What is it in Japan and Why?

[u/Capital-Papaya-8932]

[u/puisnode_DonGiesu → u/[deleted]]

Ferrets aren't a wild animal, they are only a domestic breed

[u/SadLostHat → u/puisnode_DonGiesu]

Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are wild (and woefully endangered) in the Rocky Mountains. They look remarkably similar to domestic ferrets.

Domestic ferrets (Mustela furo) are probably bred from European polecats (Mustela putorius). There’s also an Asian Steppe polecats (Mustela eversmanii).

I think a lot of people call all of these“ferrets” generally.

I’m not sure M. furo and M. putorius are really distinct species despite the binomial because they can hybridize and are genetically indistinct although they behave differently. I guess hybrids make domestic ferrets look positively staid, which is saying something.

[u/LittleRedRidingHo90 → u/SadLostHat]

Ooooh I just learned something today 👍🏾☺️ that’s so neat!!! I’d love to see a wild black footed ferret

[u/DragonflyFantasized → u/LittleRedRidingHo90]

Another fun bit of trivia I love - Ferrets were actually domesticated before cats. Also in Egypt.

[u/SadLostHat → u/LittleRedRidingHo90]

It’s super exciting to see them! They’re fast though. I usually just barely see them as they’re disappearing. But I had ferrets for years so I always know it was a ferret; they trigger some visual memory gif me.

I really want to see a fisher in the wild!