{"id":70,"date":"2021-06-30T23:21:30","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T23:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glenlivet-wildlife.co.uk\/?p=70"},"modified":"2023-12-17T22:30:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-17T22:30:23","slug":"ferret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenlivet-wildlife.co.uk\/mammals\/ferret\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering the Playful World of the Ferret (Mustela Putorius Furo)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are domesticated small mammals and members of the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels<\/a>, minks, otters and badgers<\/a>. They’ve been domesticated for thousands of years, first in ancient Egypt where they were kept as pets by ancient Egyptians. They also had their own cult that worshipped them. Now, they’re the ninth most popular household pet and contribute to a $1 billion pet industry in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do Ferrets Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Young<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Like most other domesticated animals, ferrets were bred over time from their wild cousins to be smaller in size and have various colors – such as brown or black – instead of just gray like their ancestors would’ve had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferrets are small to medium sized mammals with a high average length of around 2 feet, depending on the sex, and weighing in around 5 pounds. Their head is small but has a large nose and ears that are round to oval in appearance. They have long muzzles with soft fur around their eyes but usually little feathering. Their tail is generally short and thin with a bushy tip and may also vary in color from brown or black (albino).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their coats can be any length and thickness depending on the coat pattern, which may be sparse or complete – it’s mostly referred to as the genetic factor for the coat length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Do Ferrets Live?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ferrets, like all domesticated pets, can be found everywhere. However, they’re illegal to own as pets in California and Hawaii. In some countries and states where ferrets are banned, there have been petitions to legalize them – such as UK citizens who fought hard to overturn a recent ban on ferrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferrets in the wild are mostly found in the northern half of North America and are scarce in South America. They’re most common around prairies, tundras and arctic regions and are also only found along the east coast of Asia. Wild Ferrets can be found in forests, grasslands and swamps although they typically live in burrows and holes left behind by the original muskrat. They mostly live in areas with low nutrition and not much sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do Ferrets Eat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Gray
A small, gray rat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ferrets love to eat a meat based diet and crave a variety of small prey such as rodents, rabbits, frogs, lizards, snakes<\/a>, birds and insects. They’re built for hunting and can kill prey that’s much bigger than them – such as a rabbit – due to their powerful jaws. Their paws also have sharp claws to dig into their burrows when they need to escape or look for food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a healthy diet, all ferrets should eat food high in protein, meaning fish and meaty treats. Rats and micro chip mice are also good choices of food depending on the ferret’s age. It’s important to note that the diet of a ferret is very similar to that of a mouse! Although many people believe ferrets are carnivores, they are actually omnivorous as they can eat grass or even fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferrets do eat frequently but can have unlimited access to food. However, they should not be allowed to overeat. Ferrets should eat regularly during the day and have access to water at all times. Food dishes must be replaced every 4-6 hours and fresh water should be available at all times. Most ferrets will also drink from bowls if available, but to remain healthy should avoid milk or any other dairy products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Fast Do Ferrets Grow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Female ferrets can reach sexual maturity between 6-12 months while male ferrets are sexually mature between 7-12 months. Males’ testicles will descend around the age of 5 weeks and they’ll continue to grow until they’re a year old. Female ferrets will usually have their first litter when they’re about 10 months old, with litters ranging from 4-9 kits, depending on the breed. They can have as many as 3 litters (baby ferrets) per year if not bred when a female has already given birth once before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Ferrets Good Pets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Playing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Having a pet ferret can be very rewarding. Healthy ferrets are intelligent, inquisitive, playful and affectionate animals that will thrive with a little love and room to run around. They love playtime, toys, and treats. Feeding them is easy too, as they will let you know when they’re hungry. Young ferrets as pets must be taken care of and brought into the home in a certain way. They’re not as easy to care for as dogs or cats, but if you follow the following requirements it should be no problem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n