Ferret

This article is about the mammal. For the military vehicle, see Ferret armoured car, for the band see Ferocious Ferrets.

Ferrets as pests

Ferrets (and other mustelids such as the stoat) prey on the indigenous wildlife of New Zealand. When first introduced in 1879 to control rabbits, people were concerned that wild weasels would not go after their intended prey, but birds instead. This did in fact happen, as New Zealand bird species had evolved free from mammalian predators.

Related Topics:
Stoat - New Zealand - 1879 - Rabbits - Birds - Mammalian

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Ferret owners in New Zealand are quick to point out that unlike current pet ferrets, the ferrets used for release in New Zealand were fur farm ferret/polecat crosses, to better ensure their survival in the wild. Currently, pet cats cause more damage to bird populations than pet ferrets, which are neutered at an early age (6 to 8 weeks) and are kept indoors.

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None the less, many areas around the world have banned pet ferrets due to the difficulties of New Zealand.

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