How Do Ferrets Mate?

Warning

Owning ferrets is illegal in many American states and Canadian provinces. Other places will allow you to own a pet ferret, but only if your pet has been spayed or neutered. It is legal to own or breed ferrets in most of Europe. Because of the damage they can do to native wildlife, breeding ferrets is illegal in Australia, New Zealand and Iceland.
If female ferrets aren't spayed and are not bred, they will die of aplastic anemia.

Looking for Love

Ferrets are sexually mature at about 8 months, although they can breed as young as 6 months. Both males and females spray urine and put off a powerful odor in order to attract a mate. The female's vulva will look alarmingly swollen and often a smelly discharge will drip from it. This means she is in heat. Mating season lasts anywhere from March to August for the Northern Hemisphere and September to January in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Act

Courtship involves a lot of noise, a lot of chasing and a lot of biting. The male often bites the female's neck and drags her about. She will scream and bleed and will need her wounds tended to. The couple stays together for about 3 days, breeding many times. Ferrets come together for mating and then go their separate ways. The male plays no part in raising the young.

Resources

• Breeding Ferrets
• How to Breed Ferrets
• Aplastic Anemia in Ferrets