Who is the steppe ferret? A photo of this funny furry animal can melt the stalest heart. There are many myths about ferrets - they say they are cruel robbers of chicken coops. But small predators are bred in captivity - and not only in fur farms for the sake of fur. They took the same place as dogs and cats. People increasingly breed them as playful and affectionate pets. And in medieval Europe, ferrets played the role of then small cats. They caught mice in barns, created coziness. Such a domesticated ferret is called a ferret, or furo. Scientists believe that this is a special albino subspecies of a wild animal. By the way, in the famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci “A Lady with an Ermine”, a beautiful young woman is holding a ferret in her hands. But in this article we will talk not so much about the domestic ferret, but about its wild relatives living in the forest and the steppe.
Large family of marten
In the scientific classification, the steppe ferret is called Mustela eversmanni. It belongs to the family of marten. That is, the distant relatives of the animal are ermines, minks, solongoi, columns and, in fact, martens. This small predatory mammal belongs to the genus of weasels and trochees. In the second word of the scientific name of the animal - eversmanni - a tribute is paid to the Russian zoologist E. A. Eversman (1794-1860), who described this species. The closest relatives of the steppe inhabitant are the forest (Mustela putorius) and black-footed (Mustela nigripes) hori, as well as the ferret (Mustela putorius furo). They can mate with each other and produce viable offspring. Many hybrids were bred by humans: for example, a honorik obtained from an alliance with a mink. Although all species of ferrets have different habitats, they quickly adapt to new conditions. Thus, forest ferrets were brought to New Zealand to combat a growing population of rats. As a result, the adapted small predators now threaten the island's native fauna.
Ferret Habitat
All three species are common in Eurasia, North America and northwestern Africa, where, as scientists believe, Furo was domesticated. In Russia, there are forest (dark) and steppe (light) hori. Although the color is not the main attribute of the species. Among ferrets, there are frequent cases of albinism, and they can also be of a dark or ermine color. All species are characterized by a peculiar “mask” on their faces. The steppe ferret lives in open spaces in China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia, in southern Siberia, Eastern and Central Europe. He avoids forests, mountains, settlements. Prefers flat steppes, semi-deserts, beams. His forest counterpart, on the contrary, is found in groves and pine forests. The range of the black-footed ferret is the forests of North America. Domesticated about two thousand years ago in Africa or on the Iberian Peninsula, furo has a non-aggressive affectionate character and in the wild cannot feed itself.
Steppe ferret: species description
This is the largest animal of all animals of the genus. The body length of an adult male reaches 56 centimeters, and the mass is two kilograms. At the same time, the animal has a rather impressive (up to 18 cm) tail, which he fluffs in case of danger. The remaining hair is tall but sparse. Thanks to this feature, a bright and dense underfill is visible. The dark “mask” around the eyes is typical of all Mustela species, however, in the steppe ferret it is more pronounced because it is worn on a white head. The paws, as well as the tail (or its tip) are dark. The animal moves in leaps. The steppe ferret, whose photo is a “visiting card” for other species because of the “Zorro mask”, preys on gophers, hamsters, pikas, and other mouse-like rodents. He does not disdain a large locust. Ruins the nests of land birds. His diet also includes frogs, lizards, less often - snakes. Individuals living along the banks of rivers and lakes demonstrate excellent swimming skills. Then water voles become their food .
The number of species in Russia
The western subspecies of the light ferret is widespread in the steppes and forest-steppes of the European part of the Russian Federation. In the south of Siberia, on the Zeya-Bureya plain and in the Amur region, a very valuable biotype is found. The population of this bright polecat was reduced to menacing proportions in the fifties of the last century. Mostly due to the uncontrolled production of fur and the reduction of natural habitats. On the one hand, a decrease in the forest area in the Amur-Zeya interfluve expanded the range of the steppe ferret, but on the other hand, the development of these lands for farmland endangers the survival of the subspecies. Already in the sixties this animal became a very rare prey of hunters. In the 70s he was not met every year and only near the Amur River. Thus, we can conclude that individuals from the right bank (China) enter the territory of the Russian Federation. Despite the fact that the Amur steppe ferret is now in the Red Book of Russia, its number is steadily declining.
The habits of the steppe ferret
Mostly the animal leads a solitary lifestyle. Sometimes, with an increase in population in a limited area, it can form clusters. Then, in the group of animals, the behavioral process of building a flock hierarchy, subordination and domination starts. Steppe ferrets are often credited with “crimes” committed by foxes, weasels and martens. In fact, this is a useful beast, because it exterminates, or rather controls the number of rodents. The long and thin body of the light ferret helps him to penetrate burrows beyond its prey. Sometimes he uses them for his own housing. Although nature supplied the steppe polecat with muscular legs with strong claws, he rarely digs holes. Sometimes the animal bites food for the future, for a hungry time, but often forgets about such "nest egg". The natural enemies of the steppe ferrets are birds of prey and foxes. In case of danger, the animal uses the smelly and caustic secret of the anal glands, which shoots at the enemy.
Reproduction
In the regions of cohabitation, steppe and forest ferrets often interbreed. Therefore, in the populations there are also black (dark) animals. Although the number of chromosomes in the two species is different: thirty-eight for the inhabitant of the steppes, forty for the inhabitants of the forests. Out of breeding season, the steppe ferret is kept apart, but does not mark and protect its territory. If two same-sex individuals meet, they do not reveal aggression towards each other. But the males fight for the female, ruthlessly biting and screaming loudly. Ladies look a little smaller than gentlemen, but their weight is almost half their weight: two kilograms versus 1,200. Females for childbirth expand and equip other people's holes, lining them with hay, feathers, down. Less commonly, they dig homes themselves. They can choose a stack or a low-lying hollow of a tree for a hole. Father takes part in raising offspring. If the calves die for any reason, the female is able to cross again after seven to twenty days. Although usually the mating season begins at the end of winter.
Breeding
A month and a half after crossing, the female gives birth to four to ten (rarely fifteen) naked, blind and completely helpless puppies. The eyes of the cubs open only after a month. The steppe ferret is a very caring parent. The female does not leave the babies until they are covered with wool. Father brings food to his girlfriend. The female feeds the cubs with milk for about three months. But even earlier, at the age of eight weeks, young growth is already learning to get food. When the lactation period ends, the cubs disperse in search of their territory. Their puberty occurs at the end of the first year of life. In females, pregnancy can occur two to three times a year.
Life span
Alas, the ferret in nature, regardless of species, lives on average three to four years. High mortality in childhood (sometimes all litter dies), many natural enemies, narrowing of habitats due to deforestation or plowing of steppes and meadows, reduce the number of populations. In addition, ferrets are susceptible to epidemic diseases. They die from the plague of the carnivores, rabies, scribery. In captivity, with a balanced diet and the necessary veterinary care, ferrets live up to eight, less often ten years.
Forest ferret
This animal has darker fur than its steppe counterpart. As already noted, the number of chromosomes in close species is different, which does not prevent them from creating hybrids between themselves, as well as with a mink and a column. Outwardly, the forest ferret also has, although insignificant, but differences. It is smaller and more graceful. The body length of the male is up to fifty cm, the tail is seventeen cm, and the mass is only one and a half kilograms. His skull is not as heavy as that of the steppe ferret, and behind the orbits is not so sharply compressed. His ears are rounded, small. Forest ferret inhabits mainly Europe. In Russia, it occurs before the Urals. It lives, as the name implies, in forests and even small groves. The fur color of this animal is dark brown, but the tail, legs, throat and chest are almost black. The diet of the steppe and forest ferrets is similar - mouse-like rodents, toads, frogs, eggs and young birds. A predator and rabbits can also feast on it. Forest polecat also does not like to dig holes, preferring to occupy strangers.
Black-footed ferret
It is the smallest species of the Mustela family. It is common in North America - in Canada and the United States. The body length of the animal is only forty-five cm, and the weight is a little more than a kilogram. The fur of the black-footed ferret is very beautiful: it is white at the base, and gradually darkens at the ends of the hairline. This color gives the overall yellowish color to the furry animal. Because of the fur, the black-footed polecat was among the endangered species. Fortunately, people stopped in time from the extermination of this fur-bearing beast. American Polecat is listed in the US Red Book. But until 1996, individuals of this species lived only in captivity. Now they began to be released into the natural habitat. At this time, there are about six hundred individuals. The American black-footed ferret feeds mainly on ground squirrels, shamelessly occupying their burrows. To survive, the family of black-footed ferrets needs to eat two hundred and fifty rodents a year, which is why they live near the flock of their game.
Ferret, or Furo
It is authentically known that Mustela putorius furo was bred from a dark forest polecat. They have the same number of chromosomes, they give offspring that are completely healthy and able to continue the genus. But for domestication, albino individuals were often taken. Therefore, another name was attached to the furo - the white ferret. Not everyone liked red eyes and poor albino health. To strengthen it, the ferrets were sometimes crossed with wild forest relatives, therefore, the color of the fur in domestic animals can be different: sable, mother-of-pearl, fawn, golden. In terms of intelligence, they are close to cats. But they not only respond to the nickname, but are also able to walk on a leash, as well as perform different commands, like dogs. Ferret cubs are very playful and mobile. The animal is attached to the owner, trusting to other people.
Ferret Care
Breeders often assure a potential buyer of furos that caring for animals is minimal, as ferrets are omnivorous. This is not entirely true. The fact is that ferrets, including ferrets, are obligate predators. This means that their food can be animals comparable in size to them. In the wild, ferrets do not eat beef and pork. But this does not mean at all that the owner of the ferret should catch gophers in order to feed his pet. Domestic ferrets perceive poultry and rabbit meat well. From time to time they can be given veal, lamb and offal. You need to be careful with fish. Ferrets can only flounder, horse mackerel, haddock, mackerel, cod and trout. The owner of the furo (especially albino) should pay attention to the health of his pet. In addition to rabies and plague, there are also specific diseases of ferrets. These are viral plasmacytosis (Aleutian disease), insulinoma and hyperestrogenism. Ferrets also become infected with human flu.