Ferrets and martens don't look alike for nothing: they belong to the same family. In principle, every ferret is a marten. Find out below why this is so and what differentiates the animals.
What are the differences between ferrets and martens?
The main difference between ferrets and martens is their appearance and behavior: ferrets have a raccoon-like mask around their eyes and are carnivores, while beech martens have a dark face, light patch on the neck and an omnivorous diet. Ferrets are also a breeding form and do not occur in the wild.
A ferret is in marten
The term “marten” (mustelidae) actually means the marten family, which includes, in addition to the “real marten” (martens), the ferret (Mustela putorius furo), stoats, badgers, minks and otters and weasels belong. Stone martens or pine martens belong to the “real martens”, which in turn belong to the marten family. Ferrets and martens are therefore related, which results in some similarities.
Differences and similarities between ferrets and martens
When most people think of martens, they probably think of the stone marten, which likes to cause mischief close to people. Therefore, below we will compare the ferret with the stone marten: Stone martens are only slightly larger and heavier than ferrets, have round ears, a pointed face and button eyes. The body and tail also look very similar. So what are the differences between martens and ferrets?
| Beech marten | Ferret | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark face, white spot on neck | Dark area around the eyes, the rest of the face is white |
| Body length (with tail) | 62 – 84cm | 48 – 80cm |
| fur color | brown | brown to whitish-yellow, also pure white |
| Nutrition | omnivorous | Carnivores |
| habitat | On rocks or meadows, often close to people | Not a natural habitat, as it is a cultivated form |
| Life expectancy | In the wild 3 – 10 years, as a pet up to 18 years | 7 – 10 |
Marten or ferret?
If you see an animal in nature and wonder whether it is a marten or a ferret: It is definitely a marten, as there are no ferrets in the wild. But if you want to be on the safe side that it's not an escaped ferret, take a look at its face: only ferrets - or raccoons - have a raccoon-like mask around their eyes; Martens have a purely dark face and only a light spot on the neck.
