Long pet ferret. Listing in the Red Book and protection. Eating in the wild

Forest or black polecat, as well as common, dark or black polecat - all these are the names of a small animal of the mustelidae family, an order of predators. He is widely known among lovers of exotic pets, gets along easily with people and feels comfortable both in wildlife, and at home. Read more about the forest ferret and its characteristics below.

What does a wood ferret look like?

The ferret is small in size and in appearance is a typical representative of its family.

Constitution

The body is elongated, flexible, squat with short but strong legs. This structure allows it to silently sneak up on its prey. The ferret has an elongated neck, a small oval head, an elongated muzzle, slightly flattened towards the nose.

Basic parameters of the forest ferret:

Color

The animals have long fur, which can reach 6 cm, and different colors - from dark gray to black. However, in the wild there are also individuals with brown, reddish, yellow colors, and there are also albino representatives.

Color is never monotonous. So, the tail, belly and paws are always darker than the body, and on the muzzle there is a white mask, which is characteristic feature ferret.

In winter, after molting, the color of the forest ferret becomes darker than in the warm season.

Structural features

The main structural features of the beast include:

• the small head smoothly transitions into a flexible and elongated neck;
• the ears are small, low, with a wide base;
• the eyes are brown, shiny, bead-like;
• the paws are short and thick, even in the largest individuals the length of the hind legs is only 6-8 cm;
• the paws have 5 toes, between which there are membranes;
• the forest ferret has 28-30 teeth, of which 4 canines, 12 premolars, 12-14 incisors;
• next to the tail of the animal there are special glands, which, in case of danger, secrete a secretion with a fetid odor.

Where does he live?

The habitat extends to the territory of Eurasia and the northwestern part African continent. Most often found in Russia, China, England, and Ukraine.

Not long ago, black ferrets were brought to New Zealand, in order to reduce the rodent population, in the end they took root there and feel more than comfortable.

Animals live in small forests and isolated groves. They prefer not to go far into the forest; they like to settle on the edges and clearings. Forest ferrets lead a sedentary lifestyle and are very attached to their chosen place. They occupy a small area and most often use natural shelters as permanent shelters - stacks of firewood, rotten stumps, haystacks, dead wood. They almost never dig their own holes; they can live in offshoots of badger or fox holes.

They will never choose dense taiga or open space for living, in extreme cases settle near human settlements.

Lifestyle and behavior

By nature, the ferret is aggressive and fearless; it can rush at an animal that is larger than it in size if it senses danger. The animal sleeps during the day and rarely leaves its shelter during daylight hours. At night the predator goes out hunting. He watches for the prey at the entrance to the dwelling or rushes after it, sometimes even catching prey on the move. The ferret is a good swimmer, so you can find it near small rivers or other bodies of water.

Types and their features

The forest ferret has 2 domesticated species:

• Fretka- colored ferret. A decorative representative of the species, it has fluffy fur of sable, golden or pearlescent hue. A very sociable, active and inquisitive animal. Body length - 25-50 cm, weight - 800-2500 g. Frets love to sleep, they can doze up to 20 hours a day, especially in winter. The animal can be trained; you can train it to use a tray and even walk it on a leash. The diet includes food mice, mealworms, porridge with meat, and dry food. You cannot give raw food and feed at the same time; choose one or the other.
• Furo- albino ferret. The fur is white (due to the lack of melanin) or with a champagne tint. There are some individuals with sable and pearlescent colors. The dimensions of the predator are 25-45 cm, weight is about 400 g. Distinctive feature- Red eyes. It has the same qualities as the wood ferret. Loves active games and attention to himself. It is recommended to include white meat in the diet, chicken eggs, vegetables, veal and fresh fish. It is forbidden to give furo sweets, as large quantities they can lead to the death of the animal.

Since in the wild the ferret feeds at night, these species also need to be given food at certain times - around noon, during the day and late evening. Ferrets do not eat well in the morning.

Eating in the wild

Although the wood ferret is relatively large in size, it is a typical mouse eater. The main diet of the animal consists of:

• small rodents - mice, rats, gerbils, voles, moles, gophers and ground squirrels;
• frogs and toads;
• large insects, for example, locusts;
• hares and rabbits, can penetrate animal burrows and strangle young individuals;
• reptiles - lizards and snakes;
• small birds and their chicks, as well as eggs from ground clutches;
• invertebrates such as worms;
• carrion - if there is no other source of food, then the ferret will not disdain carrion.

Mark one interesting feature forest ferret - attacking a bird's nest or getting into a hare's hole, the animal completely ruins them and strangles all the individuals located there. Although he only eats a small part.

Reproduction

Already 1 year after birth, a young ferret begins to puberty. The rut begins in April-May, although there are also cases when this period can begin as early as February or end in August, depending on climatic conditions the area where the ferret lives.

Females can give birth up to 6 years of age!

Pregnancy lasts one and a half months, the female is able to bear from 4 to 6 cubs at a time. Ferret puppies are born very tiny and helpless, blind and deaf. The weight of a newborn is 10 g, and the length of the body is 5.5-7 cm. Females are very caring and attentive mothers; they rarely separate from the cubs, and if they do have to leave the offspring, they tightly plug the entrance to the home with straw. Females selflessly protect puppies from any danger.

Within a week, the babies are covered with silky white fur. And after a month, the puppies’ eyes open and the color of their fur changes to gray-brown.

The mother feeds the offspring with milk until they reach the age of one month, and when they have milk teeth, even before the end of the lactation period, she begins to feed the young with meat. The offspring stays with the mother until autumn, in some cases until next spring. At 3 months of age, ferrets are considered adults.

Young animals can be recognized by the presence of a special juvenile “mane”.

As for males, they participate in the process only at the mating stage, and all care for the offspring is entirely the responsibility of the female.

Natural enemies of the forest ferret

Since ferrets are small animals, in the wild they have enemies that pose a mortal danger:

1. Wolves. Although ferrets run fast, they rarely manage to escape from a wolf in open areas. Therefore, they try to avoid open spaces and settle where there are a lot of bushes and similar shelters.
2. Foxes. Another terrestrial predator that is not averse to feasting on the forest ferret. Especially in winter, when foxes are short of food. Sly Fox can reach a ferret even in its own hiding place if it is really hungry.
3. Lynx. Being an insidious “master of ambushes”, the predator does not leave the animal a chance to survive. A sharp teeth can eat a ferret in one bite.
4. Stray dogs. If a forest ferret gets close to a human settlement, then a dog may lie in wait for it.
5. Predator birds. At night, when the ferret goes hunting, he is also hunted by eagle owls or owls. During the day, golden eagles and falcons pose a danger. Although often a fight with a bird ends in victory for the ferret, since it is capable of aggressively and fearlessly counterattacking.
6. Human. Cannot be excluded from this list human factor, since it is humans who are able to reduce the animal’s population by illegally hunting for valuable fur. Also damaging to ferrets is human activity, for example, deforestation.

There are several interesting facts Things you should know about this animal:

• among rural residents, the forest ferret has gained a negative reputation because it attacks poultry;
• belongs to valuable fur-bearing animals, but hunting for it is not carried out and is prohibited by law, since the number of ferrets is small;
• listed in the Red Book;
• in the wild it lives for 3-4 years, at home life expectancy doubles;
• the sensory system is well developed, but does not distinguish colors;
• in the wild, hybrids of a forest ferret and a mink are often found, they are called honoriki;
• The ferret is depicted on the coat of arms of the city of Boguchar ( Voronezh region) and the city of Oboyan (Kursk region);
• an angry or frightened ferret may make a strange sound, similar to a hiss;
• the ferret's stomach is not able to digest organic fibers;
• to prevent domestic ferrets from emitting a characteristic musky odor, a special gland is removed;
• Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “Lady with an Ermine” depicts not an ermine at all, but a furo ferret;

So, for now, the resourceful and tenacious ferret manages to maintain its population. However, the main threat to its existence is still considered to be man and his activities. Perhaps very soon the animal will survive only in its domesticated forms.

Ferrets are small mammals. They belong to the mustelidae family and the genus ferrets and weasels.

Outwardly, they are similar to their relatives - stoats and minks.

Character of ferrets

The ferret looks very cute. But despite its appearance and small size, it is a predatory animal.

The average height of a male ferret is about 50 centimeters. The female has about 40 centimeters. In general, this is not an aggressive animal. If you don't make him angry, he will be calm and affectionate.

But these mammals, of course, do not like excessive attention to themselves. Therefore, most often wild ferrets live in burrows.

They move by jumping. To do this, they have muscular limbs and short legs. They also often swim. Thanks to their long and sharp nails, they are excellent at digging holes and climbing trees.

Most heavy weight can reach two kilograms, and the smallest is about 200 grams.

If you look at a photo of a ferret, you will see its long and bushy tail. It can grow up to 20 centimeters in length. These mammals are covered with fur, usually dark at the ends but light at the roots.

There are, however, albino ferrets, and there are also completely black ferrets.

Habitat and lifestyle

Forest and steppe ferrets live in Russia. Some people think that ferrets don't live as long as other mammals. But average age furry mammals are about ten years old.

The animal's place of residence - a burrow - is usually hidden under bushes or near trees. Most often it is well hidden.

Few people know that ferrets lead a hunting lifestyle. Despite their cute appearance, they catch birds and even snakes, which can be twice the size of a clawed animal.

During frosts, especially in winter, ferrets try to find a warmer and more comfortable place. Therefore, they often live near settlements. They often hide in cellars and barns. At the same time, this behavior does not interfere with humans at all, since the little hunters catch all other rodents, thereby greatly helping people.

Ferrets as pets

Mammals from the weasel family have long been adapted to live among people. The ferret lived at home about two thousand years ago. Then they lived with people even more often than the same cats.

At the same time, they were often taken to hunt for rabbits. That's why many people keep them as pets. In general, ferrets adapt easily to humans.

The only drawback is that it will not be possible to satisfy your pet’s hunting needs at home.

Animals should be fed about twice a day. They are usually fed dry food and natural food. The diet includes fish, eggs, poultry meat. At the same time, pets do not need plant products, since they do not eat them in their environment. Also, you should not feed them dairy products - otherwise the animal may be poisoned.

Some people prepare special minced meat from organs and poultry meat. But the easiest way is to purchase food. They contain all the ingredients found in a ferret's normal diet. It is worth saying that they do not touch human food. At the same time, they are very clean and well-groomed.

Where ferrets live there is plenty of free space. Therefore, a special ferret cage is needed. It must be spacious and comfortable.

If you are thinking of keeping your ferret around other pets, then you should think carefully about it. They definitely won't get along with turtles, snakes and other reptiles. Any bird will also be considered prey.

A cat is best suited for living together. The ferret animal is easy to make friends with the feline family. But, if you decide to make friends with a dog, then definitely not with a hunting breed. A calm and not fearful dog will do.

Domestic ferrets must be neutered. Otherwise, during puberty, the animal will develop an unpleasant strong odor. The male must be castrated and the female must be sterilized.

Overall, a pet ferret will be for you true friend and will be an excellent defender. He easily makes friends with both adults and children. You can also play with it. But some animals love to sleep and spend time sleeping for more than two days.

Photos of ferrets

Ferrets are small carnivores similar to weasels. They are found in North America, in almost all European countries, in South-East Asia. In Russia they can be found in the European part, in some steppe regions, and in the Far East. Three species of these animals are known, one of them, the forest ferret, is domesticated. Descriptions of domestic ferrets (furo or ferrets) are found even in ancient authors, from which it follows that they were domesticated thousands of years ago.

Nowadays, animals are also often kept as pets for themselves and their children, they are raised, and they come up with names for ferrets. The animals reproduce well in captivity, so breeding them is not a problem.

What family does the ferret belong to? It belongs to the mustelidae, a genus of weasels and ferrets. Like all representatives of this family, it has an elongated and very flexible body. The legs are short and disproportionate to the body, which is why the animal looks squat. The body of ferrets is very resourceful and compact - they can crawl into any small gap. The length of the body is from 30 to 50 cm, depending on the type. Weight - from 600 g to 2 kg.

The head of ferrets is oval, elongated, the muzzle is slightly blunted at the tip of the nose. There are 28-30 teeth in the mouth, canines are well developed. The head sits on a long and mobile neck. The ferret's tail is long, from 13 to 18 cm, and fluffy hair grows on it. Legs are strong and muscular. The animals jump well, climb trees, and swim well. The paws have well-developed claws, thanks to which ferrets dig holes and cling to branches.

Animals have fur of medium length. It consists of undercoat and guard hairs. For most, the base of the hair is slightly lighter than the ends. After autumn molt the fur begins to shine very beautifully. Colors may vary depending on the species. All ferrets, except white ones, have black markings on their faces that resemble a mask. In the tail area, ferrets have glands that secrete a secretion with a very strong and unpleasant smell. With its help, animals scare away enemies and attract their fellows. You can see in more detail what ferrets look like in the photo.

Habitat and lifestyle

We told you what a ferret looks like, but where does this animal live? The animals inhabit forest, steppe and forest-steppe zones. They avoid places that are too open and do not live in dense taiga. They often settle near human habitation. A ferret in the wild becomes strongly attached to its habitat. It uses burrows as shelter, which it rarely digs itself. Prefers to occupy old ones left behind by badgers or foxes, and sometimes climbs into the hollows of old trees.

The ferret is a typical nocturnal animal. The animals go hunting after sunset. They wait for the victim in cover and attack using the effect of surprise. Ferrets feed on voles, rats, hamsters, and moles. A rodent caught in the clutches of a predator has little chance of escape.

These animals are very skilled hunters. in winter and in early spring When food is scarce, ferrets can eat insects, bugs, lizards, and sleepy fish near ice-covered bodies of water. Sometimes they eat quail eggs or eggs from other birds.

Animals rarely hunt domestic animals. Wild animals prefer to stay away from people and come close to housing only when there is little food in the forest or steppe. Animals harm poultry houses and eat baby rabbits, so farmers often set traps for ferrets. Adult birds wild representatives mustelids are rarely touched: the animal is too small, even a sleeping rooster or hen is beyond its strength. For the winter, the ferret can store food in its territory.

Reproduction and mating of ferrets lasts from the end of February until the last summer month. The age of puberty is 10-12 months. The mating occurs vigorously, there is no special mating ritual. The male attacks the female and forcibly holds her by the withers with his teeth. Often after mating season In females, shabby withers with bite marks are revealed. Obviously, they are happy to quickly get rid of annoying males, so they do not form stable pairs.

Ferrets bear offspring for 1.5 months. There can be from 4 to 18 cubs in a litter. Newborn animals weigh 5-10 g. Only the female wild ferret takes care of them. She feeds them for approximately 2-2.5 months breast milk. At 4 weeks the baby begins to produce meat.

Raising offspring lasts six months. Growing ferrets hunt with their mother, learning all the skills that will be useful to them in the wild. In the wild, ferrets live up to 5 years.

Types of ferrets

How many types of ferrets are there? In nature, there are three varieties and several subspecies:

• Steppe ferret (light or white ferret).
• Common forest or black ferret.
• American or black-footed ferret.

A subspecies of the steppe ferret is the Amur ferret, which lives in northern China and Russia, near the Amur River. The forest one is also known as the African ferret, fetka or furo. These are domesticated species, photographs of which can often be found on the Internet.

Steppe ferret

The steppe ferret can be called the largest, its body length is 52-56 cm, and its weight is 2 kg. The tail of this ferret reaches a length of about 18 cm. The guard hair is thin and brown. A light undercoat is visible from under it, so the fur becomes beige, almost White color. The tip of the tail and paws are dark, and a black or brown mask is clearly visible on the muzzle.

The steppe ferret lives in Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, and is also found in some areas of the European part of Russia. In the far east, northeast of China, lives the Amur variety, which is sometimes called the Siberian ferret. In the photo, it is almost no different from its relative, except perhaps a little larger, the difference between the main color and the color of the limbs is more pronounced.

The steppe ferret eats gophers, hamsters, mice and other rodents. It feeds much less frequently on birds and eggs, insects, lizards, and fish. During hungry periods, it approaches human habitation, can eat waste, and attack small domestic animals (rabbits, ducklings, chickens). Sometimes it eats poultry eggs. These ferrets are very fertile; one litter can have 7-18 babies. Each cub weighs about 5-7 g.

Forest ferret

The forest animal or black ferret is smaller in size than its steppe counterpart. The body length reaches 36-48 cm, weight - from 400 g to 1.5 kg. The length of the tail is 15-17 cm, in females it is 8.5-17 cm. Females are 1.5 times smaller than males. The color of the fur is black-brown, almost black on the chest, tail, paws and throat. The contrast between the colors of the paws and the tip of the tail is not pronounced. The muzzle is decorated with a dark mask. Absolutely white and red ferrets are found in the population.

The black forest ferret lives in Europe and throughout the European part of Russia. Ferrets make burrows on the edges of forests, clearings, and in not too dense groves. Here they are favorite places hunting. It is not for nothing that this ferret received the name “edge predator.” Ferrets feed on mice, voles, and sometimes eat snakes, lizards, fish, and frogs. They destroy hare holes by eating the young. They destroy bird nests with chicks and eggs. They can get close to the house, appear at the dacha and hunt for domestic animals. To catch an animal, they set a trap, the bait in it is a piece of meat.

This species has been tamed; the domesticated form of the forest ferret is called the ferret. The size of its body is about 50 cm, its weight is from 700 g to 2 kg, the length of its tail is about 13 cm. The colors are very different. Albino domestic ferrets are called furo.

Sometimes breeders mate ferrets with wild ferrets. The hybrid of this species with mink is called honorik. He is larger than an ordinary ferret, the characteristics and description of his appearance have the features of both parents.

American ferret

Animal American ferret- endangered animal. Several decades ago, in Mexico and the USA, it lived only in captivity. Now it is successfully adapted and resettled in natural habitats: there are already about 600 individuals in the wild. Hunting this ferret is strictly prohibited. It is the smallest among all species, its body size is 31-41 cm, weight - 650-1000 g, fluffy tail length - 11-15 cm.

Ferrets' fur consists of hair that is light at the base and dark at the tips, giving it a brown tint. The tip of the tail and paws are black, contrasting with the rest of the color. Natural habitat The habitats of the species are the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains in the USA, some areas of Mexico. Main power source - prairie dogs, the population of ferrets directly depends on their numbers. Additional food - voles, gophers, mice.

Color types of domestic ferrets

Domestic ferrets, or ferrets, are characterized by a wide variety of colors. Thanks to many years of selection, very beautiful views the fur of these animals. International system classifies the colors of fetches according to the following principle:

• Color type (white albino, black, different shades of brown).
• Pattern (Siamese, roan, solid, standard).
• White spots (flash with a spot on the head, panda, mittens).

Fetuses are divided into groups based on their color types. Albino animals with absolutely white fur, a pink nose and red eyes are considered separately.

Pastel group

These ferrets are characterized by a light coat color, from beige to brown. The pigment is distributed unevenly throughout the hair, which creates the effect of beautiful tinting. Brown ferrets stand apart in this group, their fur has pronounced orange and yellow shades. Here are the types of pastel ferrets:

• light;
• standard;
• dark;
• cinnamon.

Mother of pearl group

The hair of animals from this group is unevenly colored. The base is light, almost white. The tips are always dark, their color varies from gray to black. The following colors are distinguished in the group:

• standard mother-of-pearl;
• dark pearlescent.

Sable group

The sable group of ferrets is the most numerous. This color is as close to wild as possible. Shades vary from light yellow to almost black. They are distinguished in the group:

• standard sable;
• dark sable;
• black sable.

Golden ferrets

The golden ferret is a real Russian ferret, since it was bred in Russia. The fur of these animals is very beautiful. The undercoat ranges from yellow to bright orange. The guard hair is light at the base and dark at the tips, which is why the fur shimmers beautifully in different shades of gold. There is only one type in the group: gold.

Black group

The black color is provided by very dark and dense guard hairs. The undercoat may be lighter, but it is slightly translucent. These ferrets have black eyes and nose. The ferret's muzzle does not have a specific mask. The following dark color options are available:

• black;
• black selfie;
• black-solid (solid).

Pestel selfies

This group of ferrets has a fairly light coat, but, unlike ordinary pastel ferrets, their hair is completely colored, so the fur is closer to a single color and does not shimmer. The following types of colors are distinguished:

• Chocolate selfie resembles milk chocolate in color, the animals' nose is brown.
• Chocolate solid - more light shade, with brown undercoat.
• Champagne self - guard hair varies from beige to chocolate, the undercoat is light, the nose is pink.
• Cinnamon-self - the shade of the guard hair is brown with red tints, the undercoat is light, the nose is white.
• Dew - white ferrets with dark eyes.

Types of markings

Decorative ferrets can have colors with different markings. Depending on the tone, location, size, the following are distinguished:

• Marked - 40% of the outer hair on the entire body is colored, the remaining 60% is white.
• Silver - mother-of-pearl group ferrets with unevenly colored hair.
• Roan - the spine is unevenly colored, the percentage of the pigmented part is greater than in the previous two.
• Panda - the head and neck are noticeably lighter than the rest of the body.
• Blaze - a solid one stands out on the head white stripe.
• Mitt - the tips of the paws and tail are white.
• Point - there is a pronounced contrast between the colors of the fur on the body, paws and tips of the tail.
• Badger - a white stripe on the head with uneven contours or intermittent.
• Milk Mouse - there is a clear white spot around the face and eyes.
• Pinto panda - the pattern is the same as that of a regular “panda”, but the main fur is lighter.
• Harlequins are ferrets whose coloring is asymmetrical or difficult to classify.

The colors of animals may change slightly: after molting, they become lighter. Baby ferrets are also born with lighter fur; the pattern may not be clearly defined. Each color has its own pros and cons; you need to choose it according to your own taste.

Keeping a ferret has its own characteristics. This animal is a predator, and also nocturnal. Ferrets sleep during the day, but in the evening they are very active. These habits are characteristic of animals in the wild, but even at home they have largely retained their wild character. For small ferrets, it is best to buy an aviary or a spacious cage. It should have bedding, a crawling tube, a ring, feeders and a drinking bowl. They also need to be let out to walk around the apartment, since closed space they cannot stay long. From time to time, the ferret needs to be taken outside for a walk with a leash and collar. For long walks you may need to carry it.

What can you give your ferret to eat? This animal is an obligate predator, it eats only the meat of animals that are comparable to it, so you can feed ferrets chicken meat, turkey, rabbit, quail. Beef, pork, and lamb should not be given. They give eggs a couple of times a week, and low-fat cottage cheese every other day. The ferret has a habit of hiding food; he can drag it under the bed, cabinet or other secluded place.

Raising a ferret is not difficult: she is a very smart animal, almost like a puppy. The animal is easy to toilet train; training allows you to learn simple commands; they even come up with nicknames for ferrets, since they respond to their name. True, these animals have one bad habit: They love to dig in the ground. It is difficult to wean an animal off of it, so it is better to place the flowers in an inaccessible place so as not to constantly pick up soil from the floor with your hands. Some owners find walking around the apartment at night disturbing, but you can get used to it.

Life expectancy and illness

Everyone who wants to have a ferret at home is afraid that it smells bad, even stinks. To get rid of the smell, you need to bathe the ferret once a week. They also ask whether it is worth having a girl or a boy at home. The female ferret is very active, she will not give anyone peace. The boy is calmer, but he definitely needs to be castrated.

Tamed ferrets live at home for 8-10 years, some do not die at the age of 12 years. The following diseases are typical for this species:

• plague;
• rabies;
• viral or Aleutian plasmacytosis;
• flu;
• flea attack;
• rickets;
• allergies to shampoo, food, etc.;
• pathologies of the adrenal glands;
• catarrhal and bacterial enteritis;
• stones in the kidneys;
• insulinoma;
• lymphoma;
• inflammation of the glands near the anus.

If your ferret is not eating well, is sneezing, coughing, itching, has a fever, or is feeling sick and vomiting, you should definitely take the animal to the veterinarian. The specialist will be able to determine the cause of the problem and prescribe appropriate medications to treat the animal.

The most dangerous disease ferrets - rabies. If an infected ferret bites its owner, it threatens him mortal danger. The sick animal will have to be euthanized. Therefore, all pets need to be vaccinated.

You can learn how to properly keep a ferret by looking at photos and videos of booms.

Common ferret or, as it is also called the forest, black ferret, is common in Eurasia.

A large number of these animals live in England and throughout the European part of Russia, except the Caucasus, northern regions Karelia, Lower Volga region, Crimea.

There is also a population of black ferrets in northwest Africa. Because of its thick fur, the ferret is considered a valuable fur-bearing animal. However, the small population size does not make it possible to consider fishing for this animal profitable from a commercial point of view.

Appearance of a black ferret

The ferret has an appearance typical of all representatives of the mustelid family: a squat body with short limbs, at the ends of which there are long claws.

The animal has a very flexible elongated body. Ferrets vary in size depending on their habitat.

Males range in length from 35 to 46 cm, females are one and a half times smaller - 29-39 cm. Accordingly, the length of the tail of a male is 12-17 cm, that of a female is 29-39 cm.

Ferrets are nimble animals.

The weight of an adult animal is from 1 to 1.5 kg. in males, the female’s weight reaches 650-800 grams.
Ferret's fur color winter time black-brown with a whitish-yellow undercoat, which is not equally distributed on various parts bodies - hind legs and the back, the undercoat is completely covered with dark guard hairs.

The neck, chest and belly are black or black-brown, the fur on the legs is either black or black with a brown tint. The color of the fur on a ferret's face resembles a “mask”. Around the eyes and along the top of the nose the fur is brown and the surrounding fur is white. The tips of the animal’s rounded ears also have a white border.

In summer, the fur changes to coarse, short and sparse. The undercoat in the warm season is gray-brown in color and is poorly developed.

Behavior and nutrition of the forest ferret

Black Ferret Habitat – forested areas, groves interspersed with fields and meadows. Typical place The ferret's hunting areas are the edges of forests: on the one hand there is open space necessary for hunting, on the other there is the proximity of a forest in which one can hide.

Ferrets swim well, however, other members of the family do it better, for example, minks. To make a den, the black ferret uses abandoned or burrows; it very rarely digs a burrow for itself. The animal can make itself a refuge in an outbuilding, for example, in a barn, bathhouse, as well as in a cellar or woodpile.

Often such proximity to a human household provokes a ferret to attack domestic animals - various birds and rabbits. Therefore, villagers often suffer damage and ferrets are not liked.

Ferrets are excellent mousecatchers.

But this small predator is respected for its destruction, which forms the basis of its nutrition. The diet of ferrets also includes snakes, toads, birds, small and large insects and carrion. In winter, when ferrets suffer from food shortages, they have been spotted destroying hives.

Black ferrets hunt mainly at night; during the day, only severe hunger can force a ferret to leave its hole. The ferret watches his favorite food - various mouse-like rodents - near the burrows or catches them while running. When it catches the victim, it kills with a bite to the neck. Ferrets are aggressive and fearless hunters, attacking prey that is larger than them. Each black ferret lives in its own territory, but does not mark it and often shares it with other representatives of the same sex.

Reproduction

The breeding season for ferrets begins in April-May. 40-43 days after pregnancy, offspring are born.

The typical representative of the mustelid family is the ferret. They perfectly complement the fauna of the European part of our Motherland, living on forest edges, in the steppes and near large bodies of water. IN Lately They are often kept in homes, because a domestic ferret is a playful and active companion for any family member. However, of no less interest are the wild individuals of the ferret family - predators, aggressive and brave, who will definitely not allow themselves to be offended.

Appearance

The wild ferret is primarily brown and black in color, with darker tails, paws and muzzle. White fur goes on the forehead, chin and ears. Lighter fur also appears on the sides and belly of the animal. Sometimes you can find other variations of what a ferret looks like - with completely red fur or albino ferrets - these are called furo.

Shiny fur is not thick, but long - on the back it can reach up to 5-6 cm. The fur becomes fluffier after the molting period - late autumn, and before that it was not so easily soiled and lighter.

The shape of the head is oval, flattened on the sides. The head has a smooth transition line to the neck, flexible and long. Low ears with a wide base stick out on the head. The eyes are small but shiny; most often, brown eyes are found in trochees.

Ferrets have a very slender build. The animals grow from 30 to 50 cm in length. The legs are short (the hind legs are on average only 6-8 cm), but very strong and ideally developed for frequent digging of the ground. The limbs have five fingers with very sharp claws, so if you manage to catch a ferret, it will definitely be able to fend for itself.

Varieties

Stepnoy

The largest of all ferret species. They grow up to 56 cm, and their weight can exceed 2 kg. They are also called light because of the specific undercoat that shows through under the sparse brown hair. The color on the limbs and tail is dark, while the muzzle is painted with a mask.

It is not difficult to say how many years the steppe ferret lives - their age rarely exceeds 10-12 years.

Forest

The color of the forest ferret does not differ in the bright contrast of the color of the body and legs - the black-brown color of the body is complemented by the black color of the limbs and tail. They are inferior in size to their steppe counterparts - 38-48 cm in length, and weight from 500 g to 1.5 kg.

About 14 years is how long forest ferrets live, which is significantly longer than the life expectancy of their domesticated relatives.

Blackfoot (American)

The smallest individuals in the classification - their length rarely reaches 40 cm. Their fur is white at the base and dark at the tips. Overall this gives a picture of a beautiful yellow-brown color. There is a specific mask on the face.

The species is listed in the Red Book, and the life expectancy of black-footed ferrets does not exceed 6-9 years.

Habitats

Animal populations were distributed in the following geographical areas:

1. Steppe ferrets in Eastern Europe(Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine), Central Asia, on the territory of Russia (from Ural mountains before Far East) and in the eastern regions of China.
2. The forest ferret can be found almost everywhere in Eurasia, especially west of the Ural Mountains.
3. central part North America, namely east of Rocky Mountains- These are the places where black-footed ferrets live.

Habits and lifestyle

The wild ferret is a predatory animal, which is reflected in its distinctive features- aggressiveness and courage. They will not be intimidated by a confrontation with a larger opponent. Fearlessly taking on a fight is in the order of things for them.

In addition, ferrets are also characterized by ruthlessness towards their prey - by attacking a bird's nest, the animal will satisfy its hunger and then kill every inhabitant. And all this is said about a ferret - an animal that from the outside can be called very cute.

Ferrets do not form packs, but maintain contact with their closest relatives. Moreover, in these relationships one alpha male dominates, which is more clearly expressed both during normal times and during mating. But each of the individuals has its own territory for living, which they mark by making regular rounds.

The activity of the animal occurs at night. During the day the animal sleeps, having previously dug a hole for itself. The burrow can be permanent - with a small hole and a chamber, or temporary - if movements at dawn find the animal far from home. In this case, these small predators do not shy away from using other people’s holes - hare or badger ones. And when the weather is bad, the ferret can spend several days in the hole without leaving.

Nutrition

Ferrets are exclusively nocturnal animals. Only very strong hunger can force one to interrupt daytime sleep and go hunting during daylight hours.

The following representatives of the animal world become prey, namely what ferrets eat in nature:

• what the ferret eats first of all are small rodents: rats, hamsters, mice, gophers, moles and ground squirrels, hares and rabbits;
• lizards or small amphibious reptiles;
• They easily destroy found egg clutches, and sometimes attack birds.

Animals do not consume plant foods due to the characteristics of digestion. However, a ferret can get nutrients from, say, fruit by eating small herbivores. It is also worth noting that in difficult situations, if it is impossible to find anything that ferrets usually eat, they are able to eat the carcasses of already dead animals.

Reproduction

The mating period varies depending on the type of ferret: steppe ferrets begin the rut from the end of February, and forest ferrets - from April. Moreover, the rutting period may last until the end of the calendar summer.

Ferrets become mature enough to procreate at 10-12 months of their life. It is not customary for ferrets to have mating games, and the mating itself looks quite cruel: the male suppresses the female’s resistance in every possible way, biting her scruff and withers.

Females carry their offspring for almost a month and a half, and they have 4-12 cubs in a litter. Newborn ferrets are very helpless and are born blind, but development occurs quickly - after only two months of life, the mother begins to feed them meat.

Enemies

In winter, the main dangers for ferrets are wolves and foxes. A meeting with wild cats, birds of prey (eagles, golden eagles or night owls), as well as large snakes.

Among the creatures dangerous to ferrets, humans can also be mentioned. Its impact, namely the destruction of nature reserves, the construction of roads and housing in wild areas, can cause the disruption of the ferret ecosystem and the destruction of their habitats.

Domestication of the ferret

These animals can be domesticated - they are very playful and quickly get used to their owner (especially females). They can be trained to a litter box without any problems, but if the animal likes another place to relieve itself, then another container will need to be added there.

It is worth considering that due to natural influences they will not get along with birds, small rodents or reptiles. However, they are able not only to coexist with cats or non-hunting dogs, but also to be friends.

Curiosity is another one important quality these animals. So, you should prepare for the fact that the animal will regularly and carefully examine all possible nooks and crannies in the house, climb into trash cans (and sometimes fall asleep there), and also dig up soil in flower pots.

There is another point that you can pay attention to - their life expectancy. How long ferrets live at home mainly depends on proper care and maintenance, but on average it is 5-9 years.

Video

You will find interesting facts about ferrets in our video.