Pet Ferret History

Ferrets' history and beginning as a domesticated pet is a bit unclear, no one knows for sure when the domestication of ferrets began. Some people attribute the Egyptians some the Greeks, however, some evidence from archeology remains of ferrets have dated back to 1500BC. Other research on mitochondria DNA analysis has suggested that the ferret could have been domesticated around 2500 years ago. Another bit of uncertainty surrounding the history of ferrets has to do with its direct descendant. One view is that the pet ferret was most likely domesticated from the European Polecat (Mutela putorious) others believe that it's a direct descendant of the Steppe Polecat (Mustela eversmannii) or maybe a result of some hybridization of the two.

Ferrets usually established their feral colonies in areas where there are little or no competition from predators similar in size to it. In areas where they coexist with Polecats, hybridization is common.

As a pet ferrets are said to be ranked third behind the dog and cat in the United States.

Regardless of who first domesticated our favorite fuzzy friend, Europeans or Egyptians, what are the facts of ferret history?

1600 BC - Since the 1600 BC ferrets have been regarded as creatures of beauty, charm, and their skillfulness in hunting mice rats, rabbits as a form of pest control.

1500 BC - The ancient Egyptians have murals of hunting ferrets.

6BC - It is said that Augustus Caesar sent ferrets to the Balearic Island to control the rabbit population from getting too out of control. This leads to spreading of the news of ferret's usefulness in hunting throughout Europe. The European armed forces used to be fed from the hunts of their ferret partners.

1390 - English parliament passed the first law restricting the possession of ferrets.

1939 - The popularity of ferrets as pets grew in the United States.

2005 - The Delaware law was passed which stated that no person shall hunt, take kill or destroy any rabbit or hare with a ferret, or have a ferret in possession while hunting.