Mustelids tend to be portrayed as either a problem or a product, leading many of us to underestimate them in ways that have little to do with their perceived “viciousness” or “cuteness.” While we may recognise animals such as dogs, horses, and homing pigeons for their societal contributions, mustelids have also historically played an important role for both humanity and their respective species. This page honours past and present mustelids that merit remembrance for their contributions.
More to be added soon.
Felicia
While they are most commonly viewed as pets, ferrets have often worked alongside and aided man-kind throughout history.
In 1971, one of the early challenges Fermilab faced with the construction of its particle accelerator was removing stray, steel particles from the miles of stainless steel tubing that made up the main ring of the particle accelerator. Their solution came in the form of a small female ferret named Felicia.
Felicia was outfitted with a special collar that allowed her to pull a string through sections of the pipe without introducing any further obstructions. Femilab workers then attached a cleaning swap to the other end of the string and pulled it through the section of pipe to clean it. The possible issue of droppings was prevented by providing her with a diaper.(1)(2)
While Felicia was able to assist with clearing some segments of the tube, others were too lengthy for her—as she was unable to travel more than roughly 91 meters (300 feet). In late 1971, engineer Hans Kautzky designed a robotic spear that could draw a magnetic cable through the longer pipes. The laboratory soon after retired Felicia (she was intended to be a temporary solution), and she spent the rest of her life in the homes of the staff members who looked after her.(3) Felicia died on the 9th of May, 1972. A post-mortem examination revealed a ruptured abscess in her intestinal tract.(4)
Felicia was renowned during her time. She was discussed on radio, appeared on television, and had been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines with both national and international coverage.(3) Although largely forgotten today, she remains a special part of Fermilab’s history.
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