National Ferret Day Date in the current year: April 2, 2024

The domestic ferret, also known as simply ferret, is a small carnivorous mammal that belongs to the family Mustelidae, which also includes badgers, martens, minks, otters, stoats (ermines), weasels, and wolverines. The domestic ferret has been domesticated for thousands of years; it is most likely a domesticated form of the European polecat, but scientists classify the domestic ferret as a distinct species.

The domestic ferret doesn’t normally live in the wild, although it is often confused with the black-footed ferret that does have wild populations. However, runaway domestic ferrets can go feral and even mate with European polecats and produce polecat-ferret hybrids, which can be a problem in areas that don’t have similarly sized predators to control ferret populations.

For most of their history, domestic ferrets have been used for pest control and rabbit hunting. In recent decades, they have become increasingly popular as pets, although some countries have restrictions regarding keeping ferrets as pets.

Ferrets are highly intelligent, social, playful and loyal – qualities that make them great companions. However, there are misconceptions surrounding pet ferrets. Some people think that they are smelly, while others consider them a nuisance due to their mischievous nature. In reality, while ferrets do have scent glands, the smell is less potent than, say, that of a skunk and dissipates quickly. And while ferrets can be a handful sometimes, a pet ferret won’t be much trouble if you train it properly and make sure to give your pet enough attention and affection.

National Ferret Day was created by Carol Roche, a ferret owner from New York City. She worked with various ferret organizations, including the American Ferret Association, to promote the holiday and have it recognized. National Ferret Day finally achieved recognition in 2014, when it was included in Chase’s Calendar of Events.

How can you celebrate National Ferret Day? If you’re a proud ferret owner, spend some quality time with your furry companion, buy them a treat or a new toy, schedule a vet checkup, and share photos and videos of your ferret on social media with the hashtags #NationalFerretDay and #FerretDay.

If you don’t own a ferret, you can learn more about these animals and consider getting a pet ferret (but please mind that ferrets aren’t exactly low-maintenance, and you need to be 100% sure that you will be able to keep your ferret healthy and happy before adopting one). Other ways to celebrate National Ferret Day include reading a book or watching a documentary about ferrets, volunteering at a local ferret shelter, and donating to a ferret organization.

The United Kingdom has its own National Ferret Day, which is celebrated annually on May 5. It was launched by the Ferret Education Research Trust (FERT), a registered charity that aims to promote the care and welfare of the domesticated ferret.