Ferret and its habitat. Life of a ferret in the wild

In recent years ferret has become a fairly common pet. The Internet is replete with funny videos starring funny, nimble, perky, very cocky, but very cute ferrets. Wild animals, of course, have a different temperament from those that live with humans, but ferrets living in natural conditions are certainly not lacking in agility and dexterity.

Origin of the species and description

The ferret is a predatory mammal from the mustelidae family. Its closest relatives are the ermine, mink and weasel; they are very similar in appearance. Man has domesticated these brave predators for quite some time. For centuries, ferrets have gotten along well in human homes, becoming adored pets for many.

As proof of this, we can cite the example of the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, which is called “Lady with an Ermine”; in fact, it depicts an albino ferret in the hands of a woman. This ferret was bred in ancient times, more than two thousand years ago in the south of Europe, it is called furo. Previously, such pets were kept like cats, and they hunted rabbits with them.

Video: Ferret

There are several varieties of ferrets, which differ slightly from each other in their characteristic features, which we will try to understand in more detail. There are 4 species of these animals in total. Three of them (steppe, blackfoot and black) live in the wild, and one (frett) is completely domesticated.

Let us characterize the distinctive features of each variety:

• The black-footed ferret (American) is much smaller in size than the steppe ferret, weighing just over one kilogram. The general tone of its fur is light brown with yellowish tint, and the back, tip of the tail and paws are much darker, the color reaches almost black. The ears are large and rounded, and the limbs are powerful and squat;
• The steppe ferret (white) is considered the largest among its fellow tribesmen. Males weigh about two kilograms, females are twice as small. The body of the steppe ferret reaches half a meter in length, sometimes a little more. His fur is long, but not particularly thick, so his dense and warm undercoat shows through. The animal's coat is light in color, only the paws and the very tip of the tail may be darker;
• The forest ferret (black) in weight and size is something between the first two species. Its weight reaches 1.5 kg. Usually this predator is black-brown in color, although there are also reddish and completely white specimens (albinos);
• Fret is a decorative variety created by people. This ferret is slightly smaller in size than the white one, and the color scheme of the fur coat is very diverse. The fur is very pleasant, fluffy and thick.

With all the listed distinctive external features, ferrets of various species have many common characteristics that characterize these interesting and agile representatives of the mustelid family.

Appearance and features

Taking away all the individual characteristics that each variety of ferret has, we can say that these are medium-sized predators. Their body, as is typical for mustelids, is oblong, elongated, they are very flexible and graceful. The limbs, on the contrary, in comparison with the long body, look short and squat, but they are strong and strong, equipped with sharp claws that help them climb any tree and make excellent underground passages.

The color of animal fur can be either completely white or black. Usually, on a light-colored body, a darker back, paws, and the tip of the tail stand out. On the muzzle there is something like a dark mask, like Zorro’s, which greatly decorates the ferret. Only albino animals do not have masks. The fur of the animals is pleasant to the touch, fluffy, closer to the base the hairs are noticeably lighter, and at the ends their tone gives way to a darker shade. In the autumn, when molting comes to an end, the ferrets' fur coat acquires a luster, elegantly and richly glistening in the sun.

Males of all varieties of ferrets are larger in size compared to females. But the size depends on the type of animal, although on average the body length of ferrets reaches half a meter in males. Ferrets have an elongated neck, a small, pleasant muzzle; it is decorated not only with a mask, but with rounded ears and small shiny beady eyes.

A beautiful, long, fluffy tail is a characteristic feature of all ferrets. Near it there are stinking glands that secrete an odorous secretion to cope with ill-wishers.

Where does the ferret live?

The permanent habitats for ferrets are:

• Eurasia;
• North America;
• Northwest African continent.

Ferrets are found in completely different, dissimilar areas:

• Steppes;
• Semi-deserts;
• Forest thickets;
• ravines;
• Near bodies of water;
• Mountain ranges;
• Human settlements.

Such a variety of permanent locations for ferrets depends on their species. The steppe (white) ferret prefers open spaces, choosing steppe and semi-desert areas located in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia. The black (forest) ferret loves forested areas, settling near ravines and reservoirs.

Sometimes he lives next to a person, moving to live in settlements inhabited by people. It does not make its way deep into the forest, but likes to inhabit the edges where there is no dense growth. It lives both in Europe and on the African continent. The black-footed ferret uses the prairies and woodlands of North America as its permanent habitat. It can also be found in mountainous areas, where it climbs to a height of several thousand meters.

There are two varieties of ferrets in our country: steppe (white) and forest (black). It is worth noting that animals lead a sedentary life, preferring not to leave their favorite territories. Ferrets love to settle in abandoned holes and do not dig their own shelters very often. Their home can be not only an underground lair, but also a haystack or a rotten hollow tree. It all depends on the area where the animal has settled.

It is important to note that the ferret does not live in the wild, because this bred species does not have the proper hunting instincts and abilities, the animal’s disposition is calm and affectionate, so it will not be able to survive in its natural environment.

What does a ferret eat?

As befits a true predator, the ferret's menu consists of dishes of animal origin. The ferret eats all kinds of different insects, reptiles, and birds. Hunting lizards and even poisonous snakes is not difficult for the animal. As for birds, the ferret loves to feast on both adults and their chicks; he adores bird eggs, so he will never miss the opportunity to destroy a nest with a delicacy.

Large animals successfully attack rabbits. The ferret is very agile and flexible, he can quickly pursue his prey, but most often the animals watch for their lunch near the victim's hole. In the spring, ferrets often climb into hare dens, preying on defenseless cubs.

In difficult, hungry times, animals do not disdain carrion, eat food waste, and make predatory raids on chicken coops and rabbit farms. It is very interesting that during the cold season, ferrets make pantries with food reserves so that they have something to feed themselves during difficult periods.

Hunting for animals begins at dusk, but hunger is not an issue, so even in daylight they sometimes have to leave their shelter to find food.

The ferret's digestive tract is not at all adapted to food of plant origin; animals do not have a cecum, which complicates the digestion of plant fibers. Ferrets get all the nutrients they need from the stomachs of small animals they eat.

Features of character and lifestyle

By nature, ferrets are very active, mobile and inquisitive. Both in the wild and at home, they prefer to hunt and show their energy during twilight hours. Ferrets are excellent frog climbers and excellent swimmers. When they are not sleeping, their energy is in full swing, preventing them from sitting in one place.

It has been noticed that among domestic ferrets, females are more playful and intellectually developed, while males are much calmer, but are more attached to their owners. Funny games of ferrets living in houses amuse and excite. The character of these pets is both good-natured and cocky at the same time. They can endlessly annoy other pets (dogs, cats) with their pestering and games.

The animals have developed habits and habits that their owners notice:

• Wagging the tail is a sign of joy and satisfaction;
• A tail spread out like a brush and hissing sounds signal that the animal is angry and may bite;
• A loud cry indicates fear;
• By licking the owner's face and hands, the ferret shows his great love for him;
• During outdoor games, you can hear grunting and hooting sounds, this means that the ferret is happy;
• When a ferret is overjoyed, it can perform dance-like movements, jumping and arching its back.

In wild, natural conditions, ferrets, of course, do not live as freely as at home. They prefer to live permanently in one territory. Burrows dug by their own paws or occupied by empty animals are softly lined with grass and leaves. Sometimes (in winter) they can live in human barns, hay barns, and basements.

In rural settlements, ferrets are known as real robbers, because they often steal chickens and rabbits directly from farmsteads. This usually happens in hungry, fierce times, although not always. These funniest animals have such a lively and restless disposition.

Social structure and reproduction

Ferrets become sexually mature when they are one year old. The mating season of these animals is quite long, it lasts as much as six months. For steppe predators it begins in March, and for forest animals it begins closer to summer. There are no special mating games among ferrets, and you won’t see romantic courtship with the lady of your heart either. On the contrary, during mating something similar to a fight occurs with a stormy showdown. The gentleman roughly holds the bride by the scruff of the neck, and she tries to break free and makes a squeak. Thus, the female sometimes loses even a tuft of hair.

After fertilization, the male leaves the expectant mother forever, not taking part in the life of his offspring at all. The female's pregnancy lasts about 1.5 months. It is interesting that there are a lot of cubs in a brood - sometimes up to 20. They are born blind and absolutely helpless, weighing only about 10 grams. Mom treats them with milk until they are 2 or 3 months old, although from the age of one month she already begins to accustom them to meat. It is during this period that little ferrets begin to see the light.

After breastfeeding ends, the mother begins to take the babies hunting with her, instilling in them all the skills they need in life. When the young are six months old, they begin their independent, interesting life, the duration of which in the wild world is about four years, and in captivity it reaches seven, sometimes more.

Natural enemies of ferrets

Since the ferret is a small animal, it has plenty of enemies in the wild. Among his ill-wishers are: large birds of prey and large poisonous ones. Some enemies can cause serious damage to the animal, while others can completely take its life. As for wolves and foxes, they attack more often in winter, when food becomes significantly scarcer, and in summer they prefer other food.

Owls love to eat ferrets. Large snakes also attack small predators, but they cannot always cope with them. Ferrets are often saved from enemies by their agility, dexterity and resourcefulness. In addition, do not forget about their odorous weapon located at the base of the tail. It often saves their lives, scaring off opponents with its unique aroma.

No matter how bitter it is to say, people are one of the most dangerous enemies of the ferret. They harm animals, both purposefully and indirectly, by occupying the permanent habitats of these animals, leaving less and less untouched areas for the successful life of many animals.

All this leads to the death of ferrets or forced relocation to other more remote places. Sometimes vigorous human activity destroys the living creatures that the ferret constantly feeds on, which also has a bad effect on the life of these mustelid predators.

Population and species status

Ferret population sizes vary significantly depending on their species. The black-footed ferret is considered an endangered animal. In the last century, its population declined sharply due to the mass destruction by humans of prairie dogs, which served as a source of constant food for the predator.

To preserve pastures, people killed a lot of prairie dogs, which led to the fact that by 1987 there were only 18 black-footed ferrets left. The surviving predators were placed in zoos so that they could reproduce safely. It is known that by 2013 their number had increased to 1,200, but this species still exists today under the threat of destruction and the vigilant protection of local authorities.

The population of steppe (white) ferrets is not in danger of extinction. Despite epidemics and all kinds of disasters, it remains stable. Although here some subspecies are considered endangered, so they are listed in the Red Book. For example, the number of Amur ferrets is very small; they are trying to breed them in artificial conditions; this situation occurred at the end of the last century.

Ferret protection

Due to their valuable fur, the number of black (forest) ferrets was on the verge of complete extinction, but now things are much better, the animals are quite widely distributed throughout their range. Hunting for this animal is now strictly prohibited, and the predator itself is listed in the Red Book.

Despite all these measures, the number of animals of this species is slowly but steadily decreasing, which is very alarming. We can only hope that in the future the situation will change for the better, and certain species of ferrets will become much more numerous than they are now.

In the end I would like to add that it is not in vain ferret He fell in love with people so much and became a pet, because watching him and interacting with the animal is a pleasure. Both domestic and wild predators are very cute, funny, agile, playful and simply charming, so people should take care not only of their beloved pets, but also prevent their wild relatives from completely disappearing from our planet.

A representative of the order of predators is the white ferret, which lives in flat areas. As a cute pet, he has proven himself to be a playful and very active creature that quickly gets used to people. However, we must not forget that the animal has the habits of a predator. If an animal senses a threat looming over its life, it immediately uses its fangs and a liquid with an incredibly foul odor, which is produced by special glands, to defend itself.

Representative of the order of predators - white ferret

As you know, the wild ferret belongs to the mustelidae family. The habitat of such nimble and cute animals depends on the type of ferret. On the territory of the Russian Federation, only 2 species are common - the steppe and forest ferret. But in America, Asia and Europe there are red, white and black animals.

The forest ferret is a fairly active animal that obtains food for itself by hunting the smallest rodents. Adult wild ferrets are nocturnal. This particular species was domesticated because it has a calm disposition.

To find out what a steppe ferret looks like, just look at a photo of a forest inhabitant of this species; they are very similar. However, it is worth noting that the steppe animal is more aggressive and difficult to tame. The wild creature hunts mainly gophers and hamsters. The animal is active at night, and during the day it sleeps in a hole, hollow, crevice or small cave.

Ferret care (video)

What can you say about the characteristics of the animal?

By nature, the animal loves to hunt without competitors. That is, ferrets do not gather in groups. Nevertheless, in winter, forest inhabitants can still form not too numerous flocks, where hierarchy is monitored.

The description of a small predator is quite interesting. Regardless of their habitat, such cute and cheerful animals have almost the same parameters, but the color of the fur of predators can be varied. For example, an animal living in the steppe has a very beautiful beige color. But the forest predator has darker fur. The black-footed ferret can be found in Europe.

The popular animal, whose ancestor was the steppe ferret, has a very interesting coloration, obtained as a result of long-term work by experienced breeders. Even baby ferrets have very sharp fangs that can cause serious injury in certain cases.

As mentioned above, a pet can use a liquid that has an unpleasant odor for the best protection. If white ferrets are kept at home, the glands that produce this fluid must be removed.

Gallery: white ferret (25 photos)

What else can you tell us about ferrets?

The ferret is an active, very affectionate and sweet creature. With proper care, he will become the best pet that will amaze you with his neatness and cleanliness. An animal that lives in a warm and cozy environment will delight its owners for many years. Females are not as active as males, but they get used to people much faster, learn easily and show practically no aggression.

It should be remembered that in the absence of mating, a female can develop very serious diseases. Regardless of whether the animal is sleeping or awake, it will almost always feel danger. That is why the owner is obliged to create the most comfortable living conditions for the pet.

What ferret-like animal can attract your attention? But the answer is very simple. Only a ferret can bring brightness and fun into your measured life.

In order for your animal to always be healthy and feel great, you should take into account certain feeding features. Since in natural conditions the ferret loves to hunt small rodents, you can offer him mice as the most suitable food. It’s not at all difficult to imagine what such feeding will look like. However, such nutrition is not always acceptable.

We must remember that a predator is always worried about tomorrow. Therefore, he will try to hide the supply of food in the most secluded place. But the owner must prevent this by correctly calculating the portion size for the pet.

It is not recommended to feed your animal food that contains “fast” carbohydrates. After all, it is this diet that will harm the pet’s health. Several times a week, add cheese, cottage cheese and eggs to the animal’s menu. The animal spends its energy even in its sleep. In this regard, the ferret needs to be given food 2 times a day. The last meal should be about half an hour before bedtime.

Animal behavior

To ensure that your ferret does not show aggression and always feels comfortable in any home, you should raise it correctly from childhood. After all, it is during this period that he easily learns the most basic skills.

It should be remembered that during the mating season the animals become too restless. The mating process itself lasts approximately 3 hours and is accompanied by loud screams, fights and quarrels between individuals. And at this time there is no need to interfere with them. The number of cubs is at least 10 in a litter.

After birth, the babies do not see or hear anything, and the female will diligently feed the cubs. Therefore, the owner must create the most acceptable diet for her.

For babies who are 3 weeks old, complementary foods can be introduced. The animals' menu should include boiled meat, whole grain porridge, vegetables, and cottage cheese. It is necessary to give children dietary supplements and vitamins.

How do ferrets relate to people and behave in a home environment?

The characteristics of the ferret's behavior towards people are very interesting. To begin with, the pet owner must remember that the ferret is a very smart and incredibly cunning animal. Therefore, in order to teach him to use the toilet and other skills, you should take a leadership position.

In the process of education, it is better to use the “carrot and stick” method, which is based on the use of rewards and punishments. The animal must understand that certain actions can lead to very unpleasant punishments, while others can lead to affection.

Very often, ferrets begin to mark their territory. Only males exhibit this instinctive feature. In addition, you need to remember that the ferret does not only dig the ground in natural conditions. Even in the house, following his instincts, he can start digging in flower pots every day.

Remember that each animal has a certain character. Therefore, by studying the characteristics of the character and manners of your beloved pet, you can raise a good friend.

Attention, TODAY only!

Two species live in Russia: the forest ferret and the steppe ferret. The color of the forest one is much darker than the steppe one. Males reach 50 centimeters in length, females - 40. The length of the tail can reach up to 20 centimeters. Ferret as a pet used by people 2000 years ago.

In addition to creating comfort in the house and love for its owner, the ferret also helped him in hunting. A special character trait is a non-aggressive disposition. Basic instinct animal ferret is the desire to burrow, since in wildlife a mammal lives in a hole. The ferret rarely makes any sounds. When hunting, they can make a sound resembling a cackle.

Sometimes gentle cooing can also be heard between mother and baby. The sound that a ferret uses to indicate negative emotions is similar to hissing.

In the photo there is a forest ferret

Character and lifestyle of a ferret

Ferrets are predatory animals. They prefer to live on the edges of forests, near bodies of water, and in the steppes. Wild ferrets are occasionally found in human settlements.

All ferrets are nocturnal animals that wake up when the sun goes down. This cute little animal is a very scary hunter who is not afraid even of birds that are half its size.

The ferret lives in a hole, hiding the entrance under stumps or bushes. In winter, forest and steppe inhabitants often move closer to human settlements, and may even settle firmly in a cellar or barn. This behavior is due to the search for a source of heat, as well as the presence of large amounts of food in people.

However, wild ferret is such an animal, which can be useful to a person, because if he has settled in a barn or cellar, he will catch all the other rodents, but most often he himself does not touch human food.

When the weather warms up, the ferret goes back to the forest. This hunter has many enemies - any other predatory animals and birds. In case of danger, the ferret emits a foul odor that drives away the enemy.

Nutrition

Ferrets eat only animal food. He can hunt any bird, rodent or amphibian that he can handle. This mammal is agile enough to catch any small and fast prey. They can dig out rodents and lizards from their own burrows. Large individuals can catch up and catch even an adult.

It is difficult to tame forest and steppe wild animals; you should not do this. However, specially bred or young ferrets are easily tamed and do well in captivity. Reviews about the animal ferret how about home residents are mostly positive.

At home, of course, it is impossible to satisfy the ferret’s natural need to hunt. The ferret's diet at home consists of dry food or natural food. You can also feed him poultry, eggs, and fish.

Feeding occurs 2 times a day. You don’t have to add plant food, because they don’t eat it in the wild. It is also not recommended to give dairy products to a ferret, because the animal’s stomach is not used to them, the only exception being cottage cheese.

In reviews of the animal ferret Special minced meat is often mentioned, that is, meat or poultry organs with cereals and vegetables are ground in a meat grinder and mixed.

The resulting product is fed to animals at home. However, some experts advise feeding your ferret animal food, such as small rodents, at home.

Dry food prepared specifically for ferrets already contains all the necessary elements. In addition, dry food is much more convenient to use. Of course, some dry food is much more expensive than natural food. For a pet ferret, a combination of dry and animal food may be a suitable diet.

Reproduction and lifespan

On photo of animal ferret, as in life, it is often difficult to determine its age, but experienced breeders know very well which individuals are ready for procreation.

In the photo there are baby ferrets

The mating process is quite noisy; the male can court the female, but most often he unceremoniously grabs her by the scruff of the neck and drags her to her favorite place. The female tries to escape and hisses, but the male is usually larger and stronger, so all her attempts are in vain. The animals may appear to be fighting furiously.

Bites from the male's sharp teeth and skinned withers are common signs of recent mating in ferrets. Buy a ferret possible in a specialized store, in this case, ferret animal price may vary depending on his age and characteristics.

In the spring, the animals' gonads enlarge and are ready for the mating process. Males can pester any females, even those who are not walking. Usually the offspring consists of 10-12 babies, but this all depends on the time of mating.

If the process occurs too early, only 2-3 cubs may appear, if too late, none. During pregnancy, the female's sides become rounded, her stomach and nipples swell. Most often, births occur once a year; the male does not participate in any way in raising the children, but the female feeds and cares for them for many more weeks.

Feeding occurs in a very interesting way - the female places the cubs very close to each other and curls up around them so that they can position themselves near the nipples. The small ferret weighs only about 5 grams and is 4 centimeters long.

For about three weeks they feed only on mother's milk, then the babies can be fed. Feeding is carried out gradually - you need to start with one spoon of minced meat or feed per day, after a while increase the amount to several spoons.

At the age of one month, babies grow to 150 grams and 20 centimeters. Only at 35-40 days do their eyes open. The lifespan of ferrets is 8 - 10 years. Of course, this figure can be significantly lower if in the wild the ferret lives in an unfavorable environment, and in the house it does not receive proper care and nutrition.

The ferret is a member of the mustelidae family and the genus of polecats and weasels. This is a mammalian predator. Some species can be incredibly active and aggressive. Despite this, the time has come when ferrets live not only in the wild, but also in apartments, as pets. It has become so popular that people today buy these animals more often than cats and dogs. Let's talk in this article about:

• what does a ferret look like?
• how to care for a pet;
• types of choreas;
• what is special about the animal is the ferret.

Anyway, today it’s all about ferrets!

Description of the animal and its characteristics

Due to its disproportionate legs, which are quite short, the animal is squat. His body is elongated and very flexible . Animal paws, despite their small size, are very strong. Thanks to its limbs, the ferret is an excellent jumper and swimmer.

The animal has large claws on its paws, which allow it to deftly climb trees and successfully dig holes.

Average length of an adult ferret reaches half a meter, but females are always smaller, about 10 centimeters. The weight of the animal varies from 300 grams to 2 kilograms. It depends on the type of animal.

Its neck is quite long and incredibly flexible. The head is oval, the muzzle is blunt. The calling card of any ferret is its tail, which can reach a length of 18 centimeters.

The ferret is covered with beautiful fur with a thick undercoat. After the end of molting, which usually occurs in the fall, the animal’s fur becomes incredibly beautiful. The coat color, depending on the species, can be sandy tones or completely black. There are also rare albino ferrets, whose fur is boiling white.

Absolutely all individuals (except albinos) always have an intricate pattern on their heads that looks like a mask.

There are glands in the tail area, which secrete a secretion with a very pungent unpleasant odor. With the help of this secret, the beast scares away ill-wishers. Zorek has a particularly developed sense of smell, and it is thanks to this sense that they are excellent hunters.

A ferret has 28 to 30 strong teeth in its mouth. Their fangs are especially powerful.

In the wild, a ferret lives for about 3-4 years, at home much longer - about seven years.

Types of choreas

Hori are classified into only four types:

Honorik

Honorik is a selected, artificially bred species of ferret. To create this species, steppe and forest polecats were crossed. These animals are larger than their parents, but they have inherited all other features in full. Their exterior is very similar to mink, and their luxurious fur is very similar to sable fur. They inherited big ears from ferrets with frame around the edges. They are excellent swimmers and hunters. It is worth saying that Honoriki are extremely angry and aggressive, so this species is completely unsuitable for keeping at home.

What do animals eat?

They do not have a cecum and therefore their body is simply not able to digest and assimilate plant foods. They mainly feed on rodents, small birds, hare offspring, and other small animals, such as gophers. They sometimes eat insects and amphibians. Ferrets always prepare thoroughly for winter and stock up in their burrow.

The ferret hunts from ambush or by chasing prey. But if hunting doesn’t work out, then the ferret will not disdain carrion and various waste. People unfairly condemn ferrets and attribute crimes to them that they did not commit. Mostly poultry and animals are stolen by weasels and foxes, but for some reason wild ferrets remain the worst offenders.

Reproduction and offspring

The breeding season begins in February and ends at the end of summer. In steppe species, it usually begins in the spring. Among the forest ones in May - late April. The individual becomes sexually mature when it reaches one year. Animals do not have any mating games. Mating is very aggressive: the male firmly holds the female by the withers, and she resists with all her might. After mating, females are often left with lacerations from the male’s teeth.

Pregnancy lasts about one and a half months. Usually between 4 and 18 puppies are born. Newborns weigh up to 10 grams. They are weak, feeble, but develop at incredible speed. For about two months they feed only on their mother's milk.

After eight weeks, ferrets become independent and can go hunting, but breastfeeding still continues. Up to six months babies They always follow on the heels of their mother, and then gradually leave and live independently.

Domestic ferret, food and care

Keeping ferrets at home along with cats is becoming increasingly popular. Their playfulness and cute faces leave almost no one indifferent. These little animals won the hearts of millions and began to live in captivity with their owners.

Interestingly, the first Furo individuals were bred more than 2 thousand years ago to hunt wild hares.

Neighborhood with other pets

Before you buy a ferret and bring it to your home, you need to know some of the characteristics of this animal. These are incredibly active animals and keeping them in a cage in a confined space can kill the animal.

Hori live well next to cats and dogs. As for the birds and all kinds of reptiles, then this is already a dubious neighborhood. Any such domestic animal or bird, be it a lizard or a turtle, a parrot or a hamster, will be a tasty prey for a domestic ferret. This is why there is no need to keep a ferret and a chinchilla or rabbit in the same apartment.

Vaccinations

Like other pets, ferrets also need vaccinations. In particular, vaccinations are needed against rabies, plague and leptospirosis. The owner needs to be extremely careful during vaccination, since these animals are more susceptible to allergic reactions to vaccinations than others, so the animal must be given antihistamines before and after the procedure. Naturally, those that are recommended by a specialized veterinarian.

Sterilization

If the animal is purchased by the owner If ferrets are not intended to be bred only as a pet, then the female ferret must be sterilized and the male ferret neutered. This will help avoid the unpleasant odor that is inherent in animals during puberty.

It is worth noting that it will not be possible to get rid of the smell at all, since even sterilized and neutered hori have a specific fur smell, but this can be solved by washing with special products in the form of shampoos.

Ferret cage

The animal needs personal space in which it will spend time and relax. By the way, ferrets sleep a lot. That is why the cage must contain a place to sleep. This could be a hammock or a special house. Will there always be a cage open or the ferret will sit locked up for more time - only the owner can decide. By the way, ferrets are very smart animals and some of the individuals can easily learn. For example, an animal can learn to open and close a cage door.

Character of the animal

This is a very curious creature, he will explore the apartment every day and climb into all the secluded places. While exploring another place, he can fall asleep there after playing. The owner must be very careful and attentive during such research and travel around the apartment, since the animal can eat any small object that gets in its way. This could end tragically. Also, animals, due to their instinct to dig holes, can do this with house plants on the windowsill.

The animal gets used to the tray very well, but it may choose another place in addition, and in this case the owner needs to come to terms with it and put another tray with filler there.

Nutrition

This is a predatory carnivore and he simply needs animal protein. There are only two food options:

1. prepare food yourself;
2. use specialized food for ferrets.

If the owner decides to feed the animal by cooking it himself, then this can be poultry meat, as well as offal. Mix the meat with any porridge and you're done! There are a great many recipes for such dishes.

If you cook about dry food, then you should remember that dog food is absolutely not suitable for ferrets. There are specialized foods for sale, enriched with vitamins and minerals, specifically for polecats.

You can also diversify your pet's diet with small amounts of fruits and vegetables. Once a week it is permissible to add a chicken egg and raw rabbit meat to the diet. It must be remembered that the animal’s diet should only contain meat that it can obtain in the wild.

The owner should also pay attention to the fact that the animal can store food in a secluded place. Having eaten a spoiled product, he can easily become poisoned.

Ferrets are water-drinkers. That is why they should always have plenty of clean water.

If you take the acquisition of a ferret responsibly, provide it with all the necessary conditions for a normal life, as well as a balanced diet, it will respond to the owner with gratitude and affection.

The marten's well-known relative, the polecat (M. putorius), stays in trees much less often than it does.

Its body length is 40.5, and its tail length is 16 centimeters. The ferret is single-colored below, black-brown; above, its color is lighter; yellowish undercoat; the bridge of the nose is black, the lips are white, the chin is the same, the sides of the head are whitish, and the tail is .

Spreading

The ferret is distributed throughout most of Europe; to the north it reaches southern Sweden and the White Sea, but is not found in the Mediterranean region. It is nocturnal, spending the day in groves, in fox and rabbit holes, in firewood warehouses or in piles of stones.

Hunting and habitats

In winter, it often settles in barns, uninhabited buildings and barns. In the evening he leaves his shelter and goes out to hunt for hares, rabbits, quails, lizards, snakes, frogs and other small animals; He also does not allow poultry from the size of a pigeon to the size of a turkey to go down and especially likes to drink eggs.

Having climbed into the poultry house, he strangles the entire population if possible, and pursues wild rabbits so persistently that one family of ferrets is quite enough to significantly reduce the number of rabbits in the shortest possible time.

In Central Europe, the ferret has now begun to be found, however, much less frequently and is kept mainly in inaccessible places of dense forest. In the Alps it rises in summer much higher than the forest line. In abandoned rabbit holes, in cracks in rocks or in piles of stones overgrown with bushes and tall herbaceous plants, the female makes a nest in which she lays in April or May, less often in early July, from 3 to 8, usually 4-6 cubs.

If taken early, young ferrets can be trained to hunt rabbits.

A ferret is a small predatory animal of the mustelidae family, belonging to the genus of weasels and ferrets.

Description of the ferret and its main characteristics

Like most representatives of mustelids, the ferret has a flexible long body, which, thanks to its short legs, looks very squat. Despite its size, the animal’s legs have sufficient strength, which allows it to jump excellently and feel great in the water. And the ferret's long nails are an excellent tool for digging holes and moving through trees.

The male is larger than the female (the length of his body is approximately 50 cm). The weight of the animal depends on what species it belongs to. On average, an adult ferret can weigh between 0.3 and 2 kg. The animal's head is small, elongated and oval, the muzzle is blunted by a neat short nose. Thanks to its long and flexible neck, the animal is very fidgety. One of the most striking features of the ferret is its fluffy long tail, the length of which reaches up to 18 cm.

The color of an animal's fur varies and depends on its species. In nature, there are ferrets with sandy light-colored fur coats, as well as almost black representatives of the species. The fur itself is pleasant to the touch and has thick, guard hairs that are darker at the end. The animal's coat looks very attractive in the fall, when the molting period ends - then it shines and shimmers in the sun.

Despite its quite cute appearance, the ferret is able to stand up for itself well. To scare away enemies, it uses a special secretion with an unpleasant, pungent odor, secreted by glands located near the tail. Thanks to a well-developed sense of smell, the ferret is an excellent hunter, able to smell his prey from afar. Another weapon of the animal is its sharp teeth with a couple of fangs on each jaw. How long does a ferret live in different conditions? In the wild, an animal rarely lives longer than 4 years, while in captivity its life expectancy increases to 7 years.

Distribution of the ferret in the world

Where does a ferret live and how does it behave in its natural environment? To live in the wild, ferrets chose semi-deserts, steppes and sparse forests. Sometimes these animals can be found even in populated areas. As for the geography of the predator’s habitat, it is very vast - all the countries of Europe, Central and Central Asia, the northwestern part of Africa, the USA and even New Zealand (the animal was brought here specifically so that it would destroy hordes of mice and rats). Ferrets do not live in dense forests or open areas. They are very attached to their home, hunt exclusively at night and most often make their homes in the burrows of other steppe inhabitants. They can also make a good shelter in haystacks, hollows of old trees, firewood sheds, etc.

The natural enemies of this nimble animal are larger predators - lynxes, wolves, foxes. Golden eagles and eagle owls can also hunt it. Ferrets are often exterminated by people for whom the animal is valuable because of its beautiful fluffy coat.

Types of ferrets and their descriptions

There are the following main species of this nocturnal predator: steppe ferret, common or forest ferret, ferret, black-footed ferret (American).

The steppe ferret (also called the white or light ferret) has a large body (grows up to 56 cm), weighs about 2 kg, the tail grows up to 18 cm. The net hair of such an animal is long, but not thick, has a brownish color, through the lighter, dense undergrowth is visible through it. The animal's light muzzle is covered with a dark mask; its tail and paws also have a darker color.

The diet of the steppe predator cannot be called monotonous - its diet consists of the meat of smaller animals, such as pika, gopher, mice, frogs, snakes, and hamsters. Sometimes the ferret hunts birds and amphibians. In the winter season, the diet becomes more meager, and its basis is made up of field mice. In addition, the ferret does not disdain food waste, which it obtains near human dwellings, as well as carrion. If the animal has enough food, then it tries not to come close to populated areas so as not to meet people. This nocturnal predator is highly fertile; its female is capable of producing offspring of up to 16-18 cubs.

Light-colored ferrets live mainly in Eastern Europe - in Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Moldova, and Bulgaria. They can also be found in the steppe and semi-steppe regions of Russia, in the countries of Central and Middle Asia, and in eastern China. A subspecies of the steppe ferret (the only one) is the Amur steppe ferret, distinguished by its color (yellow and light shades predominate in it). This predator lives mainly in the northeastern part of China, and is also found in the steppes of the Middle Amur.

Forest ferret

The common ferret, also known as the forest ferret, black or dark, has a more modest size than its closest steppe relative (the length of the body rarely exceeds 45 cm), the weight of the animal ranges from 0.4-1.5 kg. Female dark ferrets are even smaller. The color of the limbs and body does not contrast sharply; the paws, dewlap and tail of such an animal are almost black, while the rest of the body is black-brown in color. The predator’s face has its characteristic dark mask. Often in nature you can find red-colored animals, as well as completely white individuals.

What does the common ferret eat? The basis of its diet is field mice. He also hunts frogs, snakes, small birds (he especially loves their eggs), and does not disdain animals and insects (locusts, grasshoppers). If a predator lives near human habitation, it can hunt poultry and rabbits. The litter of the forest ferret is small - a female rarely gives birth to more than 6 cubs. These animals live in the European part of Russia, in the countries of Western Europe and Eurasia. Dark ferrets prefer to set up their own homes in woodlands and groves. At one time, the black ferret was brought to New Zealand, where to this day it successfully exterminates mice and rats.

Fretka is a domestic ferret

The ferret, known as the African and domestic ferret, is a black ferret that was domesticated at one time. However, this animal can have any color, including brown and white, or have a coat of a combined color. The size of the animal is quite respectable when compared with its relatives (average body length is 51 cm, with a weight in the range of 0.7-2 kg). Ferrets are often crossed with wild ferrets (the hybrid animal is called a ferret).

It was in this way that the golden ferret, which was the first breed of Russian origin, was bred. The animal is large in size, but its main feature is its silky thick coat with a bright orange underfur. The body length of the male golden ferret is 46 cm; females of this species do not exceed a length of 39 cm.

Black-footed ferret

The black-footed ferret, or American ferret, is a fairly rare predator and is currently protected by US law as an endangered species. The male has a length of up to 41 cm, its weight ranges from 0.6-1 kg. The fur of the animal is white at the very base, while its tips are dark. The legs and tail of the predator are dark, the muzzle is decorated with a characteristic mask. The animal lives in the central regions of the United States. The black-footed ferret's diet consists of field mice and gophers. However, the main food of the predator, without which its survival in the natural environment is unthinkable, is prairie dogs.

Lifestyle, habits and nutrition of ferrets

Due to some features of the body, namely the absence of a cecum, the ferret’s body copes very poorly with the absorption of plant food. That is why these animals are predators and feed mainly on small rodents, birds and their eggs, amphibians and even insects. The ferret has a rather warlike character; he will fearlessly attack such representatives of the animal world as gophers and muskrats. To survive the winter, a time when it is especially difficult to obtain food, ferrets prepare food supplies in their homes in advance.

Ferrets hunt in different ways, but their favorite method is to lie in wait for their prey right at the entrance to its shelter and unexpectedly attack. Often the future food has to be pursued for quite a long time not only by land, but also by water. In conditions of hunger, ferrets become unpretentious and happily feast on carrion or leftover food thrown away by people.

Interesting fact: most of the “crimes” that are often attributed to the ferret (such as attacks on domestic animals, birds and the destruction of chicken nests) are actually committed by much more dangerous predators - foxes, weasels and martens.

Ferret breeding

As for the breeding season of predators, it depends on the environment in which a particular ferret species lives. In general, it starts in February and lasts until the end of summer. For example, steppe ferrets begin their mating games in early spring; the rut of forest ferrets can begin in April and continue until the end of June. At the age of approximately 10-12 months, these predators become sexually mature, and they mate without any special mating rituals. It looks quite aggressive: despite the active resistance of the female, the male roughly grabs her by the scruff of the neck with his teeth, after which her withers remain bitten and frayed for some time.

The gestation period for a female ferret is quite short and is only 1.5 months. The number of offspring depends on the type of animal (on average, a female produces from 4 to 18 cubs, weighing no more than 10 g). Breastfed offspring stay no longer than 2.5 months, and already at the age of 4 months, children begin to eat meat. Young ferrets become hunters at about the age of six months, and at first they are accompanied by a female. After mastering all the skills necessary for survival, predators begin an independent life.

Despite its reputation as a predator, the ferret is a rather cute animal that is not capable of causing significant harm to humans. Interesting facts about the animal:

• Some people believe that a ferret is a rodent, when in fact it is a predatory carnivore.
• Ferrets are very nimble and dexterous animals, capable of easily getting into any place, making their way through even the narrowest cracks.
• The animal's fur has a pleasant musky smell.
• A small ferret that has just been born can easily fit in a teaspoon.
• The ferret, despite its energy and high activity, is able to sleep up to 20 hours, completely falling into deep sleep.
• In a moment of danger, the animal exudes a pungent, unpleasant odor that can scare off any aggressor.
• The ferret was first domesticated by humans approximately 2,000 years ago. Initially, people used these animals to hunt rabbits.

Now you know everything about ferrets, about the ferret’s lifestyle and habits.