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Female Domestic Ferrets that are not allowed to breed often contract a life-threatening disease known as Estrus-Associated Aplastic Anemia.  Spaying your Ferret before she enters her first estrus cycle (the period during which she can become pregnant, also known as “heat”) is the best defense against this and other reproductive disorders.

A Unique Breeding Strategy

Ferrets and other members of the family Mustelidae (weasels, mink, otters and related species) have evolved a unique reproductive strategy known as induced ovulation.  Unlike most mammals, female Ferrets do not ovulate (release eggs so that they may be fertilized) until the act of mating has occurred.  Read More »

The domestic ferret did not originally exist as a distinct species, but rather was produced via selective breeding of its wild relative, the European polecat (Mustela putorius).  Please see our article Ferret Facts for more information on the ferret’s surprising history.

Despite centuries of domestication, ferrets retain many of their wild ancestors’ instincts.  In the following article, we’ll take a look at the “wild side” of ferret life.

Domestic Ferrets in the Wild

Both ferrets and polecats have been released in New Zealand (1879-1886) as a rabbit control measure.  Today a huge population of ferret-polecat hybrids occupies the island.  Along with introduced stoats (a Eurasian ferret relative) and weasels, they have decimated populations of several flightless birds…the rabbits remain relatively unphased!  Read More »

So, in Part 1 of this article we covered a couple of the small pets that may be considered when you’re looking for your child’s first pet.  Welcome back for Part two where we’ll move on to some slightly larger animals that may also be considered. Read More »

Ferrets seem so “mainstream” these days that it’s easy to forget their unusual natural and “unnatural” history.  Please read on…

Classification:  Just What Exactly is a Ferret?

The domestic ferret is classified in the order Carnivora, family Mustelidae, along with 75+ species of weasels, otters, skunks, badgers, wolverines and related animals.

Ranging in size from the least weasel (which, at 2.5 ounces in weight, is the world’s smallest carnivore) to the 7-foot-long, 100 pound Giant Otter, the family Mustelidae includes familiar animals such as skunks and sea otters as well as the little-studied Chinese Ferret-Badgers and tayras.  Read More »