Ferrets are the only member of the weasel family to have been domesticated.
Their scientific name mustela putorius furo translates as "musk bearing stinking theif"
During the 19th century ferrets were so dispised by farmers and gamekeepers it was hunted and gassed to near-extinction.
Ferrets are known to be as bold, curious and as responsive as puppies.
The ferret's "war-dance" involves it leaping backwards and sideways, chirping exitedly.
They sleep for up to 18 hours.
Female ferrets are jills, males are called hobs.
A hob has a penis shaped like a hockey stick.
Until the 1960's, ferrets were used to carry cable to inaccessible areas of Boeing aircraft as they were being built. They were replaced, as they often gave up and fell asleep halfway!
Ferrets have been used as a "humane" low-tech method of controlling rabbit populations since roman times.
Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:16 am
