discovered by officials feasting on fast-food french fries, clearly its favorite food, in a foul and filthy pet carrier.

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After being found by City Hall staff, officials viewed surveillance footage of the fiasco, but unfortunately the ferret-dumping fiend was not identifiable on the film.

Riverside County Animal Services Officer Eric Mangum later took possession of the fuzzy little fella and began working with state Department of Fish & Wildlife officials to find a fitting rescue organization to care for him and find him a new home.

“All he had in his cat carrier was a bunch of french fries,” Officer Mangum explained at the time. “And boy does he love french fries.” RCDAS later featured photos and video footage of the furry and flexible ferret.

Their search was not futile, and in a flash the flatfoots found the friendly folks at Forever Wild, who were more than willing to furnish a new home for the ferret.

Since being ferried to his new forever home, the fortunate ferret – now appropriately named “French Fry” – is flourishing with his new family and friends, and spends his days frolicking with seven other feisty ferrets in the freedom of the sanctuary’s large and recently refurbished farm-like setting.

Forever Wild manager Kiah Almquist told RCNS today, “French Fry is doing Fantastic!”

“He is super hyper and loves burying himself in his blankies,” Almquist continued. “He is also in love with our other ferret Zelda. It was love at first sight and the pair now have their own enclosure to themselves.”

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While fun and fascinating to watch, ferrets – who feature ferocious-looking fangs and not-so fragrant pheromone-filled musk glands – are considered high-maintenance and are illegal to own in the state of California. However, fans of the furry and affectionate creatures, which are a very intelligent species related to minks and weasels, find them playful, friendly, and delightful.

For more information about Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary or how you can donate to help support their ongoing efforts, visit them online or on Facebook. To visit French Fry or any of the other many exotic animals rescued by Forever Wild, the sanctuary is open to the public Monday through Friday from 12 p.m until 5 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday’s from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.

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