CONTENTS

Living Organisms / Animalia / Craniata / Mammalia / Carnivora / Mustelidae / Mustela / Species

Mustela putorius furo - Ferret (Click photographs/illustrations for full picture & further details)

INDEX - INFORMATION AVAILABLE

Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Note: The ferret is generally considered to be a domesticated version of Mustela putorius - Polecat (European polecat). However there is some discussion whether it is possibly derived from Mustela eversmanni - Steppe polecat; the skull of the domestic ferret resembles that of the Steppe polecat more than that of the European polecat. (B626.1.w1, B627.1.w1)

Names for new-borns / juveniles

Names for males

Names for females

General Appearance

• A long thin body shape, with short legs. (B147, B631.17.w17)
• The body is long, the legs short and muscular, and the tail long. (B627.1.w1)
• It has a short head, with a short face and ears. (B627.2.w2)
• Stands with an arched back. (B626.2.w2)
• Resembles Mustela putorius - Polecat, but is found in different colour forms. (B626.2.w2)

Newborn: Altricial, blind, sparsely furred and helpless. (B627.8.w8)

Similar Species

Sexual Dimorphism

References

Species Authors & Referees

• DIRECTORY- Organisations working with Ferrets

• The Electronic Library: further reading for "Ferrets: Health & Management"

Husbandry Information

Notes

• Ferrets are small carnivores which sleep for long periods (as much as 16 hours a day) but are very active when they are awake.
• Ferret cages or enclosures need a dark, enclosed sleeping area with bedding, separate feeding and latrine areas, and space to exercise. Unless kept in a large enclosure (called a court), ferrets need at least two hours a day outside their cage for exercise; this should not all be in one session.
• Ferrets have a short gut and food passes through the gut rapidly. They should be fed several times a day (twice a day at the absolute minimum). If a complete pelleted (kibble) ration is given, it can be left available all the time.
• Indoor ferrets should be provided with several litter trays - preferably one in each room they access, as well as one in their home cage. 
• Water needs to be available at all times, in a heavy bowl (or e.g. a tray weighted with a brick) or a water bottle.
• Pipes and boxes, particularly joined together to make a maze, provide tunnelling opportunities for play. Ferret-safe toys (not e.g. rubber which they might eat) should also be provided. An area for digging will be appreciated and some ferrets like playing in water.

Management Techniques

• Accommodation Design for Mammals
• Mammal Behavioural Requirements
• Food and Feeding for Mammals
• Mammal Handling & Movement
• Mammal Identification
• Preventative Medicine for Mammals
• Rearing of Mammals
• Reproductive Management of Mammals
• Management of Unwanted or Illegally Held Animals
• Hand-Rearing Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Measurement & Weight

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

LENGTH
Adult: 

• Males about 38 cm long, females 35 cm (including the tail)

Newborns: --

HEIGHT
Adults and sub-adults: --
Juveniles: --

WEIGHT
Adult: 

• Males weigh 1,000 - 2000 g; females 600 - 900 g.  
• Higher weights in captive ferrets reflect fat deposition. 
• Note: Body weight may vary seasonally by as much as 20% in an individual ferret over the year, with the maximum in winter.

Newborns: About 8 - 12 g at birth.

GROWTH RATE

• Ferrets grow rapidly, doubling their birth weight by five days, 10 times their birth weight by three weeks and reaching adult weight by 16 weeks.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Appearance-Morphology- Measurement and Weight (Literature Reports)

Head and Neck

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

GENERAL HEAD STRUCTURE:
Adult: The head is twice as long as wide, with a short facial region and short rounded ears.
Newborn: The ears are closed at birth.

DENTITION:
Adult: The dental formula is I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 1/2 x2 = 34. Supernumerary incisors are common.
Newborn: Deciduous dentition I 4/3, C 1/1 P 3/3 x2 = 30.

EYES:
Adult: The eyes are relatively small and are forward-facing.
Newborn: The eyes are closed at birth. 

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Appearance-Morphology- Head and Neck (Literature Reports)

Legs, Spine and Tracks

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• Ferrets have short legs. 
• They are plantigrade and have five digits on each foot
• The vertebral column is very flexible dorso-ventrally.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Appearance-Morphology- Legs, Spine and Tracks (Literature Reports)

Tail

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• The tail is long and is densely furred.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Appearance-Morphology-Tail (Literature Reports)

Skin / Coat / Pelage

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

Adult: 

• Ferrets have a layer of underfur covered by longer, coarser guard hairs. The undercoat is thicker in winter than in summer.
• The ferret moults in spring and grows its thicker winter coat in late autumn.
• The skin is thick, particularly over the dorsal neck and shoulders.
• Ferrets have active sebaceous glands and paired anal glands.

Adult Colour variations: 

• The two most distinct colour forms are the albino (also called English) and the polecat-marked fitch (sable), with black guard hairs. Various other colours are recognised, including several with white markings on the chest, face and/or feet.

Newborn/Juvenile: 

• Neonates have a sparse white coat which, except in albino/white ferrets, turns grey by about three days old.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Appearance- Morphology- Skin-Coat-Pelage (Literature Reports)

Detailed Anatomy Notes
(Summary information provided for pertinent species-specific data cross-referenced in Wildpro)

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• Ferrets have a fairly typical carnivore digestive system, with short intestines. 

Further information is available within this section on the structure of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and other organs.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Detailed Anatomy Notes (Literature Reports)

Natural Diet

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

NATURAL DIET:

• The natural diet of feral ferrets in New Zealand includes introduced Oryctolagus cuniculus - European rabbit as the main prey, also introduced rats and mice, native birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects, and even Felis catus - Domestic cat, Trichosurus vulpecula - Brushtailed possum and the introduced Erinaceus europaeus - West European Hedgehog.

STUDY METHODS:

• Examination of scats and examination of stomach contents have been used to study the diet.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Natural Diet (Literature Reports)

Hibernation / Aestivation

Not applicable.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Hibernation - Aestivation (Literature Reports)

Haematology / Biochemistry

Haematology

• In general, haematological values are the same for ferrets as for other small species.
• Also see Reference Page: Haem19- Normal Haematology Values for Mustela putorius furo - Ferret

Biochemistry

• Normal blood urea nitrogen levels are similar to those of other species, but normal creatinine is low and remains in a narrow range.
• See Reference Page: Biochem19- Normal Biochemistry Values for Mustela putorius furo - Ferret

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Haematology - Biochemistry Notes (Literature Reports)

Detailed Physiology Notes
(Summary information provided for pertinent species-specific data cross-referenced in Wildpro)

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

METABOLISM (TEMPERATURE):

• Body temperature 37.8 - 40 °C. 

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (RESPIRATION):

• Resting respiratory rate 33-36 breaths per minute. 

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM (PULSE/HEART RATE):

• Resting heart rate is about 180-250 bpm.

GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM (FAECES AND GUT MOTILITY):

• Ferrets are obligate carnivores with a very short intestinal tract. Total food transit time may be as short as three hours in adults, one hour in kits on milk.

URINARY SYSTEM (URINE): 

• Urine volume per 24 hours may be 8-48 mL in males and 8-140 mL in females.

CHROMOSOMES: 2n = 40 Chromosomes.

MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM: 

• No special features.

SPECIAL SENSES AND VOCALISATIONS:

• Ferrets have excellent hearing and senses of smell and taste. Their vision is poor relative to these but they have good binocular vision and good vision at low light levels; they react well to movement at mouse escape speeds.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Detailed Physiology Notes (Literature Reports)

Feeding Behaviour

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• Ferrets were bred for hunting rats and rabbits.
• Ferrets eat carrion as well as hunting live prey. 
• When meeting at a carcass, they have been seen to share the carcass.
• They are known to take prey and carrion back to their den sites.

Further information on diet is provided in Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Natural Diet (Literature Reports)

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Feeding Behaviour (Literature Reports)

Parental Behaviour

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• The female (jill) raises the kits.
• She may build a nest and may use her own fur for nesting material.
• Initially she stays with the litter constantly; after the first day she will leave the kits for short periods to feed and defecate.
• The jill is very responsive to the kits' vocalisations.
• As the kits become active, she repeatedly drags them back to the nest by their scruffs.

Further information on reproduction is provided in Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Life Stages (Literature Reports)

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Parental Behaviour (Literature Reports)

Social Behaviour / Territoriality / Predation / Learning

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• Home range size varies from about 31 hectares in males and 12 hectares in females to 299 hectares in males, 111 hectares in females.
• Home ranges may show overlap both within and between the sexes, although most of the core area of each ferret may be exclusive.
• In a study at one site, most juveniles moved less than 1.5 km and 90% moved less than 5 km. In a study at another site, median dispersal distance was 5.0 km (range 0.5 - 45.0 km, with no obvious sex bias in distance or timing of dispersal.
• Ferrets may express their anal glands when threatened.
• Ferrets do not always avoid each other: simultaneous use of the same den by two adult males or two adult females has been observed. However, at Pukepuke Lagoon, New Zealand, several males showed wounds and scars on the necks, indicating fighting, and male home ranges were mutually exclusive.
• Ferrets use scent marking, including scats, anal dragging (particularly near latrines), wiping, body rubbing and chin rubbing (at food sites). Scent marks are left throughout the home range. 
• Feral ferrets in New Zealand have been seen to displace feral cats from carcasses.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Social Behaviour - Territoriality - Predation - Learning (Literature Reports)

Sexual Behaviour

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• Males show increased territorial activities (scent-laying, fighting) during the breeding season.
• Mating is violent and noisy, with the male biting the female's neck and dragging her.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Sexual Behaviour (Literature Reports)

Activity Patterns, Self-grooming and Navigation

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

ACTIVITY PATTERNS: --

SELF-GROOMING: --

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM: A study of ferrets in a coastal grassland in New Zealand found that in spring they were only active at night. In autumn they were active mainly at night but with some daytime activity.

SPEED OF MOVEMENT: --

NAVIGATION: --

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Activity Patterns, Grooming and Navigation Behaviour (Literature Reports)

General Habitat Type

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• The wild ancestor of the ferret, Mustela putorius - Polecat, is found in forests, meadows, cultivated land, including abandoned fields, often near water.
• Introduced ferrets in new Zealand use coastal grasslands and modified short-tussock grasslands with varied terrain. One study found that in a pastoral area, ferrets were found particularly along boundaries between pasture and vegetation cover.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - General Habitat Type (Literature Reports)

Nests / Burrows / Shelters

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• Ferrets generally use areas with cover, not open areas, for dens.
• Often they use rabbit burrows as dens.
• They commonly use man-made structures (barns, hay stacks, wood piles, etc.) when these are available.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Nests - Burrows - Shelters (Literature Reports)

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

NATIVE DISTRIBUTION: 

• The wild ancestor of the ferret, Mustela putorius - Polecat originates from western Europe, including European Russia, Sweden and Great Britain (Wales and southern England / Midlands), as well as Morocco. 

INTRODUCTIONS: 

• New Zealand, Australia, UK, USA, Canada, Sicily, Sardinia, Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands (La Palma). 
• Found in captivity over much of the world.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Distribution & Movement (Literature Reports)

Species variation

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

• Ferrets are probably be a domesticated form of Mustela putorius - Polecat.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Species Variation (Literature Reports) 

Conservation Status

EDITORIAL SUMMARY

WILD POPULATION - IMPORTANCE: 

• Ferret are regarded as a domestic form of Mustela putorius - Polecat. Therefore, wild populations are regarded as introduced and treated as exotic predators. 

GENERAL LEGISLATION:

• In some US states, keeping of ferrets is illegal. 

CITES LISTING: 

• Not applicable (domestic form).

RED-DATA LIST STATUS: 

• Not applicable (domestic form).

THREATS: 

• The ferret is known to hybridise with the wild ancestral form within the UK at least, where there is cause for concern regarding the effect of this on the Mustela putorius - Polecat

PEST STATUS / PEST POPULATIONS: 

• Ferrets have been introduced in several areas, including the UK (where they are known to hybridise with native populations of Mustela putorius - Polecat).
• Ferrets are important introduced predators of native New Zealand fauna.

CAPTIVE POPULATIONS: 

• Ferrets are popular as a working animal, and increasingly popular as a pet - e.g. 9,552 licenses were issued for using ferrets in hunting in the Canaries in 2007. 

TRADE AND USE:  

• Ferrets are used for hunting rabbits, for rodent examination, for laying cables, for fur, and as laboratory animals for biomedical research.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

• Ferret Mustela putorius furo - Conservation Status (Literature Reports)