A rather fascinating, amusing and adventurous creature, Ferrets are quirky little animals belonging to mustelid family including weasels, minks, badgers and Wolverine. They are inquisitive, playful and endlessly amusing. Here are some interesting facts about ferrets worth knowing:
1. Sleep lovers
Ferrets love to sleep. They usually doze off for 14-18 hours in a day. If only humans could do this too.
Source: lovethatpet.com, image: ferret-world.com
2. Little thieves
The Latin name for Ferrets which is Mustelaputoriusfuro means “smelly little thief” which is quite appropriate. By nature, they are hoarders and love to steal things and hide them in secret places. If you have a pet ferret and a missing key, you know who to blame.
Source: pets4home.co.uk, image: pinimg.com
3. Ferrets can Dance
In the wild, Stouts and Ferrets perform a hypnotic dance, which throws their prey in a trance. They arch their back, puff their tails and move from side to side.
Source: mentalfloss.com
4. Smelly Animals
Ferrets have a reputation to be stinky and smelly. They have a distinctive musky odor which comes from their skin glands.
Source: petresearch.net, image: Flickr
5. It’s illegal to own a ferret at some places
Even though ferrets are one of the popular pets in the USA; it is illegal to own a ferret in New York and the state of California.
Source: listverse.com, image: Flickr
6. The little cute ferrets!
A newly born ferret is so small in size that it can be fit in a teaspoon. Small ferrets can squeeze themselves into a hole of less than one diameter.
Source: peteducation.com, image: Flickr
7. Social and Outgoing
Ferrets have no inherent fear of humans and are considered very gregarious and social animals. They can learn tricks if trained properly.
Source: peteducation.com, image: Flickr
8. Ferret legging is a horrible sport
A horrifying sport by the name of “Ferret Legging” is played in various places around the world. The participants drop two live ferrets into their pants which are clinched off from ankles and waist. The animal bites to get free and the winner is one, who withstands the torture for the longest time.
Source: listverse.com, image: nypost.com
9. Ferrets are Carnivores
Unlike other domestic pets, ferrets are carnivores. They love to hunt and eat small animals in the wild. Domestic ferrets are fussy eaters.
Source: pets4home.co.uk, image: Flickr
10. Some Ferrets are Professionals
Ferrets love burrowing, and this skill is used professionally. When wires cannot be pushed through tunnel rods, ferrets are used to pull wires through underground tunnels and help lay the wires.
Source: mentalfloss.com, image: geograph.org.uk
11. Queen Victoria owned a Ferret
The great Queen Victoria had albino ferrets and even gifted them to her near and dear ones.
Source: interestingfunfacts.com
12. A group of Ferret is called “Business”
Now that’s a great professional name for the professional beings.
Source: Wikipedia, image: Flickr
13. Ferrets can have distinctive health problems
Ferrets are known to suffer from a lot of health problems. Cancers affecting adrenal glands, pancreas and lymphatic system are most common among other.
Source: Wikipedia
14. Ferrets were earlier domesticated for hunting
In the earlier times, ferrets were domesticated as they help in hunting. They are well equipped with running down the holes and driving other animals like rats and rabbits out of their holes.
Source: Wikipedia, image: Flickr
15. Ferrets are not trusted around babies
Even though ferrets are great pets for adults; they need to be kept away from babies. Several reports have shown that pet ferret attack babies in the absence of parents.
Source: mentalfloss.com, image: Flickr
16. Dead Sleep
So, we have established that ferrets love to sleep but did you know that ferrets can give an impression of being lifeless while sleeping. They cannot be wakened even when picked up or jolted.
Source: peteducation.com, image: i.ytimg.com
17. Leonardo da Vinci painted ferret
It is believed that in one of the famous painting of Vinci’s, “Lady with an Ermine,” the painter depicts ermine as a ferret. What a muse!
Source: facts.randomhistory.com, image: wikimedia.org
18. Love dark places
Ferrets love the dark places and are often fascinated by cupboards or recliners. They prefer to go in a dark room to sleep.
Source: slideshare.net, image: pinimg.com
19. Moody pets
Ferrets are known to be very temperamental. The usual behavior of ferrets is affected by its moods, sentiments, and temperament. Now that is a lot of work for the owner of a ferret!
Source: slideshare.net, image: Flickr