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The origin of the ferret -

Ferrets were first domesticated in Europe around 2,500 years ago, as hunting companions. The advent of domesticated ferrets split them from their wild relative, the European polecat.

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The European polecat -

European polecats still roam around in the wild in Europe and some parts of North Africa. They're larger than domesticated ferrets, and are excellent rodent hunters.

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Furittus -

The Latin name for ferrets is furittus, which turns out to be a very fitting name indeed; it translates to "little thief," which perfectly describes their sneaky nature and knack for getting in and out of tight spaces.

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The Mustelidae family -

Ferrets are part of the Mustelidae family of mammals, making them close relatives of weasels, stoats, wolverines, and even badgers.

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Ferrets in Greece -

Most experts agree that ferrets were first kept as hunting animals in the ancient city-states of Greece. The Greeks trained them to hunt rats, but eventually became so affectionate towards their pest control critters that they began keeping them as house pets, too.

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Favorites of the pharaohs -

As word of ferrets' usefulness and agreeable attitude spread, they became prized pets of many other early civilizations. In ancient Egypt, ferrets were a favorite pet of pharaohs and the ruling class; they have appeared in many uncovered artworks from Egypt.

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Born hunters -

Despite their small stature, ferrets truly do make incredible hunters. To this day, they're often used to hunt rabbits and rodents. Their exceptional sense of smell and bendy body allow them to track prey through intricate tunnel systems before going in for the kill and returning to their human companions.

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Short, but smart -

It turns out that ferrets can actually hold a lot of information inside those tiny heads of theirs. Ferrets are incredibly intelligent creatures, with a particular affinity for problem-solving. In many cases, their cleverness even eclipses that of the smartest dogs.

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The "weasel war dance" -

Anyone who has ever seen a ferret at play has surely been delighted by the erratic jumps and mid-air twists they perform while scampering around. Lovingly referred to as the "weasel war dance," these jumps for joy are just that: a fun expression of their happiness and excitement.

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Ferrets at work -

In more recent times, ferrets have been put to all sorts of other jobs besides hunting. These crafty critters have proven instrumental at running cables through pipes or across tricky ceilings. In 1981, ferrets even had the honor of running light and television cables for the wedding of Princess Diana and Charles.

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The famous stench of ferret -

Ferrets aren't only known for their adorable mannerisms and hunting skills though; they have also developed a bit of a reputation for their pungent odor. The odor escapes from their scent glands and is a very common tool for defense and marking territories; theirs just happens to smell worse than others. Although descenting surgeries are sometimes available, they are an unnecessary procedure that only causes ferrets pain and stress.

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Friendly ferrets -

Most ferrets today are kept as house pets. Ferrets have adapted extraordinarily well to lives of leisure, and make excellent pets. They're friendly to most other animals, with the notable exception of small animals that they've been bred to hunt. Ferrets love the company of humans, and easily develop close relationships with their two-legged companions. Their insatiable curiosity and manageable energy levels make them a perfect playmate.

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How much is that ferret in the window? -

The average pet store sells ferrets for anywhere from US$100 to $150, but there's no need to spend money on a pet that likely wasn't bred somewhere with very good ethics when there are scores of ferrets waiting to find a forever home in adoption centers around the world.

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It's business time -

Ferret nomenclature is, if you can believe it, almost as adorable as they are. A group of ferrets, for example, is called a business. That's right, a business of ferrets, tending to their ferret business.

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Hobs, gibs, and jills -

Male ferrets, before getting fixed, are called "hobs." After their trip to the vet, they're known as "gibs." Lady ferrets are first known as "jills," and once they're spayed are called "sprites."

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What are the babies called? -

Baby ferrets are called "kits," and come into the world barely larger than a person's pinky finger. They can easily curl up in a teaspoon!

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Fuzzy outlaws -

Ferrets are legal pets in most of the United States, besides California and Hawaii. Some other countries such as New Zealand have also banned the domestication of ferrets, on the grounds that stray ferrets can reproduce at high rates and can become harmful to these non-native environments.

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The black-footed ferret -

While virtually all ferrets in the world are domesticated, there is one exception: the black-footed ferret of the great American prairie. Despite being one of the primary predators in their native grasslands, they are one of the most critically endangered mammals in the country.

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A stone-cold killer? -

When left to their own devices and not being driven to near-extinction due to habitat loss, they make excellent use of the hunting skills passed down from their European ancestors. The black-footed ferret is a an American prairie dog's worst nightmare, and can kill well over 100 in a year.

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Ferrets at sea -

Ferrets aren't naturally gifted swimmers, but they do seem to enjoy it. If you take your ferret out for a soak, make sure to keep an eye on it; even though they may jump into the water on their own volition, their little legs can get quickly tired out and they might need help from you.

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Ferrets and humans: Genetic cousins? -

It may sound strange to say that humans and ferrets have a striking number of genetic similarities, but it's true. Similar to rats, ferret genes act and react in ways very similar to human genes, making them historically valuable science partners. We even have ferrets to thank for the flu vaccine!

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Ferrets in the fast lane -

At some point, someone decided that watching ferrets chase each other around was so entertaining that a sport should be made out of it. In the US and the UK particularly, ferret racing is a common event at county fairs.

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Albinos -

Like many other animals, it's possible for recessive genes to cause ferret kits to be born as albinos. Their cream-colored coats are universally adored, but some people say that their red eyes make them uneasy.

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Impressive near-sightedness -

In general, ferrets don't have particularly good eyesight and tend to rely much more on their sense of smell. In close quarters, however, ferrets are said to have better eyesight than most cats.

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Pets of prestige -

The ancient tradition of important people keeping ferrets as pets has lasted well into modern times. Everyone from queens to socialites having chosen ferrets as their companions. Paris Hilton famously made numerous public appearances with her ferret, Cinderella, in tow.

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The queen and her ferret -

Queen Elizabeth I was also famously enamored with ferrets, and even insisted that one of her royal pets be included in one of her portraits.

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Ferret-legging -

Ferret-legging is an age-old pub game that was once popular in bars across England. The game involved tying one's pant legs shut with a ferret running around inside wreaking havoc, and seeing how long the player could last. Of course, this game wasn't very kind to the ferrets who had to be stuck in some drunkards stinky pants!

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Slipping through headfirst -

Despite their wonderful capacity for affection, ferrets are infamously difficult to keep your hands on. Their bones seem to be able to liquify at will, allowing them to get in and out of just about any tight situation. As a rule, any space that a ferret's head can fit through, the rest of their body won't have any trouble following.

Sources: (Facts.net) (Ferret-World) (The Modern Ferret)

See also: The best pet for you based on your zodiac sign

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