FERRETS

By: Sophy

• Ferrets can be kept as petsAlthough gorgeous, there are a few things worth considering before getting ferrets as pets.They are unlike any other pet.• They need a lot of care and they thrive on attention.• Ferrets never stop movingThere's a myth that ferrets are a danger to children.That’s NOT true, in fact children are a danger to ferrets because they tend to play rougher. Ferrets should not be around small children.There’s also a myth that if you are allergic to cats, you'll be allergic to ferrets. That’s also NOT true. Ferrets are actually hypoallergenic, they don’t produce any pet dander.• Ferrets are very good pets for people that have any

type of pet allergy.• They do not need to be in cages

PETS

PETS CONTINUED

Ferrets like to bite.

They don’t do it to be mean. Ferrets’ jaws are strong enough to break every bone in your hand but they will probably never do this. They just do it to play around. They also communicate by biting .They can be trained not to bite.

Ferrets smell bad.

Unless you get your ferret de-scented.Ferrets have scent glands just like skunks do. When they get frightened or threatened the scent glands release.The scent glands are on the back near the tail.Ferrets also have scent glands under their eyes which cannot be removed.As long as you bathe your ferret once a month they wont stink.

BABY FERRETS• At birth baby

ferrets weigh from five to fifteen grams

• Domestic ferrets: the number of young in one litter is one to fifteen but the average is six to eight kits.

• Baby ferrets are weaned from six to eight weeks. It is best to leave them as long as possible with the mother

LIFESTYLE & HABITAT• A healthy ferret lifespan is 7 years, but thankfully vets and

ferret owners have noticed that the life span has been increasing 9-10 years.

• Ferrets are house pets. They are not wild animals; they belong inside.

• A healthy diet is very important for ferrets. There many ferret food brands in pet stores. As long as the main product is meat, the brand should be healthy for them.

On their own time ferrets don't do much. It depends if you have them in a cage or not.• Ferrets usually run around the house or they like to find a cozy spot to curl up and fall asleep.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FERRETS

Sable

White-footed Sable

Black Ferret

There are two types of white ferrets.

• Albino ferret or red-eyed white

• Black eyed white

The red-eyed white

The black-eyed white

DIFFERENT FERRET TYPES CONTINUED

Silver-Mitt

Silver

Cinnamon

Butterscotch

Chocolate

Champagne

WILD OR NOT? CAN FERRETS BE TRAINED?

• Ferrets are not wild animals.In fact ferrets can no longer survive in the wild because most of them have been domesticated with the exception of the black footed ferret. If a pet ferret was set free it would only survive for a couple of days.

• Ferrets can be trained. - not to bite - to use a litter box - do tricksThey are trained more easilythan cats.

SCIENCE FERRETS• A ferret is a small carnivorous mammal, belonging to the

weasel family.• Ferrets are warm blooded.• The ferret skeletal system is made up of roughly 200 bones. • These bones are similar to most other mammals including humans.

• Ferrets mostly use their smell sense, and whiskers. • Ferrets also don’t see well.• They can only see the colors blue and red.

Who is their prey? (wild Black Footed Ferret)

• squirrels• mice• prairie dogs are essential to their

survival, making up the majority of the ferret diet

• Ferrets are not rodents. Ferrets actually eat rodents.

(ferrets were originally brought to the U.S to eat rats and mice)

Who is their predator?• Wild Ferrets are eaten by

numerous birds as well as carnivorous mammals.

PREDATOR, PREY, & DANGERS

What scares ferrets? (domestic ferret)

• being in an unknown environment• around someone unknown to them• loud noises • when something unexpected

happens Predators?• Domestic ferrets possible predators

would be hawks, owls, or any larger carnivorous mammals would hunt them given the opportunity.

FUN FACTS• Ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years;

in fact, on the walls of some Egyptian tombs there are pictures of ferret-like creatures on leashes.

• A newborn ferret is so small that it can fit into a teaspoon!

• All ferret kits have white fur at birth.• Ferrets can sleep so soundly that they cannot be woken up even when picked up and jostled.• A small ferret may be able to squeeze through a hole just over an inch in diameter.

CUTE PICTURES

WORKS CITED

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=flUx-Y7BsiY&feature=endscreen

• http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=770• http://

www.adopt-a-ferret-101.com/how-long-do-ferrets-live.html• http://

www.ferretcareinterview.com/secrets/what-do-ferrets-eat.html• http://

www.ferretcareinterview.com/secrets/what-do-ferrets-eat.html• http://www.ferret.org/• http://www.ferretcentral.org• http://

animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/black-footed-ferret

• http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/Mammals/Pages/BlackfootedFerret.aspx

• http://www.blackfootedferret.org/animal-profile