New Zealand Introduced Animals > Ferret

Ferret

Mustela furo

INTRODUCED; COMMON; RESIDENT

DISTRIBUTION: Common on the two main Islands of New Zealand. There are none on Stewart Island or any of the offshore islands. New Zealand is thought to have the largest wild ferret population in the world.

HABITAT: Most numerous in rough grazing country, generally avoiding dense forest.

FOOD: Ferrets are carnivores and will eat almost anything animal in origin, including insects, fish, birds, frogs and eggs, but depend mainly on rats, mice and rabbits. Because of their larger size the males tend to prey more on rabbits, and the females on rats.

GENERAL: It is larger in size than its cousins the stoat and weasel. The ferret also has a much bushier tail and the distinctive ‘bandit’ face mask. Ranging in colour from white through to brown to nearly black. It was introduced from Europe in the 1870s in an attempt to counter the rabbit plague. It became so successful and numerous that it was itself declared a pest, killing both natives and introduced farmed species. It has become one of the largest predators of our native Kiwi and threatens to drive it into extinction.


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