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There are two types of ferrets in North America--the domesticated ferret (Mustela putorius) and an indigenous wild ferret (Mustela nigripes). Both are members of the weasel family (Mustelidae).
THE WILD FERRET
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is classified as an endangered species. Although it once occupied a wide range in the western United States and Canada, coextensive with that of prairie dogs, its primary food, today it is restricted to only a few colonies. The dwindling of black-footed ferret populations has resulted from human destruction of prairie-dog populations and habitat.
The black-footed ferret has a yellowish buff coat, which becomes brown on the top of the head and along the back. The feet and legs and the last quarter of the tail are black, as is the racoon-like facial mask. Males are bigger than females, but even the males seldom exceed 2 pounds (1 kg) in weight and 22 inches (56 cm) in length. The tail takes up about 5.5 inches (14.5 cm) of the total body length.
The black-footed ferret is largely nocturnal, and its diet consists almost exclusively of prairie dogs. The ferrets move into a prairie-dog colony, using the burrows as shelter and the prairie dogs for food. When the prairie-dog colony has been depleted, the ferrets move to another colony.
THE DOMESTICATED FERRET
The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) has been domesticated for at least a thousand years, and perhaps even longer. The species is no longer suited to habitation in the wild, and seldom survives in the wild for more than a few days. Originally the ferret was used to kill rats and to drive rabbits from their burrows, but now most domestic ferrets are kept as pets, although some are used as laboratory animals, and some are used to produce vaccines for farm-raised mink.
The domestic ferret is probably descended from the European polecat, which it closely resembles. Although ferrets now come in a wide variety of coat colors and patterns, one of its two most common colors, unchanged by selective breeding, is virtually identical to that of the European polecat. The other most common color found in the domestic ferret is albino, with yellowish-white fur, pink eyes, and pink nose and claws. The wide range of coat colors and patterns now found in the domestic ferret has been achieved by breeders who have carefully combined these two common types of coat.
The domestic ferret is usually slightly smaller than the polecat. On average, it is 19 inches (48 cm) long, including the 5-inch (13 cm) tail. Females usually weigh 1-2 pounds, while males usually weigh 2.5-4 pounds.
The domestic ferret is polygamous, and produces one, sometimes two, litters of six or seven young per year, after a 42-day gestation period.
The domestic ferret is a very popular pet, noted for its sociability, playfulness, and intelligence, and for its boldness, which is particularly striking in an animal of such diminutive proportions.
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