All You Wanted To Know About Wild Ferrets

Ferrets were domesticated centuries ago by the Romans and Egyptians. Due to domestication they have lost their natural hunting instinct and cannot survive in the wild now. The only species of wild ferrets found in the United States is the black-footed ferret. The biological name is mustela nigripes. The black-footed ferret is the only ferret species indigenous to North America. They are the most endangered mammals in the world.

The black-footed ferret is a member of a large family of musk-producing mammals that are found in all countries of the world except in the continents of Antarctica and Australia.

The black-footed ferret is an agile and alert animal with a long and slender body. The face, feet and tail are black in color while the undercoat is light colored. They have short legs, sharp claws, rounded ears and scent glands. They are about 1.5 to 2 feet long and weigh about 5 to 5.5 pounds.

The well-developed claws enable them to dig deep into burrows at night. They have a heightened sense of smell and vision. The acute sensation of smell enables them to hunt the prey underground at night.

Native Americans used the skin and body parts of the black-footed ferret for medicinal purposes. Some tribes used it to decorate the headgears of their chieftains while others regarded them as sacred.

The prairies are treeless grassy plains. These vast grasslands span the North-Central or Midwestern United States and were the original habitat of the wild ferrets. In the early twentieth century farmers and ranchers along with government assistance destroyed a large part of these vast grasslands and converted them into agricultural lands.

Prairie dogs that are inhabitants of these grasslands were the main prey of black-footed ferrets. They lived in burrows. These burrows were poisoned to kill the prairie dogs as they were thought to be pestilent to crops. As a result the population of prairie dogs dwindled.

The black-footed ferret devoid of food and shelter was on the verge of extinction. In 1987, 18 ferrets were captured in the wild in Wyoming and bred in captivity. They were later reintroduced into their habitat.

The reintroduced animals lack certain essential survival skills that are necessary to thrive in the wild. Therefore the mortality rate in reintroduced animals is very high. Out in the wild the ferrets face the threat of disease and predators.

Canine distemper, plague, rabies and influenza are common diseases affecting wild ferrets. In addition they could fall prey to the golden eagles, falcons, coyotes, owls or badgers that inhabit the grasslands.

The wild ferrets are nocturnal animals. They normally stay in the burrow of the prairie dog and protect themselves from harsh weather conditions and predators. They venture out of the burrow only to search for other burrows or for a mate.

The breeding season is March-April. Gestation period is 45 days on an average. A litter of 5 to 6 kits is born in June. They are blind at birth and helpless. After about 35 days the eyes open and the ferrets develop very rapidly thereon.


A Polecat – Ferret Comparison

Gone are the days of owning a dog or a cat, today modern households are in need of unique animals to match their unique lifestyles. Polecats and ferrets are becoming extremely popular choices as they are cute, furry and friendly and thus make the perfect addition to any animal-loving household. Though many people get confused between these two adorable creatures they are actually very different. By understanding these differences you will be able to make a better decision when choosing one or the other.

Both ferrets and polecats belong to the weasel family and they definitely share a few similar features. It is these similar features that confuse many an animal-lover but a true friend of the furry will notice the subtle differences between the two. Ferrets have long, lithe bodies, small ears, sharp teeth and extremely sensitive noses which they love to use when wandering around. Though polecats have a similar body structure when compared to ferrets they have more rounded ears and short muzzles

Ferrets are extremely social and curious animals who will love to roam around the house looking for interesting bits of food in nooks and crannies. Polecats are usually solitary creatures who despise sharing their territory with other polecats. Thus, you can buy a pair of ferrets but a pair of polecats will probably bring your house down.

Both animals have extremely developed senses and the polecat especially has a strong sense of smell. Indeed, polecats depend heavily on their sense of smell as their eyesight is quite terrible. Both animals are also carnivorous and usually eat anything from small birds and animals to fish and reptiles. That said, ferrets do enjoy sweet foods like bananas and raisins.

Ferrets differ from polecats in that they mate within a specific time period, usually between March and January, and it is the female ferrets that rear the offspring. Polecats are special because they can delay implantation and thus reproduce whenever they feel like it.

Another key difference between the two animals is the strong smell that is given off by polecats due to their secretions. Ferrets do not have such a distinguishing smell and this is thus the ultimate identifying characteristic.

Ferrets and polecats are great choices for household pets as they are friendly and fun to watch. Moreover, they don’t pose any dangers to young children and are easy to look after. As long as you have a comfortable and spacious cage, a feeding bowl and a water bowl, your ferret or polecat is sure to live a long and happy life. Your kids will definitely get a kick out of watching ferrets or polecats in action as they tend to pull off hilarious stunts. Interestingly, the word ‘ferret’ is derived from a Latin term that means thief and is thus extremely appropriate considering the habit of stealing which ferrets are famous for! Essentially, a ferret or a polecat will definitely be a great addition to your home and everyone is sure to enjoy the crazy antics that will follow.


Ferret Online Deals

Ferrets were first brought into the United States on ships over 300 years ago to hunt rodents on farms. Over the years they have lost their natural hunting instinct due to domestication. If you decide to become a ferret owner you would probably contact your acquaintances, go the local pet store, visit a breeder or surf the internet to scout for sellers. Online buying and selling of ferrets has become very common in recent times. While surfing the internet might save you time and effort and seem very easy and convenient there are a lot of issues that you should carefully consider before deciding to purchase a ferret online.

The average lifespan of a ferret is around 8 to 10 years. Online purchase will not enable you to know the exact age though the photographs might appear very graphic and clear. You cannot make out whether the ferret is healthy or diseased.

Purchasing online makes it difficult to detect whether the advertiser is trying to wash his hands off an unwanted ferret or trying to make a quick buck by making tall claims.

The ferret might be artificially colored to make it look very attractive. Certain ferrets, especially the dark-eyed white ferrets are prone to deafness. These things cannot be verified online.

Ferrets are tiny creatures. It is important to ensure that your ferret is not infected by any fleas. The delicate furry creature might die if infected due to bleeding and anemia. Some advertisers boast about veterinarian certification and regular vaccinations to make believe that their ferret is healthy. Ask the name of the veterinarian so that you could check the authenticity of the claims.

American ferret association is the first place that you should consider when thinking of buying ferrets online. They have a database of ferrets available at all the shelters in the United States and Canada.

Always try to source a ferret from a shelter or breeder close to the place where you live. This would make it easier for you to personally visit the place and observe the ferret’s health, the sanitation and hygiene of the place in which it was residing, and other details.

Transportation puts a lot of stress on the tiny ferret. Try to avoid transporting it over long distances. Apart from this, you have to spend a considerable amount paying for the shipping fees.

Go for a store that donates a part of its proceeds to animal rights groups. These are stores that have the welfare of the animal as their topmost priority and not just making money. Always choose stores that are reputed and have spent some years in the business.

Check from the seller whether he offers any warranty on the ferret and other accessories that you purchase. It is very important that you source as much information as possible about the seller and the ferret before you decide to purchase a ferret online. You should do a lot of research so that you do not regret your decision later.


Ferret – Download Pictures and More

Do you love Ferrets? Do you go crazy when you lay your eyes on a blinking pair of new born ferrets? Well, you will definitely find that the internet is the best place to find some of the most amazing and spectacular photos, videos and downloads on this planet Earth. As with everything else in life, the magical arms of the internet have now reached the ferret-world too.

What can the internet offer ferret lovers?

Ferrets make for some of the interesting subjects to be photographed. And if you have anything to do with ferrets you will find yourself on the internet bandwagon do the following:

Searching for information if you want a ferret as a pet

o As is widely acknowledged, if you do not find a piece of information on the net, then that byte probably does not exist. This is a truism which is true of the ferret world too.

  • The internet is the place where you will find the best breeders offering their wealth of information and professional experience for fees while some will offer it for free.
  • You will find your anxieties, queries answered from all parts of the world; to help you find a solution. That is the most amazing part! Somewhere someone will be able to connect with what you are experiencing with your ferrets and will share his or her insight which may help you overcome yours. It is one global neighborhood all because we are so technologically connected.

The best photographs of ferrets are on the net

  • The professional photographs are of course a class apart and will mostly have to be bought from the photographer himself or through the portal which hosts him. Professional ferret photos are awesome and if you are ferret breeder you will want to get in touch with them so you can get some of the sweetest mug shots of you r new born ferrets and through the net help them to find a good home to grow up in. What can be more satisfying than that at the end of the day!
  • Some of the most fabulous photos of ferrets, documenting the whole life cycle that you will find yourself digging deeper and deeper into the several links to discover more fantabulous photos of ferrets.

You no longer have to rush out to your friends to see those new born or get your vet for a house visit. Most blogs, forums and online ferret-related websites will have detailed information as well as authentic data which will in some ways create awareness in you about the most likely problems and also how to tackle or overcome them. Registering with ferret pet organization, ferret breeding auspices will give you an additional platform.
All you need to do is click a mouse and you will be assailed by hundreds of websites that will allow you to download information/pictures/videos of ferrets. Some will also offer you the opportunity to upload your pet ferret’s photos; videos etc and allow the whole world to share the same joy you get from watching their antics.