The graceful animal weasel: a pet or a fierce enemy?

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The ferret , or domestic ferret, is a very active and lively animal, and its behavioral needs are not easily met in a living environment such as our living rooms. However, ferrets are becoming increasingly popular as pets. The ferret is believed to be a subspecies of the ferret and has the same long body as the ferret and weasel.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Fretka

Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are small carnivores belonging to the marten family. The Romans used frets to hunt rabbits. Today they are widely accepted as pets. Handling and manually holding ferrets can be difficult, but most traditional dispensing methods are feasible. The ferret is a domestic animal that is considered native to Europe.

Fun Fact: The name fretka comes from the Latin word "furonem", which means thief, no doubt due to their mischievous nature: ferrets are notorious for stealing light or shiny objects and hiding them.

The ferret is thought to have been domesticated about 2,500 years ago, which is about the same age as other domesticated animals such as donkey and goat. The ferret is used to help farmers track rabbits, and it does this by crawling into rabbit burrows, using its flexible, incredibly shaped body to its advantage as the ferret itself is often smaller than many rabbits. The rabbit is afraid to leave the hole where the ferret has invaded, and uses one of the many other exits from the hole to get away from the intruder ferret.

Video: Fretka

Frets share many anatomical, metabolic and physiological characteristics with humans. They are used as experimental models in studies including cystic fibrosis, respiratory virological diseases such as sudden acute respiratory syndrome and influenza, lung cancer, endocrinology and neurology (especially neurological changes associated with brain and spinal cord injury).

Ferrets' ability to vomit—and their high sensitivity to it—make this species the most widely used animal model in vomiting research, especially for testing potential antiemetic compounds.

Eating in the wild

Although the skunk is relatively large, it is a typical rat eater. The main diet of the animal is:

• small rodents - mice, rats, gerbils, voles, moles, gophers and ground squirrels;
• frogs and toads;
• large insects such as locusts;
• hares and rabbits can enter animal burrows and strangle young animals;
• reptiles - lizards and snakes;
• small birds and their chicks, as well as eggs from broods on the ground;
• invertebrates such as worms;
• carrion - in the absence of other food sources, the ferret will not disdain carrion.

An interesting feature of the forest ferret is noted: when it attacks a bird’s nest or gets into a hare’s den, the animal completely destroys them and strangles all the individuals there. Even if he only eats a small part.

Appearance and features

Photo: What a ferret looks like

The ferret is a domesticated form of the European ferret, which it resembles in size and habits and with which it interbreeds. The ferret has yellowish-white (sometimes brown) fur and pinkish-red eyes. She is also slightly smaller than a ferret, averaging 51cm in length, including a 13cm tail. Weighs about 1 kg.

Domestic ferrets reach their adult size at the age of one year. A typical domestic female ferret weighs between 0.3 and 1.1 kg. Domestic ferrets exhibit sexual dimorphism. Males can weigh between 0.9 and 2.7 kg, and neutered males often weigh less than intact males. Domestic ferrets have a long and slender body. Females usually have a length of 33 to 35.5 cm, and males - from 38 to 40.6 cm. The average length of the tail is from 7.6 to 10 cm. Domestic ferrets have large fangs and only 34 teeth. Each paw has a set of five non-retractable claws.

The black-footed ferret is similar in color to the common ferret, but has black eye masks and brownish-black markings on the feet and the tip of the tail. She weighs a kilogram or less, males are slightly larger than females. Body length is 38-50 cm, tail length is 11-15 cm. Domestic ferrets have been bred for a wide variety of fur colors and patterns.

The seven common fur colors are called:

• sable;
• silver;
• black sable;
• albino;
• dark-eyed white;
• cinnamon;
• chocolate.

The most common of these colors is sable. Examples of pattern types are: Siamese or pointed pattern, panda, badger and flame. Besides their choice of specific fur colors, domestic ferrets closely resemble their wild ancestors, the European ferret (Mustela putorius).

Grison breeding

There is no specific season; grisons breed throughout the year. Before giving birth, the female sets up a den in a cave, hollow, under the roots of trees or in an abandoned hole.

Grisons eat their prey in a specially designated area.

Pregnancy lasts 39-40 days. One female brings from 1 to 4 babies, but most often 2 cubs. Newborns have their eyes closed and weigh only 50 grams. After 2 weeks, the cubs’ eyes open, and at 3 weeks they are already able to eat meat. They become completely independent at 4 months, by which time their anal glands are already active. Puberty occurs at 10-12 months.

There is a known case where newborn grison babies were fed by an ordinary domestic cat.

Where does the ferret live?

Photo: Homemade ferret

At present, almost no progress has been made in identifying the center of ferret domestication. It is believed that ferrets may have been domesticated from native European ferrets (Mustela putorius). There is evidence of domestic ferrets in Europe more than 2500 years ago. Currently, domestic ferrets are found throughout the world in homes as pets. In Europe, people sometimes use them for hunting.

The habitat of domestic ferrets was forest and semi-forest habitats near water sources. Domestic ferrets are kept as pets or working animals in human living quarters. Black-footed ferrets live in burrows and eat only dogs as prey and carrion. They were originally found living in populations ranging from southern Canada to the American West and northern Mexico. Since agricultural development on the Great Plains was largely eliminated, the ferrets nearly became extinct.

By 1987, the last members of the remaining population of 18 animals were captured from the wild in Wyoming, and a captive breeding program was begun. Of this group, seven females sired young that survived to adulthood. Since 1991, more than 2,300 of their descendants have been reintroduced to local populations in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Chihuahua, Mexico.

These reintroduction programs, however, have produced mixed results. While Utah, New Mexico, South Dakota and Kansas host self-sustaining populations, the species was classified as extinct in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) between 1996 and 2008. Following a population reassessment in 2008, the IUCN listed the black-footed ferret as an endangered species.

Now you know how to care for your ferret at home. Let's take a look at what you should feed your ferret.

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.

What does a ferret eat?

Photo: Ferret ferret

Ferrets are small carnivorous mammals and, therefore, the diet of pet ferrets should consist mainly of meat. In the wild, they mainly hunt mice and small rabbits, and sometimes they may be lucky enough to catch a small bird.

Domestic ferrets are natural carnivores and require a meat-like diet. Food for domestic ferrets must contain taurine, at least 20% fat and 34% animal protein. They can also be fed raw meat, but this alone is not enough. If they were in the wild, they would get nutrients from eating all parts of the animal, such as the liver, heart and other organs. Sometimes pet ferrets are fed supplements (vitamins) to meet nutritional needs that are not met by commercial foods.

Interesting fact: The metabolism of homemade ferret is very high, and food will pass through the digestive tract in 3-5 hours. Therefore, a domestic ferret will need to eat about 10 times a day. House ferrets also have an olfactory imprint. What they are fed during the first 6 months of their life is what they will recognize as food in the future.

The ferret needs a lot of fresh water and a diet high in fat and protein. Many ferret owners give them cat or kitten food, which is largely due to the fact that there is simply very little food available for ferrets. In any case, you'll want to avoid fish and fish-flavored fish food, which can create a litter box odor problem, and don't feed your ferret dog food, as this will fill her up without providing some essential nutrients.

You should also not give your ferret food that people eat, as many foods are toxic or indigestible. Chocolate, caffeine, tobacco products, cola, coffee, tea, ice cream, milk and onions should be avoided. However, ferrets need variety and will do almost anything for fun, including training techniques such as sitting, toe walking, begging and rolling over. You can reward your pet for desired behavior or simply add variety to your ferret's diet with vegetables, fruits and treats.

Diet of grisons

The diet of these animals has not been studied well; it is known that they hunt small vertebrates, mainly mammals and birds.

In agricultural areas, grisons attack native chickens.

After testing their stomachs, it was found that grisons feed on cottontail hamsters, long-eared doves, spiny rats, mountain pigs, North American possums and amphibians, they even eat toads. In Panama they feed on eels, agoutis and characins. Often grisons take their prey to a shelter where they eat it. They kill their victims with a quick bite to the neck.

In case of danger, the grison makes a warning sound, jumps to the side, raising its tail and spraying an odorous secretion from the anal glands.

In captivity, grisons are fed a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates: grasshoppers, spiders, cockroaches. They are also given eggs, fruits and canned food.

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Fretka at home

Today, the ferret is becoming an increasingly popular pet around the world, thanks to its small size and calm temperament. A number of countries have laws to restrict the use of ferrets to try to prevent them from becoming pests, as ferrets can be quite destructive if released into the wild, especially if they are not native to the country.

Most ferrets spend an average of 18 hours sleeping each day, and they have been noted to sleep for about six hours at a time before waking up to play and eat, and typically return to sleep patterns after about an hour or so Togo. Ferrets are also most active at dusk and dawn, when they are not completely light or dark.

House ferrets are naturally crepuscular, with periods of activity during dawn and dusk. They often change this activity period depending on when their owner is around to give them attention. Domestic ferrets are playful and picky. They often communicate with other beloved ferrets, cats and dogs in a friendly manner. Domestic ferrets will seek attention. They are naturally inquisitive and will tunnel into or under anything. They can be taught tricks and respond to discipline. Pet ferrets have a habit of urinating and defecating in the same places and can therefore be trained to use a litter box.

Ferrets are known for their game of hide and seek, which is especially noticeable in those kept as pets. While it's not known exactly what the ferret will be hiding, owners have reported finding caches of everything from toys to remote controls and keys, and even bags of onions and pizza slices.

Ferrets use different body languages. Some of these behaviors are dancing, fighting, and chasing. They will "dance" when they are happy and excited, jumping in all directions. Fighting is a behavior that involves two or more ferrets. They will roll around with each other, bite and kick, usually in a playful manner. Stalking involves sneaking up on a toy or other animal in a low position.

What does a wood ferret look like?

The ferret is small in size, outwardly a typical representative of its family.

Constitution

The body is elongated, flexible, stocky with short but strong legs. This structure allows it to quietly approach 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, of different colors, from dark gray to black. However, in nature there are also individuals of brown, reddish, yellow color, and there are also representatives of albinos.

Color is never monotonous. Consequently, the tail, belly and legs are always darker than the body, and there is a white mask on the face, which is characteristic of a 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 animal 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, embroidered with beads;
• the paws are short and thick, even in the largest individuals the length of the hind legs is only 6-8 cm;
• there are 5 toes on the paws, between which there are membranes;
• The ferret has 28-30 teeth, of which 4 canines, 12 premolars, 12-14 incisors;
• There are special glands near the animal’s tail, which, in case of danger, secrete a secretion with a foul odor.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: Baby ferrets

Male domestic ferrets will mate with as many females as they have access to. Male ferrets have a hooked penis. Once they have penetrated the female, they cannot be separated until the male is free. Males will also bite the back of the female's neck during mating. Homemade frets have a seasonal polyester cycle. Domestic ferrets - males fall into the rut from December to July, females - between March and August. Males are ready to breed when they develop a discolored yellowish undercoat. Increased oil production in the skin glands causes a change in the color of the undercoat.

A female in estrus is defined by a swollen, pink vulva due to increased estrogen. Females may go into lactation in some cases. Lactational estrus occurs when the litter size is less than 5 pups. Lactational estrus is the period when the female returns to estrus as she lactates the litter she just had. Healthy domestic ferrets can have up to three successful litters per year and up to 15 young.

The duration of pregnancy is about 42 days. Young domestic ferrets suffer at birth and require parental care for about 8 weeks. Cubs are born deaf and with their eyes closed. Newborns usually weigh between 6 and 12 grams. Children's incisors appear 10 days after birth. The eyes and ears open when they reach 5 weeks. Weaning occurs at 3-6 weeks of age. At 8 weeks, the cubs have 4 permanent canines and are capable of eating solid food. This is often the time when breeders release their babies to new owners. Females reach sexual maturity at the age of 6 months.

Grison lifestyle

Grisons walk several kilometers a day, looking for food. They move quickly along a zigzag path. Even at maximum speed, they never gallop.

When they explore unfamiliar territories, they slowly sneak around, practically pressing their belly to the ground, while seeming to push forward with their hind legs.

Grisons are sure to look into any holes, empty tree trunks and other secluded corners they encounter along the way. During the day, they sometimes rest in abandoned agouti burrows.

Grisons, as a rule, are active during the daytime, but sometimes they can look for food at night. At noon, for 4-5 hours, grisons rest.

When settling near human habitation, grisons often cause significant damage by attacking poultry. Their sense of smell is excellent, but their vision is weak. Grisons can swim well and dive well.

The grison has a brave and bloodthirsty character.

Near the anus, grisons have glands that produce a musky secretion. It has a strong odor, but less unpleasant than that of other mustelids. If a grison is disturbed, it will jump to the side, ruffle the hair on its tail and release musky fluid from its anal glands. With such a jet, grisons can hit a specific target quite accurately. Apart from humans, grisons have no enemies. In captivity, the life expectancy of grisons reaches 10 years.

Natural enemies of ferrets

Photo: What a ferret looks like

Ferrets are preyed upon by golden eagles and great horned owls, as well as other carnivores such as coyotes and badgers. Poisons used to control them, especially sodium monofluoroacetate and strychnine, likely contribute to deaths when ferrets eat poisoned animals. Additionally, black-footed ferrets are extremely susceptible to many infectious diseases such as canine distemper. Bubonic plague may severely reduce prairie dog populations and thus cause food shortages for black-footed ferrets, but it is unknown whether ferrets themselves become infected with the plague.

Domestic ferrets have no natural predators because they are domesticated. Predators such as hawks, owls or larger carnivorous mammals would hunt them if they had the chance. On the other hand, pet ferrets can be predators of certain animals. They were known to kill poultry. Domestic ferrets will also hunt rabbits and other small game when used for breeding by their owners. There are also records of ferrets being used to control rodent populations on ships during the American Revolutionary War.

Domestic ferrets are not able to survive for long in the wild. As pets, they can live 6-10 years. There are several diseases and disorders that can shorten the lifespan of pet ferrets if left untreated.

Some of these diseases and disorders include:

• canine distemper;
• feline distemper;
• rabies;
• parasites;
• bone marrow suppression;
• insulinoma;
• adrenal gland diseases;
• diarrhea;
• cold;
• flu;
• ringworm;
• heatstroke;
• urinary stones;
• cardiomyopathy.

Natural enemies of the forest ferret

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

• Wolves. Although ferrets are fast runners, they are rarely able to escape a wolf in open areas. Therefore, they try to avoid open spaces and settle where there are a lot of bushes and similar shelters.
• Foxes. Another terrestrial predator, not averse to feasting on the forest ferret. Especially in winter, when foxes lack food. A cunning fox can also lead a ferret to its own shelter if it is really hungry.
• Lynx. The insidious “master of ambush” predator leaves the animal no chance of survival. The sharp teeth can chew through a ferret in one bite.
• Stray dogs. If a ferret approaches a populated area, a dog may be waiting for it.
• Predator birds. At night, when the ferret goes out hunting, it is also hunted by owls or owls. During the day, golden eagles and hawks are dangerous. Although often a fight with a bird ends in victory for the ferret, since it is able to fight back aggressively and without fear.
• Human. The human factor cannot be excluded from this list, since it is a person who can reduce the number of animals by illegally extracting valuable furs. Ferrets are also affected by human activities such as deforestation.