>From: Darrin vickmark <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: where are ferrets from??? > >although there is no proof, I think ferrets were a subspecies of the >English polecat...something about the polecat and some other species >breeding, and producing the outcome: ferrets. Well there is a lot of evidence of the domestic ferret (mustela furo) being derived from the European polecat (mustela putorius) but also some evidence that puts the Asian polecat (mustela eversmanni) as a possible contributor to the genetics of the ferret. Both the European polecat and the black footed ferret (mustela nigripes) are apparently descended from the Asian polecat so the ferrets background is perhaps tangled a bit. >there has never been a ferret colony anywhere in the world, ever...even >the record books say this. It's because that they've been domesticated >for over 3000 years, and most ferrets have lost nearly all of their >preditory instincts. Domestic ferrets have indeed managed to go feral in Europe where they can co-exist with the local polecats. And in New Zealand where they were included with other weasels and polecats released in a short sighted attempt to deal with another released imported animal (rabbits I believe) Ferrets have probably not been domesticated for 3000 years but perhaps more like 2500 years if we recall correctly. Most ferrets have decidedly NOT lost their predatory instincts. They were primarily working animals working in extermination of rats until the middle of the last century and not become primarily domestic pets until only some two or three decades ago. That is the American version. In much of Europe and other places in the world ferrets are still perhaps primarily working animals used in hunting rabbits. bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets [Posted in FML issue 3389]