Black ferret (Mustela putorius). Types of ferrets: description and features of life activity Do ferrets climb trees

All living organisms on the planet are individual in appearance, method of survival, and behavior, which suggests that in order to survive they must adapt to the conditions of their habitat. That is, the habitat is that part of nature that they inhabit, experiencing its influence, and in turn, influence it themselves. There is no habitat on the planet to which animals cannot adapt. Everything in the world is interconnected, and being in certain conditions environment. Conditions that affect life in wildlife animals are called environmental factors. These include living factors (the relationship between living things in the wild, as well as human influence) and inanimate nature(the influence on living organisms of temperature, light conditions, precipitation, soil structure and the structure of the earth's surface). As a result of the influence of the environment on the life of animals, they, in turn, developed adaptation to certain conditions and a way of life. The habitat most importantly influences the activity, nutrition, and reproduction of all living beings.

General characteristics

The ferret is a predatory mammal of the mustelid family, known to us most likely as an object of fur farming. But to many, especially rural residents, the ferret is known as an annoying and uninvited guest in their household, especially in the chicken coop. In addition to being renowned as a thief, the polecat has also become famous for its thinning “aroma”. But besides all this, ferrets are quite cute and cute animals, with a wonderful fluffy coat.

There are several species of ferret in the wild. The black ferret has a body length of 24-46 cm, the average female is 38 cm, the tail length is 14 cm, and the animals weigh from 620 grams for females and almost a kilogram for males. The animals are characterized by a muzzle color resembling a mask and a slightly raised back, forming a so-called “hump.” The dark brown hair on the back and the underparts are almost all black. In addition to the forest ferret, the steppe ferret is also known, the largest among its relatives. By external structure and in behavior these animals are in many ways similar, only their place and habitat differ, but external difference between the two types of ferrets consists of different colors of hair: the winter fur of the forest ferret has a black-brown color with long hair, the fur of a steppe inhabitant is light yellow with thin guard hairs, the tips of which are brown. Summer fur is rarer, lower and duller in both species.

Habitat

The forest polecat, or as it is also called the common or black ferret, is an inhabitant of the entire Eurasian continent. This is a popular resident of Western Europe, where it inhabits its entire area, but in lately it began to gradually narrow. It is dominated by broad-leaved deciduous forests on the plains and coniferous broad-leaved forests in the lowlands and coniferous forests in the mountains. A large population of ferrets lives in England, as well as in almost the entire territory of the European part of Russia, from the Urals to the western state border. The landscape of which is characterized by the presence of a mixed type of forest with a predominance of deciduous trees (oak, aspen, linden, birch). It is not found only in North Karelia, the Volga region and the Caucasus. The number of ferrets on Russian territory is subject to significant changes, and depends, first of all, on the availability of food in the area. certain territory. The forest polecat is most common in the Smolensk region of Russia, as well as in Belarus. In the last decade, the ferret has expanded its habitat, and now inhabits the forests of Finland, the most rich country on forest resources, which make up 76% of its entire territory, and Karelia. It is also a common inhabitant of the northern and western forests of Africa. In the western part, ferrets inhabit subtropical forests along the slopes of the Atlas Mountains, valleys and plateaus, and hard-leaved evergreen forests with a predominance of oak species on the lower slopes. In the northern part, ferrets occupy equatorial-type evergreen forests. In order to fight against rats and mice, this predator was brought to New Zealand. Currently, the ferret has quite well established itself in the evergreen beech forest lands characteristic of Zealand, and has even begun to threaten the indigenous fauna of the country.

Common ferret typical representative forests However, it avoids dense, continuous taiga massifs, and prefers small forest concentrations or isolated groves, mixed with crops and settlements, with meadow spaces or fields, rivers or other bodies of water.

The forest ferret does not like to roam and leads sedentary image life. The size of the hunting grounds is small. At night, the ferret travels up to 5 km. Only in winter time they may increase slightly. Prefers to settle in the lowlands of small rivers, lakes, swampy places, ravines, and hollows. It uses natural camouflage as a permanent shelter, hiding in a pile of brushwood, firewood, stumps or haystacks. Sometimes a ferret can occupy the home of badgers or foxes, but the animal does not dig its own burrows. If it does dig, then they are not long, do not have tunnels - with one passage, and end in a nesting place. It is not uncommon for a ferret to find hiding places in villages or hamlets, where he makes a nest for himself in barns, a pile of firewood, or chooses some other secluded place.

The steppe ferret is the complete opposite of its brother. Forests and populated areas are not to his liking. Inhabits forest-steppes, steppes and semi-deserts. The zone of steppes and forest-steppes lies between the zone of forests and semi-deserts. That is, the forest-steppe is an intermediate zone that combines small areas of forest and areas of steppes. Forest-steppes are characterized by alternating broad-leaved and small-leaved forests, as well as mixed-grass steppes. The steppe is a plain overgrown with various grasses, which is characterized complete absence trees. The steppe ferret is a resident of such open areas. In terms of the vastness of its range, the light polecat has no rivals among steppe mammals. Its area of settlement exceeds in size the range of any steppe animal. It is found throughout the steppe zone of Eurasia (the only exception is the easternmost limb), and is widespread beyond its borders. It inhabits the steppe zone, which extends into western Yugoslavia and the Czech Republic.

In Russia, the range of steppe ferrets is significantly larger than that of their forest counterpart. Here it successfully acclimatized throughout the entire area of forest-steppes and steppe expanses Far East(from the Amur), Siberia, the European part to the Carpathians. The steppe polecat reached its largest population in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of Siberia and Ciscaucasia. This predator of open spaces has penetrated quite deeply into the taiga zone. The introduction of a light ferret into western zone Siberia spreads on a broad front: it spreads over all lightly snow-covered areas of the area, where rodents are present common hamster. The light-colored ferret developed a special close relationship with him. Intensive plowing of land and the movement of crops north into the taiga zone influenced the spread of the hamster, which was relentlessly followed by its most avid enemy, the steppe polecat.

The ferret is also common in the steppes, stretching from central and central Asia, right up to the Far East and Eastern China.

Such regions have unique climatic, hydrological and orographic conditions. The climate of the steppes is characterized by very hot summers, when the earth is heated to the limit by the sun received, and cold winter, When earth's surface chilled by severe frost. In such areas there is a large moisture deficit in summer time. The steppes are characterized by rather sharp temperature fluctuations. Therefore, it is very difficult for animals whose lives especially depend on such changes in unpredictable weather. In April, a sudden thaw may begin, and in mid-summer the temperature may drop sharply. However, the steppe representative of ferrets also acclimatized well to such conditions. Over the past half century, the range of the steppe ferret has expanded significantly towards the west and slightly north. Now the steppe ferret can be found in the west Ural mountains, on the left bank of the Volga, in the center of Russia and Europe. This expansion of the animals’ habitat is associated with human actions. As a result of deforestation and plowing of steppe zones, which caused the pumping to the north large quantity gophers, which are the main prey of the steppe animal, were also caused by the movement of ferrets. In this case, the influence of the wildlife factor is clearly visible, that is, the influence of human activity on the habitat of the steppe ferret. In the mountains of Europe, these animals rise to a height of 800 meters, and in Central Asia this height reaches over 2600 meters. The steppe polecat settles on fallow lands, on pastures, in ravines and ravines. As a shelter, ferrets use other people's holes, mainly gophers, less often badgers or foxes. After all, without good shelter in such harsh conditions won't live long. They save the ferret not only from the heat, but also from predators, from which it is not so easy to hide from in a clearly visible area. However, the steppe ferret's ability to independently dig holes is quite well expressed. Its front paws are armed with strong, slightly curved claws (length 13-16 mm, width 1-2 mm). The claws on the hind legs are less developed. The connecting membranes between the fingers are better developed than in other cuniformes, and, apparently, have adaptive significance when scooping out and throwing away dug mail. When inhabiting a hole belonging to a hamster, this predator usually digs additional holes in a layer of clay so hard that it is difficult for an iron shovel to penetrate. Unlike forest dwellers, the steppe polecat is not tied to one habitat; it does not have clearly defined individual areas. In places where ground squirrels are most concentrated, they are much smaller in size, especially summer period when it is easier to get food. The winter domain of the steppe ferret varies from 12 to 18 hectares.

Lifestyle and nutrition of ferrets

There are no particular differences in the type of nutrition among ferrets. Both representatives are predators. Stern plant origin are not on their menu. The variety of food also depends on their habitat. The predominant prey in the diet of forest animals are small mice. Grass frogs and toads, snakes, and insects play a large role in the menu. Near bodies of water they hunt birds: black grouse, partridge. They can also attack domestic birds near settlements. The favorite prey of the steppe ferret are gophers and hamsters. In areas of high concentration of rodents, the number of steppe ferrets is greater than in other areas. Mouse-like rodents are included in the diet of the steppe species only as a replacement food when there is a “scarcity” of gophers, hamsters and other food. If there is a shortage of main prey, they can eat fish and carrion. It can also hunt larger prey, such as nutria. The forest representative, also having a fairly large size, prefers mainly mice. And only occasionally, climbing into hare holes, he strangles little bunnies.

Both types of ferrets hunt at night or at dusk. The activity of ferrets at night is also associated with the influence of environmental factors. Firstly, this gives predators an advantage over the prey; in the dark it is easier to get close to the prey undetected. Secondly, due to competition for food resources, all animals have developed a certain behavior, some hunt during the day, and some at night. And thirdly, most small rodents that are the main food of ferrets also lead night look life. Plus, the night activity of animals in deserts, steppes and semi-deserts is an adaptive behavior to the habitat in which they exist. Inhabited in the steppes, which are characterized, as already mentioned, by very hot and intense arid climate, the steppe ferret, to save moisture during the daytime, sits out in a shelter, and only at dusk comes out to hunt.

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 that 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's characterize distinctive features 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 a length of half a meter, sometimes a little more. His fur is long, but not particularly thick, so his dense and warm undercoat shows through. The animal's fur 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 coat is very diverse. The fur is very pleasant, fluffy and thick.

With all the listed distinctive external features, ferrets various types There are a lot of common characteristics that characterize these interesting and agile representatives of the mustel 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. Limbs, on the contrary, compared to 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. He does not make his 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. Black-footed (American) ferret as permanent place residence uses prairie and woodland North America. 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 for lizards and even poisonous snakes does not pose much difficulty 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, they eat food waste, commit robber 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.

The animals begin hunting at dusk, but hunger is not a problem, so even in daylight they sometimes have to leave their shelter to find food.

To foods of plant origin digestive tract The ferret is not at all adapted; the animals do not have a cecum, which complicates the digestion of plant fibers. Everything you need nutrients Ferrets get it 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 its great love to 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 necessary 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 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 often attack in winter period 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 their 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

Because of his 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.

The black ferret, as it is commonly called, or, more scientifically, the common polecat, is a small animal that belongs to the genus Mustelidae. It is quite famous among pet lovers. Despite the fact that it is only a forest animal, it is often kept at home, since it takes root well and lives next to people for many years without any problems.

The fact that he is able to build relationships with people is undoubtedly good. But for our part it would be useful for us to know what is this animal, where is its usual habitat, what does it eat, is it a predator or herbivore, what are its habits in the wild, and many others.

wild ferret

In winter, frost and hunger push wild ferrets to move closer to human habitation. Perhaps this fact explains the beginning of the relationship between a ferret and a human.

Habitat

So let's start with the question, Where do black ferrets live?

The population of these animals is distributed mainly in European continent. Also, it covers the whole of Western Europe. Black ferrets are found in Ireland and Great Britain.

In our country, the range of these representatives of the mustelid family stretches from the western borders and ends near the Urals. They live, one might say, almost everywhere, but we will not find these animals in the Caucasus, at the mouths of the Volga, in the Far North and in the northern part of Karelia and the Far North.

The species of black ferrets is also called forest ferrets .Forest ferrets choose such areas for their residence, where there is:

small forested areas,
groves,
fields,
meadows

In these areas, you can meet such an animal on the edges and clearings, the vegetation of which is not too dense. The ferret also prefers to live near bodies of water:

swamps,
lakes,
in floodplains.

Despite the fact that now the ferret is a pet, people who live in rural areas, the attitude towards this animal is sometimes very negative. And the reason for this is the custom of wild ferrets quite often, especially in the cold winter months, to attack chicken coops and other dwellings with poultry and eat hens, chicks, ducks, geese and their offspring.

The tree ferret is also valuable fur-bearing animal. In older years, a product made from ferret skin was considered very valuable and prestigious due to its valuable qualities. IN modern world Hunting them is prohibited. since the population has decreased significantly, and the animal is listed in the Red Book.

What does a ferret look like?

The size of the animal is not very large; in appearance it is practically no different from other representatives of its family. But at the same time, describing appearance this animal, we should dwell in more detail on some characteristic features.

Forest ferret

It is not for nothing that the species of forest black ferrets bears its second name, which indicates the area in which this species most often lives. the range of these animals is small forest areas.

The forest ferret moves with long, low jumps and swims quite well. As a rule, he does not climb trees, although in those moments when he is in mortal danger, he is able to climb into the hollows of trees that are located not high from the ground.

Nutrition

If you are a lover of this animal and want to have it as a pet, then the question of whether it is a predator or not is a fundamental one. You need to know everything about ferret nutrition.

The ferret is, without a doubt, a predator. In this regard, the answer to the question of what ferrets eat in the wild will be contributing: this is due to the needs of its species. What is included in a ferret's diet?

A ferret's diet usually includes:

Small rodents (the hero of our article with enviable agility catches mice and rats, digs voles and moles out of the ground.
If the forest ferret belongs to any large species or is itself distinguished by an outstanding physique for its species, then gaping hares or young muskrats can be eaten by it.
With pleasure, the hero of our article also eats frogs and lizards. He is able to cope single-handedly even with not very large snakes. The jacket will not care whether it is harmless or poisonous.
The ferret is able to successfully catch even birds. It destroys nests if they are located on the ground or in bushes. The wood ferret also destroys chicks or feasts on eggs.
The ferret loves to rummage in the ground in order to get tasty worms; he also happily eats various insects: butterflies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, etc.
Fish is sometimes included in its diet, but it takes up an insignificant place in the diet of this animal, since it requires a lot of time and labor.
The ferret rarely eats berries, fruits and grass, only when necessary to replenish the balance of vitamins and minerals. The popularity of this type of food is explained by the fact that its stomach is not designed to digest plant foods.

Replenish the lack of fiber and other necessary useful substances the ferret can through consumption stomach contents of herbivores he caught.

With the arrival of spring until the end of the winter months, the ferret does not experience difficulties in finding food for itself. Before winter approaches, he begins to eat intensely in order to create more fat for himself. When cold weather sets in, food becomes much more difficult to obtain. But our animal is a predator, which means that it is also a born hunter. He does not lose heart, but begins to rummage in the snow. Then its prey becomes not only small rodents, but also large birds - and hazel grouse, black grouse, buried in the snow for the night. When there is no food at all, the animal will not pass by carrion or human food waste.

Features of behavior

Ferret is a loner, he communicates with females only during the mating season.

Each individual of the representatives of this species has its own hunting territories, it “grazes” them, that is, lives on them permanently. Their hunting territory is usually quite extensive; for males it occupies up to two and a half thousand hectares. Females usually have smaller feeding territories; it happens that some of them overlap with the territories of males, and sometimes partially enter them. When walking around their property, ferrets leave marks on it so that others know that the place is occupied and guarded.

In an inconspicuous place, the ferret digs a hole for itself with a short hole and a pocket where it rests. The mink is a permanent place of residence. But if someone frightened him in his home or otherwise compromised him, then the ferret leaves his previous home and looks for another place.

Sometimes for permanent residence he chooses a dump of dry branches or a hollow under old stumps. When the forest is full of food, a well-fed and satisfied animal sleeps during the day, and begins to be active at dusk and at night. If there is little food on its territory, then it goes hunting over long distances. In unfavorable bad weather the animal may not leave its hole for days.

Ferret behavior

A distinctive characteristic of a wild ferret is - courage mixed with aggressiveness. When meeting an enemy even superior to him in strength and size, our hero fearlessly rushes into battle. Also, the ferret is merciless towards its victims: if it gets into the chicken coop, it will kill only one bird, but will strangle all the remaining ones. He repeats the same behavior in nature: attacking a bird’s nest, he will certainly kill all its inhabitants, although he himself will eat very little.

Enemies of the forest polecat

Forest ferrets, as we have already explained, are not very large animals at all, so in the wild they also have enemies who can easily harm or kill them.

The main enemies we should write down the wolves first. Despite the fact that ferrets run very fast, it is difficult to escape from large animal in open areas, where there is nowhere to hide, it is nevertheless difficult for him.

Foxes also attack our hero, especially in the winter season, when there are very few mice, there are either no mice, or you can’t get enough of them, and hares are too quick and you don’t always have the opportunity to catch them.

Among large birds There are also those who want to catch the animal: at night - these are owls and eagle owls, and during the day - falcons and golden eagles.

Lynx is another type of animal, who loves to snack on ferrets. the deadly teeth of this wild cat, her resourcefulness, cunning and dexterity leave no hope for life for this animal.

If ferrets occupy territory in steppe zone, then stray dogs will pose a threat to him.

Although, to be honest, the most ruthless and terrible enemy for a ferret, capable of bringing the population to complete destruction , however, man. It is thanks to our species that this animal is listed in the Red Book.

The ferret is a prominent representative carnivorous mammals from the Kunya family. This dexterous and agile creature, possessing an extraordinary mind, has won many fans all over the world. Ferrets have been domesticated for a very long time; they have been living side by side with humans for many centuries and benefiting them. No less interesting are the wild individuals of this family, living on several continents of our planet.

Description of the ferret

Despite the fact that there are several varieties of ferrets, they are very close to each other. However, each species has its own number of individual traits and characteristics.

Appearance

The ferret is a small, graceful and flexible animal.. The animal's legs are disproportionately short, but muscular and powerful due to its extraordinary mobility. These creatures are rightfully considered excellent swimmers, and their elongated claws help them climb trees and dig holes.

The color of ferrets can vary from light to almost black, with the legs and tail often being darker than the rest of the body. The spots on the face form a pattern resembling a mask. The animals' fur is fluffy and relatively long; The hair at the base is much lighter than at the ends.

This is interesting! In autumn, at the end of the molting period, the fur of the animals acquires shine and becomes very beautiful.

Males are slightly larger than females and reach 50-60 centimeters in length. Distinctive feature Ferrets have a long fluffy tail.

Lifestyle and behavior

Since ferrets are nocturnal predators, they are active mainly in the dark. This applies equally to both wild and domestic animals. These are sedentary animals, tied to their habitats; they leave their homes only when forced.

The animals live in burrows dug by themselves, which they equip with the help of leaves and tufts of grass. If for some reason ferrets cannot provide themselves with shelter, they occupy an empty hole of suitable size, for example, a fox hole. During especially cold seasons, they can move closer to human habitation and live in barns or basements.

It happens that ferrets appear in villages and villages in search of food. Such visits bring great harm to local residents - predators kill poultry out of desire for food or just for fun. Ferrets lead an active lifestyle. Mobile by nature, during waking hours they do not sit still for a second. However, their behavior may vary depending on gender. Females are more playful and more trainable, their intellectual abilities are higher. Males are more phlegmatic and affectionate towards people.

How long do ferrets live?

The lifespan of animals varies depending on environmental conditions. In the wild, ferrets live only 2-3 years due to the numerous dangers that await them everywhere.

Important! Such longevity is only possible under conditions proper nutrition and caring for the health of the animal.

At home, with proper care, the animal can live much longer - 5-8 years. There are cases when individual individuals reached ten or more years of age, but this is usually rare.

In the wild, there are only three types of ferrets: black, steppe and black-footed. The fourth variety, ferretka, is domesticated and is found everywhere.

Steppe, or white. The ferret is considered the largest representative of its family. The maximum live weight of males can reach two kilograms; It is noteworthy that the females are almost as big as them, but weigh half as much. The body length is 50-60 cm. The animal has long, but not too thick hair, which is why the thick down is clearly visible through it. White ferrets are predominantly light in color; only their paws and the tip of their tail are black.
Black-footed ferret. Otherwise called American, it is significantly smaller than its white relative and weighs a little more than a kilogram. Its color is yellowish-brown; its back, legs and part of its tail are much darker compared to the rest of its body. The ears are large, rounded, the paws are very short and thick.
Black or forest. The ferret is of medium size - approximate weight males is equal to one and a half kilograms. Just like other representatives of the mustelid family, it has a slender, elongated body and small paws. The most common color is black and brown, but there are red and even white individuals. The animal's back is lighter, its legs and tail are darker.
Fretka It is considered to be a decorative ferret, specially bred by humans. It is slightly smaller than its steppe counterpart, and some individuals even exceed it in size. The shade of the coat can vary and be almost anything. The animal's fur itself is thick and very fluffy.

Range, habitats

All three wild species are found in Eurasia, North America and the northwestern part of the African continent. The steppe ferret has chosen open areas and avoids mountains, forests, and crowded places. It can be found in steppe or semi-desert regions of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, China, some areas of Europe and Asia.

Important! The ferret is not found in the wild. The animal's gentle nature and lack of hunting skills simply will not allow it to survive in such conditions.

The black ferret, on the contrary, prefers forests, ravines and banks of reservoirs, and sometimes populated areas. It does not go too far into the thicket, being content with the edges and areas with sparse vegetation. Its habitat is Europe and part of Africa. Their black-footed relative lives in the forests and prairies of North America. It is also found in the mountains, where it climbs several thousand meters above sea level.

Ferret diet

The ferret is a carnivorous animal; the main part of its diet is meat. Under natural conditions, it can feed on:

Insects. On occasion, the animal does not refuse earthworms and other invertebrates.
Reptiles. Hunting lizards or snakes, including poisonous ones, does not present any particular difficulties for the ferret.
Rodents. Moreover, the size of the prey can be very different, from field mice to rabbits and hares.
Birds. The ferret feeds on both adult birds and chicks and eggs. He will never pass by a nest or clutch.

The share of fish and fruit in the animal’s diet is almost reduced to zero. Digestive system animal is not adapted to plant fibers, and it can get all the necessary elements by eating the stomachs of small mammals.

This is interesting! Just like some other animals, in cold weather the ferret stores food. The food obtained is stored in a secluded place until the worst times.

The ferret hunts only at night, but severe hunger can force him to leave the hole during the daytime. If it is not possible to catch prey, the animal may begin to feed on carrion.

Natural enemies

There are many enemies that live in the same territory with a ferret. Some of them can cause serious harm, others can even be eaten.

Large predators such as foxes and wolves. In the warm season, they rarely choose a ferret as a victim, but with the onset of cold weather they become less picky about food.
Birds of prey such as night owls or golden eagles. A small animal is an excellent prey for them.
Feral cats don't shy away from ferrets either.
Large snakes. They can attack, despite the fact that they are not always able to cope with the nimble animal.

Another dangerous enemy of the ferret is humans. It causes harm both directly and indirectly - through extermination, construction of roads, and settlement of previously untouched territories.

This is interesting! To protect itself from enemies, the ferret emits a pungent odor, secreting a secretion from the anal glands near the base of the tail.

All this leads to the animal dying or leaving its habitat to find new ones. The destruction of animals that make up the ferret's food threatens its existence no less.

Ferrets are probably one of the most predatory animals in the mustelid family. Species Forest ferrets inhabit almost the entire European part of Russia, except for the Russian North. Most often they can be found in the edges of forests, in forests bordering burnt areas, near bodies of water - rivers, lakes, swamps. Also, some individuals can visit villages adjacent to the forest, and for the winter they can even settle in human buildings.

A ferret weighs from 0.5 to 2.5 kg; by winter, for example, it, like a badger, accumulates fat and weighs more than in summer. It can reach a little more than half a meter in length.

The ferret is nocturnal, especially active after sunset and before dawn. This predator practically does not eat plants; the basis of its diet is animal food - moles, voles, shrews, and other small rodents. The ferret also loves to feast on amphibians - frogs, lizards and newts. The ferret also really likes hedgehog meat; he attacks it even despite the sharp needles, which are supposed to protect the hedgehog’s life. Very often it destroys bird nests and feeds on eggs and chicks. If the opportunity arises, he can catch water rat- a muskrat, can catch a ferret and a hare, since ferrets are born hunters who can sneak up silently; upland game, black grouse, hazel grouse, etc. often become its prey. The ferret is not even afraid of snakes, and can feast on both harmless snakes and poisonous viper. A ferret can catch and eat large insects.

In villages and towns, a ferret can enter chicken coops and goose coops and strangle several birds. The ferret's ability to store food has long been known. winter life, even when the ferret is well-fed, he still hunts “in reserve”, storing his prey in a secluded place.

Ferrets live in burrows that they dig themselves; the entrance to the burrow, where almost the entire daily life of a ferret takes place, is often located under an old tree stump, in a bush, and is very difficult to notice.

The rut in the life of ferrets begins from mid-winter to August; pregnancy in females lasts about 40 days, and after this time from 4 to 12 small ferrets are born, weighing no more than 10 grams each. The male does not participate in raising children, and the female raises the children alone. Until 7-8 weeks of life, newborns feed only on mother's milk, and after that they gradually switch to meat. While the female is hunting, the ferrets cuddle up to each other and wait for their mother. After three months, they go hunting as a whole brood, “helping” their mother and learning from her. By autumn they grow almost to their adult size and begin an independent life.

During the winter, ferrets often move to live closer to people - in cellars, barns, barns, stables... One of the reasons for such relocation is the desire for warmth and a “roof over their heads,” as well as an abundance of food. The ferret eats not only chickens and rabbits, but also rats and mice. Where the ferret has settled, these rodents do not exist, so the benefits of the ferret for humans are obvious. And with the onset of spring, the ferret leaves the shelter of a hospitable person and again goes into the forest.

Ferrets have a lot natural enemies who willingly eat it. These are wolves, foxes, eagle owls, eagles, golden eagles, etc. One of the ferret's methods of defense is the anal glands, which, when in serious danger, emit a strong foul odor. The ferret is a good swimmer and can even submerge completely in water for a while and can climb a tree. The lifespan of a ferret in the wild is about 6 years.

People have long made the ferret a pet; they are very smart, curious, observant animals with good learning ability!