Wild forest polecat. Is a ferret a funny animal or a fearless predator? Ferret is dangerous

The wild ferret belongs to the weasel family. This small animal is distinguished by intelligence, dexterity and good learning abilities. But catching him is not as easy as it seems at first glance.

First you need to find out what this animal looks like, what it eats and what its habits are. You also need to prepare a suitable home and living conditions for the animal to feel as at ease as possible. You will also have to choose a fishing method. At the same time, you need to understand that even experienced hunter It is not always possible to catch a ferret the first time, so you will have to be patient.

To understand how to catch a wild ferret, you must first figure out a number of important points. The first thing you should become familiar with is the appearance of ferrets. Many people, when they say the word “ferrets,” mean several small predators, from weasels to stoats. Yes, they all belong to the weasel family, but they differ even in appearance, just look at their photos. Their habits are no less different.

You also need to understand that the methods of catching the same animal differ depending on the purpose of the capture. In particular, for those who want to keep ferrets at home, a number of methods used by hunters or farmers are not suitable.

Yes, these animals are caught for their valuable fur, and also to protect poultry. The fact is that most mustelids are very bloodthirsty. Ferrets are not dangerous to humans, for the most part, but they pose a significant threat to chickens, ducks or rabbits, and to other birds and small animals raised on farms. For this reason, most farmers do not keep domestic ferrets, as well as other mustelids: these animals are incompatible with poultry farming or rabbit farming.

To catch ferrets, you should not resort to the methods that hunters usually use, because these animals are most often caught for their beautiful and fluffy skin. Of course, when catching it, it is important not to spoil it, but for this it is not necessary to leave the caught animals alive. There are even so-called humane traps. But their humanity lies only in the fact that they quickly kill the animals without spoiling their skin. Otherwise, these are the same traps that are designed to kill. And although caught ferrets die quickly, this does not change the essence of the matter.

Habits of wild ferrets

Wild ferrets have two unusual properties, which every catcher should know about. Firstly, wild animals of this species are territorial. They diligently protect their habitat from the encroachments of relatives and other violators. Moreover, the size of the one who invaded their territory does not play a role here. But the thing is that if these animals lose their rightful territory, they literally lose the right to life. They have nowhere to hunt, and also nowhere to hide from dangers and bad weather. IN wildlife the ferret that fails to acquire territory for itself always dies. These animals always fight desperately for their place and their lives.

The second characteristic of wild ferrets that is worth knowing about is their relatively weak heart. It often happens that an animal caught in a live trap is so desperately trying to get out that its body simply cannot withstand the adrenaline rush and the animal’s heart literally breaks. Of course, this does not happen every time, but such an outcome is more than possible. The thing is that instinct makes wild ferrets fight to the last, no matter what. But if an animal is injured while trying to escape, it would be inhumane to release it. He will be expelled from occupied territory and it will inevitably perish. In this case, he must either be released or finally put out of his torment.

Traps for catching wild ferrets

There are several types of traps that can be used to catch a ferret. You can make them yourself, or you can buy them at a specialized hunting store. When purchasing, it is important to choose exactly the device that allows you to catch the animal alive, because a dead animal cannot be tamed.

In addition to a live trap, you may need a few more things to catch, which will also be useful to a wild ferret catcher:

• Thick and durable gloves or mittens.
• Dense clothing that is impervious to the animal’s teeth.
• Bait for a trap.
• Wormwood infusion.

It is not difficult to explain why all this is required. Thick clothing and strong gloves are needed to protect yourself from the animal, because when caught it will desperately resist, and wild ferrets have sharp teeth. If we talk about bait, then you need raw meat that smells of blood: the ferret always reacts to it. You can enhance the effect with the help of special attractants, which are made based on the glands of ferrets. A strong infusion of wormwood is needed to remove the smell of a person.

Homemade traps for catching ferrets in winter

This type of live trap can only be used in areas where it is quite cold and harsh winter. The trap is made as follows. Water is poured into a metal bucket and placed outside. To do this, you need the temperature to be as low as possible. When an ice wall of at least 8-10 mm thick forms on the walls of the vessel, pour out the water and carefully remove the ice from the bucket. Under no circumstances should it be broken. A hole is drilled in the bottom of the future ice trap so wide that a ferret can crawl through it.

The resulting trap is placed on the ground with the bottom up. The main thing is that the animal cannot make a tunnel for itself. The bait is placed inside the live trap, after which all that remains is to wait. If the ferret smells blood, then he will definitely climb inside, but will not be able to get out, and if he does not die from cardiac arrest, then he can be placed in a cage and taken home.

The trap is not the most difficult to make, but warm regions it is not always convenient to use. And here you can use a different design.

An ordinary cage with fairly strong rods is used as the basis for the trap. The door should close vertically. A kind of pharmacy scale is made under the ceiling. On one side, a bait is tied to the “scales”. And on the other side there is a door. When the bait is removed from the rope, the cage door slams shut under its own weight. That's it, now the ferret is locked in a trap. To understand exactly how it is tripled, just look at a series of simple and understandable photos and videos.

Taming a wild ferret

The first thing anyone trying to tame a wild ferret should learn is that it is not easy to do. An animal will never be as friendly as one born in captivity. An adult animal will never fully trust the one who caught it, but the offspring of this animal will be much easier to train, but for this you still need to be able to catch a couple of animals.

Everything is complicated by the fact that the ferret does not like to be handled alive. At the same time, you need to understand: the older the animal, the more difficult it is to establish contact with it. Even young ferrets at the age of 1.5-2 months are not distinguished by gullibility, and an adult and experienced ferret will not trust a person in principle.

Those who tame such an animal must have a good supply of patience. Firstly, this relative of the marten must be allocated a separate corner, as close as possible to its natural habitat. It won’t be a one-on-one place like in the wild, but the animal should be comfortable there. For consultation, you can see the corresponding photos.

Secondly, when keeping an animal at home, you need to disturb it as little as possible for some time. Otherwise, the ferret will have a nervous breakdown or heart attack. Moreover, it will take at least 1-2 months for the animal to come to its senses, only after which it will be possible to continue the taming process.

To begin with, it is worth making sure that the ferret gets used to the presence of the owner. At first, he will probably hide in the farthest corner of the pen or, conversely, will violently throw himself at the bars of the cage. It is necessary that such obvious manifestations of hostility are not observed. Next, you need to check how quickly the ferret begins to feed after the owner leaves. It is necessary to get him to agree to eat in the presence of a person.

It is worth giving the animal a nickname and contacting it periodically: over time, it will begin to react to it one way or another. But there is no need to rush and try to feed the animal by hand. This will end with the owner's fingers being bitten. In general, the taming process can take six months or a year.

Feeding a wild ferret

The diet of wild and domestic ferrets is not fundamentally different. It’s enough to look at photos of destroyed chicken coops to understand what these animals eat. Yes, these are confirmed predators. They should not be given sweets, flour or dairy products. Vegetables or cereals should be in the diet in the most minimal quantities. The basis of the diet will be raw meat, tripe and some fish. Perfect option- give the ferret killed mice or poultry chicks.

Here's what they say about feeding frequency:

“To say that a ferret is an active creature means to say nothing. These animals are constantly on the move, constantly climbing or running somewhere. And this affects their metabolism. These animals need to constantly eat. It may not be a good idea to feed them large portions. But feeding will be required 6-7 times a day. In particular, this applies to wild ferrets, which in nature constantly need to hunt.”

Conclusion

The wild ferret is a very beautiful and interesting animal. It looks great in photos and in different descriptions, but taming it is very difficult even for an experienced person. This will require knowledge, suitable housing and a lot of patience. Without all this, it is better not to even try to tame the animal.

Ferret (ferret) - carnivorous mammal, belongs to the mustelidae family, the genus of ferrets and weasels ( Mustela), subgenus Putorius.

Ferret - description, characteristics, structure. What does a ferret look like?

The body of ferrets, like most mustelids, is elongated, flexible and very squat, due to disproportionately short legs. The ferret's limbs are very strong and muscular, thanks to which the animals easily move by jumping and swim well. The toes end in long, strong claws, which allow ferrets to deftly climb trees and dig deep holes.

The average body length of adult males is about 50 cm; female ferrets are always smaller and grow up to 40 cm in length. The weight of a ferret, depending on the species, ranges from 300 g to 2 kg.

The ferret has a long flexible neck, a neat oval-shaped head and an elongated muzzle, slightly blunted towards the tip of the nose. Ferrets are particularly proud of their fluffy tail, which grows to 13-18 cm in length.

A ferret's fur typically consists of thick, soft underfur and guard hairs, which are usually lighter at the base and darker at the tip. After the autumn molt, the ferret's fur acquires a characteristic shine and becomes especially beautiful.

Fur color depends on the species and can vary from a light sandy shade to almost black or completely white in albino ferrets.

All trochees (except for species with a white color) have a peculiar pattern on their muzzle, reminiscent of a black mask.

Near the ferret's tail there are special glands that secrete a specific secretion, which has a sharp, pungent odor and is used by the animals to scare off enemies. Of all the senses, the ferret has a well-developed sense of smell, which is what the animals rely on when hunting.

In total, the ferret has 28-30 teeth: 12-14 incisors, 12 false-rooted teeth, premolars, and there is also a pair of fangs on each jaw.

The lifespan of a ferret in the wild is about 3-4 years; in captivity, ferrets live up to 5-7 years.

Enemies of the ferret in nature

The main enemies of ferrets in the wild are more large predators:, often young ferrets become prey to feathered predators - and. In some areas, the ferret is a valuable game animal, so the animals are mercilessly exterminated for the sake of warm, soft and beautiful fur.

Types of ferrets, photos and names

The classification of ferrets includes 3 main types:

1. , aka light ferret or white ferret, also known as steppe, light or white ferret(Mustela eversmanni)

a large ferret, growing up to 52-56 cm in length with a body weight of up to 2 kg. The length of the tail of adult individuals is 18 cm. The light-colored ferret has long but sparse guard hair of a brownish color, so a dense underfur shines through the fur - additional hair of a lighter tone. The limbs, tail or its tip are dark in color, and the muzzle is covered with a mask. Steppe ferret eats quite varied. In the warm season, pikas and invertebrates become its prey. To a lesser extent, amphibians and birds are food. In winter, the diet is limited to hamsters and voles, which can be caught in the steppe. Since digging rodent burrows becomes impossible, the animals are content with carrion and food waste that they find near people’s homes, and in the spring they pick up dead fish in river floods. If there is a sufficient amount of food, the animals avoid populated areas. Female steppe ferrets are extremely fertile and give birth to about 7-10 and even up to 18 cubs. On European territory ferrets live in the Czech Republic, eastern Austria, southern Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, northern Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland. In addition, ferrets are found in the Middle and Central Asia, in the steppes, forest-steppes and semi-deserts of Russia from its European part to Far East, as well as in eastern China.

• • The only subspecies of the light-colored ferret is Amur steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanni amurensis)

The body length of the animal reaches 56 cm, the tail length is 18 cm, and the weight is no more than 2 kg. The color of the fur is dominated by white and yellowish tones. The animal's abdomen is light, the tip of the tail and paws are black, and there is a pattern in the form of a mask on the muzzle. The main part of the population of the subspecies is concentrated in the northeast of China; in Russia it is found in the steppe landscapes of the Middle Amur.

1. Forest ferret, aka common ferret or black ferret, which is also called ordinary, dark or black ferret(Mustela putorius )

The forest ferret is smaller in size than its steppe relative: the body length is about 36-48 cm, weight from 400 g to 1.5 kg, and females are 1.5 times smaller than males. The tail of the male ferret has a length of 15 to 17 cm, in females it is 8.5-17 cm. Unlike the steppe animal, the color of the black ferret does not have a sharp contrast between the color of the legs and body. The main color of mature individuals is black-brown, and the legs, tail, throat and dewlap are almost black. The muzzle is decorated with a characteristic mask. Pure white or red ferrets are also common in the population. The basis of the forest ferret's diet is mice and voles; additional food is snakes, frogs, birds and their eggs. Forest ferrets tear open holes and eat their offspring. Individuals living near populated areas will not miss the opportunity to feast on rabbits and poultry. Unlike the fertile steppe ferret, the female black ferret gives birth to only 4-6 pups. Forest ferrets live throughout Eurasia, especially in Western Europe and practically throughout the entire European territory of Russia. The animal prefers groves and woodlands and waits for prey on the edges of forests, which is why it is called an “edge” predator. Together with weasels, the black ferret was brought to New Zealand to destroy rodents, where it successfully took root and became a threat to the local island fauna.

• • Ferret (domestic ferret, African ferret), also known as furo ( Mustela putorius furo)

domesticated form of the black ferret. Scientists and livestock breeders use the name “furo” exclusively to refer to albino ferrets, although a domestic ferret can be an animal of any solid color (white, black, brown) or a combined type of color. The body length of an adult domestic ferret is about 51 cm with a body weight of 700 g to 2 kg. The length of the tail reaches approximately 13 cm. Furo is bred both in its pure form and by crossing with natural views. The Poles nicknamed the hybrid of the furo and the forest ferret “thuzhofretka,” which in Russian sounds like “chorefretka.”

As a result of crossing the forest ferret with the ferret, the golden ferret, the first Russian breed of ferrets.

This is a large animal with thick silky fur, which is distinguished by black guard hairs with orange underfur. Female golden ferrets reach a length of 39 cm, males are larger - their body length is 46 cm.

1. American ferret, aka black-footed ferret(Mustela nigripes)

a rare species of North American predators, which is protected by the United States and is listed in the Red Book as endangered. The body length of the American ferret does not exceed 31-41 cm, and the body weight ranges from 650 g to 1 kg. The animal's fluffy tail grows up to 11-15 cm in length. The hair is white at the base and dark at the tips, which gives the impression of an overall yellow-brown color. The tip of the ferret's tail and limbs are black, and there is a distinctive black mask on the face. American ferrets live in the central United States, in the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains. Ferrets feed on mice, voles, and ground squirrels, but the survival of the black-footed ferret is entirely dependent on the population prairie dogs, which are its main source of nutrition. One colony of blennies covers 50 hectares of prairie and can support only one adult ferret, with one family of ferrets requiring about 250 rodents per year to survive. In the 1980s, the remaining representatives of the American ferret species were caught for artificial breeding and released into the wild in some states of the United States and Mexico in order to revive the population.

Honorik is an artificially produced hybrid of a ferret (bred by crossing the steppe and forest ferrets) and the European mink. Honoriki rarely appear in the wild in areas where the ranges of these 3 species overlap. Honoriki are larger than their parents and inherit their traits equally. Outwardly, the animals resemble a mink, and their black, shiny guard hair with a thick brown underfur is very similar to sable fur. From ferrets, the animals got large ears with a light border around the edges. Honoriki, like minks, are excellent swimmers, and from trochees they adopted the ability to dig holes. Their own character trait is rare aggressiveness and inability to get along with people.

Where do ferrets live?

Ferrets live in European countries (including England), the USA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, China, countries of Central and Central Asia, and northwest Africa. In my time forest ferrets brought to New Zealand to control rats and mice, and as a result the predators spread there. The habitat of ferrets is steppes, semi-deserts, sparse forested areas and even settlements. The animals avoid open areas and dense taiga. Ferrets lead sedentary image life, are strongly attached to their habitat and are typical nocturnal predators. Ferrets extremely rarely dig holes and more often occupy the homes of other animals, for example, foxes or, they can settle in the voids of old trees, in a haystack, a firewood shed or in a pile of dead wood.

What do ferrets eat?

Ferrets do not have a cecum, and due to low amylase synthesis, their body does not absorb food well. plant foods. The basis of the animals' diet is different kinds small rodents: voles, mice, hamsters, water rats. In the spring, animals destroy bird nests, dig up hare holes, large species attack muskrats and gophers. A small part of the diet consists of large species of insects, frogs, fish, snakes, etc. Animals prepare for winter in advance by storing excess food in their homes.

The main method of ferret hunting is to lie in wait for prey at the entrance to the shelter. In other cases, you have to run and catch the prey. Often, hunger forces ferrets to eat carrion and food waste, destroy poultry houses and rabbit farms. And the bad reputation of ferrets as arrogant and unprincipled predators is greatly exaggerated, largely due to the ignorance of people themselves. Most of the “sins” are pinned on animals in vain and crimes committed by martens, weasels and foxes are attributed to animals.

Ferret breeding

The breeding season of ferrets depends on their habitat and lasts from February to the end of summer. In steppe ferrets, the rut occurs in early spring. For forest ferrets, the rut begins in April-May, sometimes in the second half of June. The sexual maturity of the animal occurs at the age of 10-12 months, and special marriage rituals not observed among animals. Ferret mating occurs violently and aggressively: the male ferret grabs the female by the scruff of the neck, despite her resistance. Therefore, after the process is completed, females are often left with shabby withers, on which traces of the male’s teeth are visible.

The pregnancy of a female ferret lasts on average 1.5 months, and the litter ranges from 4 to 18 cubs. The weight of newborn ferrets is about 5-10 g; the cubs are born blind and helpless, but grow and develop quite quickly. Breast-feeding lasts about 2-2.5 months, and the mother begins to feed 4-week-old cubs with meat.

At the age of 7-8 weeks, young ferrets are already able to hunt, although they continue to feed on their mother’s milk. In case of any danger, the mother selflessly protects her offspring.

Up to six months, young ferrets hunt together with the female, gaining useful skills, and then move on to independent life.

Ferret colors with photos

According to Russian classification There are 3 color options for ferrets:

• Pearlescent color(it includes silver and sable colors). The general color of a ferret's fur is light cream and may have an ash or silver tint. The awn is black or brown, the tips of the hair are cream or gray.
• Golden color. The general color of ferrets is yellowish or closer to orange. The awn is black, the tips of the hair are red.
• Pastel color. The overall color is light cream. The guard hairs are light brown and may have a smoky tint. The ends of the hair are light gray or cream.

According to the American classification from the AFA (American Ferret Association), there are 8 colors and 4 colors of ferrets, however, this classification is also not complete and does not include all the color variety of the fur of these animals. The color of a ferret usually means the color of the guard hair and underfur, as well as the color of the eyes and nose. Coloring refers to a pattern that is formed by combining different colors. Another characteristic of a ferret's fur are marks, spots, which, depending on their location or combination, are divided into several variations.

The AFA recognizes the following colors for ferrets:

• albino(albino, red-eyed white)

Fur with white underfur (sometimes with light cream patches) and awns of the same shade. A ferret's eyes are always red, his nose is only pink;

• black

The guard hair is black. The underfur is white or golden in color. Ferrets of this color have black eyes and a nose of the same color (a motley nose is allowed);

• sable

The awn is warm brown, the underfur is white, cream or light golden in color. The eyes can be brown or almost black, the nose is brown or light brown, there are individuals with spotted noses and with a T-shaped pattern;

• black sable

The fur is distinguished by black-brown or dark ash guard hair with a pronounced glossy sheen and underfur from white to cream tones. The ferret's eyes are dark, almost black, the nose is black-brown and may be spotted;

• champagne

The guard hair is colored brown or light brown, the shade of the underfur varies from white to cream, without splashes of yellowness. Eyes cherry or dark cherry color, nose pink, beige or pink with a T-shaped stripe of brown color;

• chocolate

The awn is “milk chocolate” color, the underfur is white or with a slight yellowish tint. The ferret's eyes are dark cherry or brown, the nose can be light beige, pink, pink with dark stripes in the shape of the letter T, sometimes there are individuals with a brick-colored nose;

• cinnamon

The guard hair is colored a rich shade of red-brown, the underfur is golden, sometimes pure white. The ferret's eyes are light or dark brown, the nose is pink or not completely colored.

• dark-eyed white

The awn and underfur vary from pure white to light cream. A ferret's eyes can be dark cherry or dark brown, and the animal's nose is always pink.

According to the AFA, ferrets are classified not only by color, but also by coloration, which is determined by the color of the nose, the type of mask on the animal's face, and the concentration of color on the legs, tail and body. There are 4 types of colors:

• Siamese (siamese),
• roan
• solid
• standard

In addition, it is customary to take into account the presence of peculiar spots and marks on the ferret. white: depending on their location (on the tail, muzzle, body, limbs, head or neck), the American Ferret Association designates variations under the names:

• Blaze (blaze - flash),
• Mitts (mits - mittens),
• Panda (panda).

10 warnings for new ferret owners. The first thing you should remember about risk is that even one single mistake on your part can cost your ferret his life! Be careful! This can save your pet's life.

Windows and doors.

Valves won't help! It has long been known that ferrets can push them aside, open a window and fall out. Make sure all windows and doors are closed when your ferret is roaming free. It only takes one minute for a ferret to escape! Also watch your step when closing doors to avoid pinching your ferret.

Plants.

Ferrets are, by nature, burrowing animals, and this poses some dangers. Some soils and plants can be toxic to them. Even if the plant is not poisonous to your ferret, it can cause a blockage. gastrointestinal tract, because The ferret's digestive tract is not designed to digest vegetation. Make sure everything is houseplants are out of their reach.

Electrical outlets and cords.

Protect all electrical appliances as you would from small child. Buy plastic covers for cords and plugs, they are sold freely at computer stores. Make sure they are tight and secure. As an additional precaution, cover the outlet with a special cover.

Electrical cords and computer cables are a very dangerous source of entertainment for ferrets. Try removing these cords. You can tie them together with telephone wires and hang them high enough that your ferret cannot reach them. Also keep an eye on cords from lamps, irons and other heavy objects. By pulling the cord, the ferret can drop the object on itself, which will cause severe injury and even death.

Rubber.

Anything rubbery is sure to attract your ferret's attention. The rubber product could be swallowed and cause an intestinal blockage, which could result in expensive surgery and, if unlucky, fatal. Make sure that the ferret does not have easy access to rubber things; be careful with rubber parts on doors; even an ordinary shoe insole or doormat or bathroom rug can pose a danger. Veterinarians say that it is rubber things that cause the blockage; the number of rubber parts removed from ferrets is much greater than all others.

Furniture.

Unfortunately, a safe life is not for ferrets. Even ordinary furniture can become for them mortal danger. Several ferrets have already been injured because they climbed into the inside of a sofa or chair on which unsuspecting owners sat. Ferrets can crawl on interior floors and upholstery, and this is very dangerous for them. The owner or guest sits down, lies down, reclines, or dismantles/assembles the sofa, and the ferret caught inside can be crushed or pinched. To keep your pet safe, remove such sofas and chairs from your home, or place them in another room where your ferret cannot access, or keep an eye on your pet's location at all times.

Heaters and fans.

Make sure they don't work when your ferret is running freely around the room. Ferrets can injure their little feet in fans and heaters can be knocked over, causing burns or fires.

Shelves, drawers.

Ferrets often use shelves as steps to climb to higher places. They can easily push back what you think is firmly in place. You'll want to use child locks on drawers, especially those that hold medications or harmful chemicals. Locks can also save you from embarrassment if your ferret brings your laundry into the room while you are entertaining guests. This has happened before!

Bin.

Any rubbish, be it in the kitchen or bathroom, must be removed. Ferrets will teach you order! Leftover food hazardous waste, paper, etc. can kill your ferret. Even a simple video from toilet paper can become dangerous if the ferret puts his head in there and will not be able to free himself. Store garbage containers in places that are difficult for ferrets to reach.

Wash.

Ferrets love dirty laundry and washing machines. Check the laundry basket and itself several times washing machine and make sure your ferret is not there before you press start. Ferrets also love pipes of all kinds. Be careful not to allow ferrets into the area where you do laundry.

Various dangers.

Even things that seem unrealistic to you can happen to your ferret. This could be any crack or hole between the wall and the floor, or any pipe where your ferret could get stuck. Ferrets, especially females, can climb curtains or clothing hanging on a hanger. Quite unexpectedly, you may find your pet behind a radiator or floating in the toilet.

Be extremely careful and it can save the life not only of your ferret, but also of you.

Materials used from Ferrets magazine, 2003

IN Lately, at home, such an animal as a ferret is very common. In a relatively short period of time, he earned everyone's love. What exactly, you ask? And, for example, with its unusual appearance and funny character. But we all know that a ferret is an animal that lives in freedom, tamed by people. I wonder if it's much different wild animal from home? We'll talk about this today.

Description

Ferrets, or, as they are also called, frescoes, are one of the most dangerous representatives of the mustelid genus. They are short-legged, one might say, squat, and the claws of these animals are very long, their body has an elongated and flexible shape. The weight of the animal is about 400-800 g. The body length varies from 36 cm to half a meter, their tail is fluffy, about 15 cm. These animals are characterized by three types of color:

• mother-of-pearl (the color of the fur is light cream, maybe with an ash or silver tint);
• golden (yellowish closer to orange);
• pastel (light cream),

They have a contrasting pattern on their muzzle, similar to a mask. There are also other types of color: albino (white fur, sometimes with light cream splashes), black (sometimes with a golden tint), sable (warm brown color), black-sable (with dark brown or dark ash outer skin) cover), champagne (with a brown or light brown tint), chocolate (more like milk).

These animals have some peculiarity. Namely, in winter their fur is fluffy and long, and in summer it becomes short, coarse and sparse.

Habitat

You can meet these interesting animals on the edges of not very large areas, in forests, near bodies of water - lakes, rivers, swamps. Ferrets live in the southeastern regions Russian Federation, as well as in Australia, America, Africa, Europe.

This animal can also visit villages adjacent to the forest, and in winter it is even capable of settling in human buildings (for example: haystack, barn, cellar, stable, firewood storage, attic). This animal loves to visit hens and geese not only to hunt, but he also loves entertainment, while killing all the birds, since the ferret is a gambling animal and as long as there are live chickens in the chicken coop, he will not stop.

These animals are not very frequent visitors, but people are not happy about such guests and, accordingly, a person has to come up with ways to fight against uninvited guests. But despite this, there are benefits from ferrets. They exterminate mice.

Ferrets are nocturnal animals; the active period of their life begins immediately after sunset and ends before dawn. During the day, these individuals are mainly hibernating, in burrows that they dig themselves under old tree stumps, or in bushes, where they are difficult to notice. Very often, ferrets take over someone's hole - a fox's, a hare's, or a friend's hole suitable for a bedroom.

Reproduction

The ferret is a reclusive animal. Only at certain times of the year do they gather to procreate, which begins in the middle of winter and lasts until August.

Puberty occurs around 10-12 months. Gestation in females lasts 40 days, and after this period of time, from 4 to 12 chicks can be born, weighing no more than 10 grams. Babies are born helpless and blind, but grow and develop very quickly.

Females become pregnant three times a year. The ferret raises her children alone. Until 7-8 weeks they are fed with mother's milk, and after that, gradually, the mother switches them to meat feeding. After three months, the chicks go hunting with their mother, absolutely the entire brood, helping and learning from her. By autumn, babies grow to adult sizes and have every chance of weighing from 0.5 to 2.5 kg. By winter, they accumulate fat and weigh much more than in summer season, they are a little more than half a meter long. From this moment on, they begin to live independently.

Nutrition

Ferrets in the wild practically do not eat plants. The main food of these animals is small rodents: rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, voles, bunnies, land squirrels, moles. Ferrets really love to eat reptiles, frogs, testicles of various birds, they also feast on foot-and-mouth disease, amphibians, chicks and various birds that make their nests close to the ground - in one word, they catch many of them.

The ferret greatly enjoys eating the meat of hedgehogs; he attacks them, despite the sharp needles that serve as protection for the prickly animal.

This animal is a real trapper; it can sneak up silently and secretly. In any suitable case, he is able to catch a water rat - muskrat, squint, black grouse, hazel grouse, etc.

The ferret has distinguishing feature- make reserve stocks in the winter. Including, if the animal is full, it still catches prey, storing the fish in a very hidden area. When catching its victims, the ferret kills them with a bite to the neck.

These animals hunt alone, just as they live.

Natural enemies of ferrets a large number of: wolves, jackals, foxes, large echidnas and carnivorous birds. And, despite its predatory nature, wild ferret, is afraid of some animals.

Ferrets are protected by anal glands, which, in the presence of a threat, create a powerful stinking aroma. They can respond very well to the enemy, and at a certain period of time completely plunge into the water, and they can also climb any wood very well and quickly.

Catching ferrets

Ferrets have the most dangerous and merciless enemy - this is a person who directly pursues and exterminates the animals and their natural sphere, food (animals that ferrets eat).

How to catch a ferret? This is a small predator, very dexterous, flexible and agile. Catching it is quite difficult, and seeing this animal is also not easy. They usually bypass placed traps; to do this, you need to interest them by scattering bird feathers or putting a dead chicken as bait, taking the prey in its teeth, the predator usually backs away and can fall into one of the traps.

To summarize, we can say that the ferret is a very cute animal, although quite dangerous. Recently, they are on the verge of extinction, and we need to help increase their numbers. Or at least hunts them less.

In fact, these luxuriously coated animals from the mustelid family, despite their small size - adult ferrets weigh about two kilograms - are predators, and in the wild they feed on small rodents.

“However, those ferrets that live at home are not caught in the forest, but are specially bred to be kept at home,” explains Heleri Haiba, who organized an association of ferret lovers in Estonia. - Domesticated ferrets can be trained in the same way as dogs and cats. And recently, ferrets have become increasingly popular pets.”

Not evil animals at all
Khaiba has been breeding ferrets for more than one year, so who, if not her, should know that, contrary to popular belief, ferrets are not evil animals at all, although they look like rats, which do nothing but bite, and which are therefore not suitable for home keeping very suitable.

“Firstly, a rat is a rodent, and a ferret is a predator, and there is nothing in common between them,” explains Khaiba, adding that ferrets, of course, bite, but only puppies are guilty of this, which, like any cubs, want to play, and they do not yet know the boundaries that cannot be crossed in communication with the owners. “Puppies bite because they are used to playing with their peers this way.”

In addition, ferrets not only have beautiful fur, but also very durable skin, and when they play with each other, they do not feel bites, but their sharp teeth can cause significant pain to a person.

According to Heleri, whose pets love being petted and allowed to sleep in their arms, the “biting period” lasts only a few months, and puppies quickly learn not to use their teeth when playing with a person.

“If this were so, then no one would risk keeping ferrets at home,” she notes, explaining that animals do not always smell. - Animals secrete a secretion with a characteristic and strong unpleasant odor only during the rutting period.

Castrated and sterilized animals do not smell, and when the right conditions maintenance and hygiene, no smell of the house is felt.”

While breeding ferrets, Heleri Haiba, according to her, has never encountered dangerous situations, but still, if there are children in the family, then the animals should not be left unattended. Female ferrets, while protecting their offspring, can be dangerous to them.
True, in Heleri’s own family, small children, two Dalmatian dogs, and ferrets get along well with each other.

Constantly playing games
“Ferrets do well in families with dogs and cats,” she says. “A ferret, having entered the family as a puppy, quickly gets used to all members of the family, including animals, but whether they will get along with each other depends on the character of the dog or cat.”

Since young ferrets are very playful and constantly start games, they can tire adult dogs and cats with their activity. The owners will have to make sure that all pets become friends, constantly pay attention to them and “reward” them for good behavior.

“Ferrets react very painfully if they are not given enough attention, if they are left alone for a long time - then by their behavior they make it clear that they do not agree with this,” says Khaiba. - Ferrets perfectly distinguish between their own and strangers, and they do not treat strangers in the best way. But a well-bred ferret is very friendly, he always greets his family when they come home, attracts attention, and is generally fun to live with.”

“They love to open doors and drawers, climb into them, dig up flower pots, throw things off the table, and love to hide what they like,” says Khaiba, adding that those who decide to get a ferret can be advised to take care in advance to remove anything that could pose a danger to the animal. “Fortunately, unlike dogs, they do not chew table legs and other furniture, and they also do not have claws like cats.”

The owners will have to make some efforts to ensure that the ferret becomes a full-fledged member of the family and a pet. He definitely needs to be trained by rewarding him with sweets.
“The ferret is not a dog that immediately understands and remembers everything.

In order for the ferret to remember what is required of him, he will have to repeat it more than once, notes Heleri Haiba. “Ferrets don’t really have any strong motivation to be obedient, but they can still be taught a thing or two by rewarding them with sweets and kind words.”