This might come as a surprise for some, but ferrets, those small, cuddly, and energetic animals, are actually considered domestic animals. They have been domesticated by humans for at least 2,500 years, being used as hunting compatriots, protection from rodents or, more recently, as pets. And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun facts about ferrets. Continue scrolling to find out more of them.
Baby Ferrets Have White Fur
When born, ferrets have completely white fur. It’s only after several weeks that they begin to receive their characteristic dark brown and black color.
Ferrets Sleep 18 Hours on Average
Napping and sleeping is the favorite activity of ferrets. They sleep 18 hours on average every day and can sometimes sleep even longer than that. Their favorite time to be awake is dusk and dawn, and they have most energy then.
Ferrets Get Smellier from Frequent Baths
Ferrets can have a strong smell due to oils in their skin. However, giving them a bath doesn’t make the problem go away. Frequent baths make their skin drier, increasing the production of oil and making them smellier.
Ferrets Can’t Sweat
Ferrets don’t have the ability to produce sweat, and their other options to cool off are quite scarce. This is why they can’t stand extreme heat and prefer to live in colder regions.
Ferrets Are Quite Intelligent
One reason why ferrets get along with humans so well is because they are quite intelligent. They can be trained to do all sorts of tricks and a variety of jobs. For example, Boeing used ferrets to run cables through long tubes when making their airplanes back in the 1960s.
