F is for Ferret

 Ferrets are cute and furry.  They like to claw, dig and chew, they will burrow into anything, which made them excellent companions when hunting rabbits.  Now they are bred as pets.  The name “ferret” is derived from Latin and means “little thief”, based on their propensity to…appropriate items and hide them. Ferrets will often have a stockpile of stolen items.

A male ferret is called a hob; a female ferret is a jill. A spayed female is a sprite, a neutered male is a gib, and a vasectomised male is known as a hoblet. Ferrets under one year old are known as kits. A group of ferrets is known as a "business".   ferrets have scent glands near their anus, the secretions from which are used in scent marking. As with skunks,  ferrets can release their anal gland secretions when startled or scared, but the smell is much less potent and dissipates rapidly. Most pet ferrets in the US are sold descented (with the anal glands removed). In many other parts of the world, including the UK and other European countries, de-scenting is considered an unnecessary mutilation.

We had friends who kept ferrets.  They live in cages, but you have to let them out to play— they’re very social — and get adequate exercise.

Did you know that a ferret was a hero in the movie Kindergarten Cop?  

Spoiler alert, here’s the scene: