Weasel and ferret: differences and how the animals look, how to protect yourself from them

People increase the number of tamed animals over time. Breeders work in the direction of suppressing aggression in predators. The ferret is becoming more and more desirable as a pet because of its friendly and lively disposition. But it is easy to confuse it with affection, if you see the animal only in the picture and have no idea even about its real size. Learn the difference between weasels and ferrets and how to protect other pets from them.

What is the difference between a weasel and a ferret

Both animals are predators from the weasel family, the genus ferrets. Weasel is the smallest representative among such animals.Her parameters:

1.5×1 cm2.5×2 cm

Characteristics	Gender of weasel
	Female	Male
Weight	50-120g	60-250g
Body length	115-215mm	160-260mm
Tail length	15-65mm	10-85mm
Jump Length	25-30cm	30cm
Footprint

The weasel's brown back contrasts with the white chest and belly. In the northern regions, for the winter, after molting, the animal becomes pure white.

Weasels feed on small rodents, frogs, snakes and anything that is small and moves. The number of broods directly depends on the amount of food. In years with an abundance of rodents, weasels rut in both spring and summer.

In the event of a change in circumstances with food, the second pregnancy freezes until the next year's warm weather. In March, the development of the fetus continues.

3 species of wild polecat live in Eurasia and North America. In Russia, only 2 species are almost universally distributed: dark forest and light steppe. Their parameters:

Characteristics	Ferret gender
	Female	Male
Weight	1-1.3kg	1.2-1.5kg
Body length	30-40 cm	40-50 cm
Tail length	8-13 cm	10-15 cm
Jump length	40-60 cm	45-65 cm
Trace size	3.5×2.5 cm	4×3 cm

Ferrets have long been tamed, and their color can be different:

• completely dark fur, white only around the nose and lips;
• dark with white paws, frill on the chest and area around the mouth and nose; light patch of fur between ears and eyes;
• body and head are light; the neck and chest, the tail with the edge of the buttocks are dark;
• white head and golden chocolate body and tail;
• white chest and light muzzle with spots of the main color (milk chocolate), which is evenly distributed throughout the body and tail;
• chocolate mixed with white, except for white paws and head;
• reddish-brown tail and paws with the same outer hair all over the body; the head is white, as is the undercoat;
• white breast and paws from feet to middle joint; white undercoat with dark guard hair and completely dark back and tail;
• white fur with black spots like a Dalmatian;
• white color and black eyes.

The wild animal is brown on top, the tips of the hairs are black. Legs, belly, tail - grayish-black. The lips, the edges of the ears, the arch extending from the brow along the cheekbones are white, the rest of the muzzle is dark. Ferrets leave a trail with a pronounced claw print. The animals feed on small and medium-sized rodents, insects, birds, and eggs.At home, they give offspring 2 times a year.

Differences between a ferret and a marten

The marten does not have a white spot on the muzzle around the mouth and nose and rounded ears. It is larger.

Female MaleWeight 0.5-1.3kg0.8-1.8kg Body length40-60cm60-70cm Tail length16-23cm20-28cm Jump Length70-130cm90-150cm Tree jump lengthUp to 4 mUp to 4 m Trace size4×2.5 cm5×4 cm

Unlike the animals described above, the marten lives in hollows, often climbs trees, and does it no worse than the squirrel, for which it hunts. The fur of the animal is brown throughout the body, except for the orange-white breast, which looks more bright in summer than in winter.The victims of the marten are rodents and birds larger than those that feed on relatives in the family.

How to distinguish animals when buying

All mustelids have a thin, very flexible, elongated body. They move in leaps, if necessary, climb trees. But you can distinguish between animals. Attention must be paid to the color, size and relative length of the tail. Weasels and ferrets have small rounded ears.

The marten is distinguished from them at first sight: the shape of her ears is completely different. Her auricles have the most common appearance, like in most animals: a tent with a sharp top. In the weasel and the ferret, the upper point of the ear in the form of an even semicircle rises quite a bit above the head.

This couple would be impossible to distinguish for an ordinary citizen if it were not for the small size of the weasel's body in comparison with the dimensions of the congener and the stable color characteristic of all representatives of the smallest predator on the planet.Red-brown top and snow-white bottom with a clearly visible division between colors, without any shading and halftones.

To determine the color of a domestic ferret, you need to take the list of the colors described above, and then you can make sure that it is not complete. If the other characteristics match, the probability that you have the animal you are looking for tends to 100%.

The danger is that the weasel, due to its smaller size, can be passed off as a baby ferret. The danger signal is a brown back and a light bottom, and in winter - a pure white color. An animal that likes the color of snow does not have to be rejected. It can fit the size of an adult ferret. It will be an albino with red eyes or a "snow white" with black eyes. In addition, if you pick up the animal, and it turns out to be affectionate and calm, you are guaranteed to get the right copy. But being in a store or market is stressful for an animal, so color and size are the best guide.

How to protect your chicken coop from predators

All mustelids during the winter famine, if possible, settle near settlements or right next to livestock buildings. Weasel is the most terrible predator for people, as it “cuts” a bird or rabbits in reserve.

For security purposes, owners are advised to install repellers with an ultrasonic signal or infrared radiation in chicken coops and sheds. An excellent result is obtained by embedding a metal mesh into the wall with cement from a height of 50 cm to the ground. The door is upholstered with iron.

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