Ferrets and weasels can look alike at first glance, or at least related. Over the years, wild ferrets gradually became domesticated animals. Now they are safe to keep as pets. Some people think they are like weasels, but weasels are actually completely different creatures. They are wild animals that we have never domesticated.
Many people find it hard to see the difference between a ferret and a weasel because of their close to similar features. But weasels are wilder. Even though they look cuddly and cute, they do have a wild habit.
That’s why it will be better if you stay away from them and never try to own them as pets.
People consider ferrets and weasels distant cousins, because they all belong to the same family called Mustelids. However, as you will see shortly, weasels are not like ferrets at all, and you must not treat them as if they were.
Can Weasels Be Adopted As Pets?
Adopting a weasel is certainly not a common thing to do. People see cute pictures of these animals and assume it can’t differ much from a dog or cat, but this is a mistake.
Weasels act more like a wild ferret fending for itself, rather than a domestic ferret you find at a pet store. That’s why it is extremely difficult to train them to behave. In addition, they are illegal in many states. It won’t be possible for you to get them in states like California, Washington D.C, New York City, and Hawaii.
Though they are illegal in many states, farmers still like to keep them around their farms. Weasels hunt on rodents and pests and get rid of them pretty quick.
However, there is a negative side to them as well. They destroy the poultry on the farm as well whenever they get a chance and also steal an egg or two time and time again.
Even for farmers, it is almost impossible to keep weasels as pets, since they avoid basic human contact. Furthermore, it is extremely dangerous to have them around you as they can attack if they are irritated… So, if you have a weasel in your home or around your property, never ever treat them like a ferret. They should always be treated as wild animals.
Here are some more basic differences between a ferret and a weasel.
Size And Weight Differences
Weasels and ferrets have almost the same size and weight. But if you look carefully, you will see many small details that do not match.
Ferrets have a longer body and tail as compared to a weasel. They can grow up to 24-25 inches.
Weasels on the other hand have a longer tail than their body. The biggest weasel you will ever see will be about 18-19 inches long.
Both of these animals have the same tubular bodies and way of moving around. So, unless they are standing still you might not be able to distinguish between them.
Fur Coats
Ferrets usually have black and dark brown coats on their body.
They also have a cream or white underbelly.
Weasels, however, have brown or red fur coats and a white-colored underbelly. Their overall appearance is a bit different. Furthermore, the amount of fur on their body is less than a ferret. You can notice the quality of fur between them quite easily, especially if you hold them in your hand.
Personality Difference Between A Weasel And A Ferret
A weasel and a domesticated ferret have different personalities because they have been brought up in different ways and in different environments.
Weasels love to hunt and often do that even when they are not hungry. They have a special technique to confuse their prey that helps them in launching the attack. For example, they are known to dance around in front of their prey, and when their prey gets off guard, weasels attack them right away and win the fight. That dance is also known as the “war dance of a weasel”.
When weasels are not hunting, they spend their time making a burrow or a small place to sleep, climbing here and there, stealing food and eggs from other animals, and dancing.
On the other hand, domesticated ferrets don’t hunt the same way as weasels. They have a proper diet given by the owner. At most a ferret will hunt a pest or a rat inside the house. Their hunting abilities just depend on these things, not more than that.
Ferrets will eat anything they get their paws on. This is why we suggest you always keep an eye on these little creatures. If you are not careful, ferrets can harm themselves ingesting several common household substances, which you can learn more about here.
Ferrets easily get along with humans; you can play with them and bring them toys to engage with them. Ferrets are also pretty easy to maintain whether they are alone or in a room full of people. As long as you keep an eye on them, nothing too bad can happen.
Ferrets don’t mind spending time in their cage. If you have to go out then you can leave them there with food and water.
Appetite
Weasels are wild animals and are very used to eating freshly killed animals through hunting.
You won’t ever see them eating any diet other than meat. They even hunt beforehand in certain seasons and store the food under the nests so they can eat it later.
Wild ferrets are very much similar to weasels as well but domesticated ferrets are very different.
Domesticated ferrets often feed on a proper diet that is made for house pets. You can feed them fresh meat as well that can be bought from the butcher shops. The only thing they hunt is mice, rats, and other small insects found inside the house.
Health And Care
Weasels have lived in the wild for a long time. They know the tricks to survive out there. Ferrets on the other hand need weekly or monthly veterinarians appointments to keep their health in check. Without monthly vet appointments, they can fall sick and get a chronic disease.
All in all, it is a bad idea to try to keep a weasel as a pet.
Inside a home, a weasel can in fact harm a small baby or other small pets.
It is hard to make them domesticated and the weasel itself won’t be comfortable enough in the house where he can’t hunt.