PORT ANGELES — A dark-haired ferret was seen running amok in downtown Port Angeles on Thursday, startling customers and business owners as it made a mad dash for safety.

The critter was last seen at Olympic Stationers, 122 E. Front St., where it had run into the store from the alley.

“It was looking for a place to hide,” said Christine Stockman, a Port Angeles ferret rescuer who keeps 10 of her own.

Stockman believes the ferret is a pet that escaped from its owner, or was dropped off on purpose.

She was contacted by store employees after the ferret was seen trying to enter Itty Bitty Buzz, 110 E. First St., and Port Book and News, 104 E. First St.

It was also spotted in the bushes outside Michael’s Divine Dining, 117B E. First St.

Live trap

Stockman set up a live trap at Olympic Stationers to try to rescue the animal from the mean streets.

“Ferrets are domesticated animals,” she said. “They can’t survive in the wild.”

Ferrets run the risk of being eaten by predators, getting hit by cars or falling into storm drains and drowning, Stockman said.

“Ferrets tend to be very curious,” she said.

“They’ll go right up to strange dogs, or raccoons.”

Stockman thinks the ferret is either hiding in the basement of Olympic Stationers or somewhere near the building.

“If it’s in the basement, there’s a ton of places to hide,” she said.

The Port Angeles ferret is described as having very dark hair, either dark brown or black.

Just like other animals, a ferret’s temperament is related to how it has been treated, Stockman said.

Some ferrets are so mean, they’ll attack the shadow of a hand, while others are docile.

Since ferrets have very thick skin, they tend to scratch humans harder than they intend to.

“A puncture bite to us is a pinch to them,” Stockman explained.

Ferrets are members of the weasel family. They are not rodents, like marmots.

Stockman said ferrets are smart enough to find ways to escape from an owner’s cage or backpack.

“They will figure out that zipper at some point,” she said.

Anyone who sees the Port Angeles ferret is asked to phone Stockman at 360-460-1810.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at Rob ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.