ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tʊ ɐ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪv ɹᵻpˈoːɹt pˈʌblɪʃt ɪnðɪ ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ nˈɔːɹðɚn ˈɛkoʊ nˈuːzpeɪpɚ, wˈɛðɚ dˈuː tʊ ˈeɪ "lˈæk ʌv bɹˈeɪv kəntˈɛstənts ɔːɹ kəmplˈeɪnɪŋ wˈaɪvz", fˈɛɹɪtlˈɛɡɪŋ ɪz nˈaʊ "ɐ dˈaɪɪŋ spˈoːɹt" ðæt ɪz bˌiːɪŋ ɹᵻplˈeɪst baɪ fˈɛɹɪt ɹˈeɪsɪŋ, ɪnwˌɪtʃ ðɪ ˈænɪməlz ɹˈeɪs θɹuː ɐ plˈæstɪk pˈaɪp.
According to a 2005 report published in the English Northern Echo newspaper, whether due to a "lack of brave contestants or complaining wives", ferret-legging is now "a dying sport" that is being replaced by ferret racing, in which the animals race through a plastic pipe.