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The ferret is thought to be a descendant of the Siberian (Mustela eversmanni) or Eastern European (Mustela putorius putorius) polecat. The domestic ferret and European polecat are actually genetically similar enough to interbreed.
Ferrets were found mentioned from 450-425 BC in plays by Aristophanes, by Aristotle around 350 BC, and by Pliny in AD 79. In addition, some early translations of the bible, including the older King James versions, translate one particular word in Leviticus as "ferret." However, most newer translations have rejected this as an error, instead using "gecko" or "lizard."
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The most commonly-told story is that ferrets were domesticated by the Egyptians thousands of years ago for rodent control. Indeed, drawings of ferrets have been found in crypts and temples of ancient Egypt. However, history speaks to the contrary, as no evidence of either the European or Steppe polecats have been found in that area, nor have any mummified ferret remains ever been found. In addition, recent archaeological evidence has revealed unquestionably domesticated ferret remains in a medieval castle in Belgium.
The lack of written evidence about domesticated ferrets and the resultant multiple theories about their origin are notable. Some theorize that ferrets were popular with the lower classes, and as such, their written history would be non-existent. In addition, archaeologists have been historically more concerned with royalty, tombs, and the like, so the history of ferrets may still be buried, so to speak.
The early, domesticated ferret was indeed used for hunting and rodent control. The return of the Crusaders through Italy and Byzantium in AD 400 brought a new focus on hunting to Western and Central Europe. The ferret moved across Europe with the conquering Romans, flushing rabbits from their warrens for hunters. Interestingly, though wild European polecats tend to be sable in coloring, white or albino domesticated ferrets were used for hunting as it made retrieval in the field easier.
The rodent-killing ferret was also introduced to manor houses, and in fact, was rumored to be so accepted, that Da Vinci painted one as the companion to a noble woman in "Lady with Ermine." Over time, however, the ferret was replaced by the cat as a hunter, due both to the ferret's musky odor and the perceived superior friendliness of cats. Ferrets did remain hunters in rural areas due to the fact that they were more reliable than cats. In addition, early ferrets were preferred as rodent hunters on sailing ships, as the nooks and crannies were too small for cats.
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Ferrets arrived in North America by boat in the late 1600's, possibly with the original settlers of the New World. Some could consider the animal's history on this continent to be rocky. In the forties and fifties, ferrets were bred for their fur for the production of fake mink coats. Other industrial applications of ferret skills included the stringing of electrical and telephone cables, as recently as the late 1960's. Boeing and British Columbia Telephones used ferrets to lay the guide wires for pulling heavy cables through conduits. This practice ended because the ferrets played more in the tubes than they worked.
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Along Came Polly, 2004 (Websites)
Beastmaster, The, 1982 (Websites)
Beautician and the Beast, The, 1997 (Websites)
Big Fat Liar, 2002 (Websites)
Big Lebowski, The, 1998 (Websites)
Dr. Dolittle 2, 2001 (Websites)
Kindergarten Cop, 1990 (Websites)
Legends of the Fall, 1994 (Websites)
Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring, 2001 (Websites)
Mars Attacks, 1996 (Websites)
Shadow of the Vampire, 2000 (Websites)
Starship Troopers, 1997 (Websites)
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