Wildlife Guide · Worldwide (as a domestic pet and working animal) & Europe

Ferret

Mustela furo

The long, playful, domesticated polecat that has shared human homes and warrens for over two thousand years.

Domesticated; not a threatened species

A creamy-white and brown sable ferret with a dark mask across its eyes, stretched out long and low on a wooden floor, looking alertly towards the camera.

Image: Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Fretts 301004 selbstfotografiert, GNU-FDL” by Viki, CC BY-SA 3.0

In brief

A ferret (Mustela furo) is a domesticated member of the weasel family, bred from the European polecat about 2,500 years ago. Long-bodied, playful and carnivorous, it has long been used to hunt rabbits and is today a popular household pet, typically living seven to ten years.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated June 2026

The ferret (Mustela furo) is a small, long-bodied carnivore in the weasel family, Mustelidae, domesticated from the European polecat roughly 2,500 years ago. Bred originally to flush rabbits and rodents from burrows, ferrets are now one of the most popular small pets in the world, kept for their curious, mischievous and intensely playful nature. Slinky and supple, they sleep up to 18 hours a day yet burst into acrobatic bouts of the famous "weasel war dance" when awake. As obligate carnivores they need a meat-based diet. Crucially, the domestic ferret is a tame animal, not a wild or threatened one, and should not be confused with the endangered black-footed ferret of North America.

~2,500 yrs

Since ferrets were first domesticated

7-10 yrs

Typical pet lifespan

~50 cm

Head-and-body length, plus a 13 cm tail

14-18 hrs

Spent sleeping each day

Figures sourced from Wikipedia: Ferret, Wikipedia: Black-footed ferret, Wikipedia: European polecat and other references on this page.

Ferret: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Ferret
Common name	Ferret (domestic ferret)
Scientific name	Mustela furo
Family	Mustelidae (weasel family)
Wild ancestor	European polecat (Mustela putorius)
Domesticated	About 2,500 years ago
Length	~50 cm body, plus ~13 cm tail
Weight	~0.7-2 kg (males larger than females)
Diet	Obligate carnivore
Lifespan	7-10 years (pet)
Gestation	~42 days, litters of 3-7 kits

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Ferret
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Carnivora
Family	Mustelidae
Genus	Mustela
Species	Mustela furo

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: The domestic ferret (Mustela furo) is a domesticated animal and is not assessed on the IUCN Red List; it has no wild population requiring conservation. By contrast, the separate black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) of North America is classified as Endangered, and the wild ancestor of the domestic ferret, the European polecat (Mustela putorius), is listed as Least Concern.
Population: Not assessed as a wild species; kept as a pet and working animal worldwide, with several million in the United States alone.
Trend: Not applicable (domesticated); pet populations are stable to common.
Assessed: Not assessed (domesticated species)
CITES: Not listed on the CITES appendices as a domestic animal.

Because the ferret is domesticated, conservation concern attaches not to it but to its wild relatives, especially the Endangered black-footed ferret.

Key Facts: Ferret

The ferret is a domesticated animal bred from the wild European polecat, not a wild species in its own right.
It belongs to the weasel family (Mustelidae) and is an obligate carnivore that thrives on a meat-based diet.
Ferrets are renowned for their playfulness, including the bouncy, sideways "weasel war dance".
They have been used for centuries to hunt rabbits and rodents out of their burrows, a practice called ferreting.
The domestic ferret should not be confused with the Endangered black-footed ferret of the North American prairies.
Pet ferrets are legal in many places but restricted or banned in some jurisdictions, so always check local laws first.

What kind of animal is a ferret?

The ferret is a domesticated mammal in the genus Mustela and the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, stoats, polecats, mink and otters. Its scientific name, Mustela furo, reflects its place among the true weasels. Like its relatives, the ferret has a long, tubular body, short legs, a flexible spine and a pointed face, an anatomy perfectly suited to following prey down narrow tunnels. Adults usually measure around 50 cm in head-and-body length with a tail of about 13 cm, and weigh between roughly 0.7 and 2 kg, with males noticeably larger than females. Coat colours range from the classic dark-masked "sable" through albino (white with pink eyes) to silver, cinnamon and chocolate. Genetic and historical evidence indicates the ferret was domesticated from the European polecat (Mustela putorius) around 2,500 years ago, most likely to control rabbits and rodents. This long shared history with people makes the ferret a true domestic animal, comparable to the cat or dog rather than a tamed wild creature.

How do ferrets behave, and what do they eat?

Ferrets are intelligent, inquisitive and famously playful. They sleep deeply for 14 to 18 hours a day and are most active around dawn and dusk, a crepuscular rhythm inherited from their hunting ancestors. When awake and excited they perform the "weasel war dance": a frenzied series of sideways hops, bumps and backward shuffles that signals pure delight rather than aggression. They are social by nature and often kept in pairs or small groups, communicating through soft chuckles known as "dooking". As members of the weasel family, ferrets are obligate carnivores: their digestive systems are built to process meat, and they cannot extract nutrition efficiently from plant matter. A suitable diet is high in animal protein and fat and low in carbohydrate and fibre, supplied either as a specially formulated ferret food or an appropriate whole-prey or raw diet. Their fast metabolism and short gut mean they eat little and often. Curiosity and a talent for squeezing through gaps also make ferrets escape artists, so secure housing and supervised play are essential.

What have ferrets been used for, and are they legal to keep?

For most of their history, ferrets earned their keep as working animals. The practice of "ferreting" sends a ferret into a rabbit warren to flush the occupants out into nets or towards waiting hunters, a tradition recorded since Roman times and still used in parts of Europe today. In the 19th and early 20th centuries ferrets were widely employed to protect grain stores and farms from rodents, including across the American West before modern pest control. Their slender build also led to occasional industrial use threading cables and wires through narrow conduits. Today most ferrets are kept simply as companions. Legality, however, varies considerably: ferrets are legal across most of the United Kingdom and many other countries and US states, but they are banned or tightly restricted in some places, including California, Hawaii and New York City, often over concerns about feral populations or rabies vaccination status. Anyone considering a ferret should confirm local regulations, licensing and vaccination requirements before bringing one home.

Is the ferret the same as the black-footed ferret?

No, and the distinction matters for conservation. The domestic ferret (Mustela furo) is a tame, widely kept animal with no wild population to conserve and no IUCN Red List threat assessment. The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is an entirely separate species native to the grasslands and prairies of North America, where it preys almost exclusively on prairie dogs. Once thought extinct, the black-footed ferret was rediscovered in 1981 and remains one of the most endangered mammals on the continent, classified by the IUCN as Endangered and dependent on intensive captive breeding and reintroduction. The European polecat (Mustela putorius), the wild ancestor of the domestic ferret, is a third, distinct animal still found across much of Europe. Confusing these species can muddle public understanding of which animals actually need protection. When people picture a "ferret" as a pet, they mean Mustela furo; when conservationists discuss a ferret in peril, they almost always mean the black-footed ferret of the American plains.

Ferret vs black-footed ferret

Feature	Domestic ferret	Black-footed ferret
Scientific name	Mustela furo	Mustela nigripes
Status	Domesticated, not assessed	Endangered (IUCN)
Origin	Bred from European polecat ~2,500 yrs ago	Wild native of North American prairies
Where found	Worldwide as a pet/working animal	Grasslands of central North America
Main prey	Rabbits, rodents (and pet food)	Prairie dogs almost exclusively
Role for people	Companion and hunting animal	Flagship of prairie conservation

Ferret Colours & Types Guide

From the classic Sable and Albino to Cinnamon, Dark-Eyed White, Champagne and six more — explore 10 of the most searched ferret colour types with temperament, lifespan, common health issues and responsible care guidance.

Sable

Domestic (European polecat lineage)

Playful, curious, social

Albino

Domestic (colour mutation)

Energetic, friendly, bold

Cinnamon

Domestic (colour type)

Affectionate, lively, mischievous

Dark-Eyed White

Domestic (colour type)

Playful, inquisitive, social

Champagne

Domestic (colour type)

Energetic, curious, affectionate

Silver

Domestic (colour type)

Active, mischievous, bonded

Black Sable

Domestic (colour type)

Bold, playful, determined

Panda

Domestic (colour type)

Social, lively, sometimes deaf

Blaze

Domestic (colour type)

Curious, friendly, active

Chocolate

Domestic (colour type)

Gentle, playful, people-oriented

What WARN Does

WARN does not run field conservation projects for the domestic ferret, because it is a domesticated companion animal rather than a wild or threatened species; this guide is part of WARN's free public education work. The wider threats that endanger the ferret's wild relatives, such as the habitat loss and prey decline behind the black-footed ferret's plight, are the very same pressures facing the wild animals WARN does help protect.

If you have learned something new here, a small gift helps keep WARN's wildlife education free and supports the wild animals whose homes are disappearing.

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How does the ferret compare?

Ferret vs Stoat →

Ferret: Frequently Asked Questions

Is a ferret a rodent?

No. Despite their small size and long bodies, ferrets are not rodents. They are carnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae), closely related to polecats, stoats, weasels and mink. Rodents such as rats and mice belong to a completely different order and are gnawing herbivores or omnivores, whereas ferrets are obligate meat-eaters that historically hunted rodents and rabbits.

How long do pet ferrets live?

Domestic ferrets typically live for about seven to ten years, longer than many small pets. Lifespan depends on genetics, diet and veterinary care. As obligate carnivores they need a high-protein, meat-based diet, and they are prone to certain health problems as they age, so regular check-ups with a vet experienced in ferrets help them live a full and comfortable life.

What is the difference between a ferret and a polecat?

The polecat is the wild animal; the ferret is its domesticated descendant. The European polecat (Mustela putorius) lives wild across much of Europe, while the domestic ferret (Mustela furo) was bred from it around 2,500 years ago for hunting and companionship. They can interbreed, and escaped ferrets sometimes mix with wild polecats, but the ferret is a tame, human-shaped animal.

Are ferrets legal to keep as pets?

It depends on where you live. Ferrets are legal across most of the United Kingdom and in many other countries and US states, but they are banned or restricted in some places, including California, Hawaii and New York City. Restrictions often relate to fears of feral populations or rabies vaccination rules. Always check your local laws and any licensing requirements before getting one.

What is the weasel war dance?

The "weasel war dance" is a burst of frenzied, joyful hopping that ferrets and their weasel relatives perform when excited or at play. It involves sideways leaps, arched backs, bumping into things and backward shuffles, often accompanied by soft clucking sounds called "dooking". Despite the warlike name it signals happiness and an invitation to play, not aggression or fear.

Why is the black-footed ferret endangered but the pet ferret is not?

They are different species. The pet ferret (Mustela furo) is domesticated, kept worldwide and has no wild population at risk, so it is not assessed for conservation. The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is a wild North American species that nearly went extinct due to habitat loss and the decline of prairie dogs, its main prey. The IUCN lists it as Endangered, and it survives largely through captive breeding and reintroduction.

What do ferrets eat?

Ferrets eat Obligate carnivore. A ferret (Mustela furo) is a domesticated member of the weasel family, bred from the European polecat about 2,500 years ago.

Where do ferrets live?

The domestic ferret (Mustela furo) lives worldwide as a pet and working animal, though it has no independent wild population. It was developed from the European polecat (Mustela putorius) roughly 2,500 years ago. Escaped ferrets can interbreed with wild polecats in parts of Europe. Unlike the Endangered black-footed ferret of North America — a separate wild species — the pet ferret is not assessed for conservation because it is fully domesticated.

Are ferrets dangerous?

Pet ferrets are not usually dangerous to people but can bite if frightened or mishandled, and their carnivore teeth can break skin. They are playful predators in the weasel family, not rodents, sleeping 14–18 hours a day. Wild polecats and the unrelated black-footed ferret are different species with different behaviour. Responsible handling, vaccination where required by law, and secure housing reduce the risk of nips or escape.

How big is a ferret?

A ferret has a head-and-body length of about 50 cm plus a tail of roughly 13 cm, weighing 0.7–2 kg with males larger than females. Long-bodied and flexible, it belongs to the weasel family Mustelidae, domesticated from the European polecat around 2,500 years ago. Despite their size, ferrets are obligate carnivores with high metabolic needs. Typical pet lifespan is seven to ten years with good care.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

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