Are you interested in ferrets? Maybe you just want to test your knowledge. Ferrets are furry creatures that are known for their threatened dance and their aggression. In fact, a group of them is called a business. Although ferrets have been domesticated for a while, there is still so much to learn about these inquisitive animals.
Are you ready to test your wits? Let’s get started!
Five Cool Facts About Ferrets
Ferrets have tube-like bodies and have become domesticated through breeding and they have been domesticated for quite some time. In fact, some believe that ancient Egyptians may have even kept them as pets alongside pets.
With that said, here are five cool facts about ferrets:
- A ferret’s normal heart rate is about 200 to 250 beats per minute.
- The average lifespan of a ferret is about eight years old.
- Ferrets are most active at dusk and dawn.
- A spayed female ferret is called a sprite, an intact female is called a jill, and a group of ferrets is called a business.
- Ferrets have been known to hunt alongside falcons in a teamwork-type manner.
Although ferrets have been domesticated for a while, there is still little known about the perfected responsibilities that come along with owning a ferret.
Appearance and Behavior
Although Ferrets and Polecats are highly similar, ferrets are much more docile than polecats. Although ferrets are calmer, that doesn’t mean that ferrets don’t share some of their cousin’s tendencies. Ferrets are very intelligent, likely, super playful, and very curious creatures. They aren’t scared of people and they can become loving and friendly if handled properly while growing. Although, nursing jills can become more aggressive and protective of their young. Ferrets in general are great pets for the right person.
Ferrets are mostly a pale tan color. Although ferrets have a few variations in color, they can come in tan, brown, white, and black. Ferrets are around the size and shape of a large zucchini. They weigh anywhere from 1 to 5.5 lbs and have a head and body length of close to 8 to 18 inches.
In a domesticated setting, ferrets are playful and great pets. In the wild, ferrets have adapted to hunt prairie dogs during the night while they are sleeping. Ferrets have amazing eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell. This helps them hunt and locate the prairie dogs in their tunnels in the darkness. They then use their sharp claws and teeth to catch and consume their prey.
Lifespan and Life Cycles of Ferrets
Ferrets have a general lifespan of about 5-10 years. Many can live older while in captivity and be treated properly. Some ferrets in the wild live less amount of years due to harsh environments and loss of habitat and food sources.
The lifecycle of ferrets is an interesting topic. The black-footed female mates during the months of March and April. The jill will then have 3-5 babies after close to 40 days of incubation. The jill will then nurse and care for her young while a male mate will hunt for food during the night.
Baby ferrets are born with white fur that changes as they age. After the ferrets young begin to grow, it will leave its mother during the following fall and begin to have darker fur.