Ferret Facts
A Few Interesting Ferret Facts
The first of our ferret facts is one that few disagree with. Ferrets are cute. They are also playful, and extremely entertaining to watch. A ferret is typically about a foot and a half in length, including its tail, and sometimes slightly longer, with males being larger than females. They will weigh about 3 to 4 pounds on the average and, when properly cared for, have a life span of around 9 years. The male ferret is called a hob, the female a jill, and youngsters, under a year old, are called kits. A bunch of ferrets is referred to as a business, an apt name for the group. A more precise name might be "busy-ness".
Ferrets are carnivores and generally quite fearless. They are not wild animals, at least the ones purchased from breeders and in a pet store. One of the lesser know ferret facts is that they have been domesticated for centuries, used as pets, hunters, and even to run cables through narrow conduits. The fact that they have been domesticated is one reason they are quite fearless. In that respect, if you have a ferret as a pet, you'll want to be very careful with it if dogs are nearby, as the ferret will usually show no fear of a dog, when maybe it should!
You have quite a number of choices of color, or color patterns, if you plan on purchasing a ferret. The most common color is sable, while other colors range from black, through silver and champagne, to chocolate and cinnamon. There are also albino, or white ferrets, which are sometimes mistaken as being an Ermine. Ferret color patterns involve distribution of markings on the head, face or feet with recognized patterns being Solids, Roan, Points, Standards, Blaze, Mitt, and Panda.
While the Sable may be the most common of the domesticated ferrets, the Black-footed ferret may be nearly as well known. The Black-footed ferret is not well known because of its abundance, but rather because of its rarity. It is one of the most, if not the most endangered land mammals in North America. In fact it was at one time thought to be extinct. The North American Ferret Association encourages ferret lovers to adopt one of these rare animals. You can get particulars by contacting the AFA. In doing so you can do your part in restoring this rare species.
Ferret facts a potential owner should know is that the ferret, while totally lovable, can be a high-maintenance pet, and expensive to care for. They seldom bite, though the youngsters tend to nip. This is a form of play for them (unless nipping out of fear), and they can be trained not to. The ferret is no more apt to bite than is the family dog or cat, but care needs to be taken if you have small children around, especially children who have not learned to handle the pet properly. They are extremely curious animals; they like to hide things, and to explore small spaces. If you are intent on purchasing one as a pet, be prepared to "ferret-proof" you house. The ferret is not an animal that should be kept constantly in a cage. It needs companionship, play, and exercise. The more time you spend with a pet ferret, the more interesting ferret facts you are bound to learn!