Ferret Facts Ferrets belong to the weasel family and were domesticated as pets more than 2,500 years ago, and most likely are descendants of polecats. Initially, they were used to flush out rabbits and rodents by going into their holes and chasing them out. Starting about the same time as the U.S. Civil War, in 1860, ferrets were used to protect grain supplies from rodents. The name “ferret” is derived from the Latin word furittus, which means “little thief”, probably because ferrets have a habit of secreting away small items, much as Frenchy does when he invades recycling bins. Ferrets are most active at dawn and dusk, and have a high heartbeat of 200 to 250 beats per minute. Ferrets have an average length of twenty inches, including a five-inch tail, and weigh from 1 ½ to 4 pounds. Males weigh more than females. While ferrets can be kept as domestic pets in many states, ferrets are communal animals and should be kept in a group or family setting. Like dogs and cats, ferrets should be vaccinated again certain diseases, and given monthly medication to prevent heartworm and other infections.                                               Many ferrets are spayed or neutered, and also                                               de-scented. If not de-scented, ferrets, when                                                                                                                    s                                            startled, can spray oils much like a skunk—phew! What’s in a name? A group of ferrets is called a busyness. A male ferret is a hob, a female is a jill, a young ferret is a kit. When ferrets are excited, they show that they want to play by performing a series of sideways hops, leaps and bumps into nearby objects. This is known as a “weasel war dance” but is not a sign of aggression.