"Ferrets have the label as being smelly dirty things and that they bite.   How wrong!  If you clean them out each day, they are one of the best pets you can have and as for biting, you can train them not to, the same as you train a dog.

    In the 1950's, the men working on the oil rigs got them and as there was nowhere to go at night, they started ferret racing.

    I work all mine for rabbit's, it's a good day out in the fresh air, whether you catch anything or not.

    If you get a young ferret and handle it each day, you will get a good pet that will live a lot longer than a hamster.  It should be 8 to 10 weeks old when you get your ferret.  If you get it from a good ferret man, it should be finger trained by then.   So enjoy your ferret."

Why Do People Buy Ferrets?

    Impulse.   i.e. "Our son/daughter liked it and one of their friends have one."
Never purchase any pet for a child ( or teenager) unless you like it.  As
when your child loses interest in it, the feeding and cleaning falls to the
parents.  So if you are not keen on ferrets, be firm and buy the child a toy , not
a pet that will suffer when neglected.

Ferrets are very playfull and enjoy each others company.

History

    The domesticated ferret comes from the wild european polecat. It is commonly seen as a working animal, usually involved in the control of pests, such as rabbits or rats.

    The black footed ferret, at one time thought to be extinct, is extremely
rare. This is due to both human interference, loss of habitat and disease.  After
being rediscovered, the black footed ferret is now the subject of a captive
breeding project. As well as research programmes.  It is the only member of the weasel family to be listed as endangered.