How much does a ferret cost in New Zealand?

Answer 1

Ferrets as pets are not allowed in New Zealand and are considered pests. There is a wild population of ferrets that has some European wild ferret/polecat genes. These predate on many threatened native species.

Humans introduced ferrets , stoats, rats and weasels to New Zealand in the late 1800's to control the introduced rabbit population. Around 1980 a fur farming industry was established and ferrets were bred for their fur (know as fitch fur) the industry collapsed in the late 1980's and many ferrets were released into the wild.

Ferrets can carry bovine tuberculosis (Tb) but may not be a vector of the disease.

Supporters of pet ferrets believe that domestic ferrets are not able to survive in the wild, and would die due to starvation or predators because domestication means they have lost survival instincts.

Ferrets are found throughout New Zealand in grassland, shrubland and forest margins, and in outbuildings around cities and on farms. They have recently been found deeper in forested areas.

If there were domesticated ferrets some would escape and could breed with the wild ferret population.