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Weasel vs. Ferret: Know the Difference

Shumaila Saeed
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Weasels are small, wild carnivorous mammals with a slender body, while ferrets are domesticated animals, larger and more robust, commonly kept as pets.
Weasel vs. Ferret

Key Differences

Weasels have a slim, elongated body and are usually wild animals. Ferrets, in contrast, are a domesticated form of the European polecat and have a more robust build.
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Weasels are known for their agile and predatory nature, living in the wild. Ferrets, being domesticated, are more accustomed to human interaction and can be playful and sociable.
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Weasels are found in a variety of wild habitats and are solitary animals. Ferrets, on the other hand, are kept as pets and live in human homes or controlled environments.
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Weasels hunt and eat small mammals and birds in the wild. Ferrets, being domesticated, are usually fed a diet prepared by their owners, often consisting of commercially available ferret food.
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Some weasel species are considered vulnerable or endangered due to habitat loss and other factors. Ferrets, as domestic animals, don’t face such threats but rely on human care and breeding.
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Comparison Chart

Origin

Wild species
Domesticated from the European polecat
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Size

Smaller, slender body
Larger, robust build
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Habitat

Wild, various environments
Domestic, human-controlled environments
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Behavior

Solitary, predatory
Sociable, playful
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Diet

Hunts small mammals and birds
Fed by owners, commercial ferret food
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Weasel and Ferret Definitions

Weasel

A deceitful or treacherous person.
Don't trust him; he's a real weasel.
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Dec 05, 2023

Ferret

A ferret used for hunting rabbits.
In medieval times, ferrets were used to flush out rabbits.
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Weasel

To extract information or a confession subtly.
She weaseled the truth out of her brother.
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Ferret

A tool or device used to locate or retrieve lost items.
He used a ferret to retrieve his keys from behind the couch.
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Weasel

A small, slender carnivorous mammal.
The weasel darted through the underbrush.
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Ferret

To search or investigate persistently.
He ferreted through the files for evidence.
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Weasel

To evade or escape from a situation or obligation cunningly.
He weaseled out of doing his chores.
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Ferret

A domesticated mammal related to the weasel, often kept as a pet.
She adopted a playful ferret from the shelter.
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Weasel

A sneaky or cunning maneuver.
That was quite a weasel move at the meeting.
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Ferret

A domesticated mustelid mammal (Mustela furo syn. Mustela putorius subsp. furo) with an elongated flexible body, often kept as a pet and sometimes trained to hunt rats or rabbits.
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Weasel

Any of various carnivorous mammals of the genus Mustela, having a long slender body, a long tail, short legs, and brownish fur that in many species turns white in winter.
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Ferret

A black-footed ferret.
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Weasel

A person regarded as sneaky or treacherous.
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Ferret

A narrow piece of tape used to bind or edge fabric.
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Weasel

To be evasive; equivocate.
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Ferret

To hunt (rabbits, for example) with ferrets.
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Weasel

The least weasel, Mustela nivalis.
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Ferret

To drive out, as from a hiding place; expel.
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Weasel

Any of the carnivorous mammals of the genus Mustela, having a slender body, a long tail and usually a light brown upper coat and light-coloured belly.
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Ferret

To uncover and bring to light by searching. Often used with out
"Their work merely points the way for others to ferret out the core components of all proteins" (Natalie Angier).
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Weasel

The taxonomic family Mustelidae is also called the weasel family.
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Ferret

To hound or harry persistently; worry.
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Weasel

A devious or sneaky person or animal.
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Ferret

To engage in hunting with ferrets.
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Weasel

A type of yarn winder used for counting the yardage of handspun yarn. It most commonly has a wooden peg or dowel that pops up from the gearing mechanism after a certain number of yards have been wound onto the winder.
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Ferret

To search intensively.
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Weasel

(transitive) To achieve by clever or devious means.
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Ferret

An often domesticated mammal (Mustela putorius furo) rather like a weasel, descended from the polecat and often trained to hunt burrowing animals.
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Weasel

To gain something for oneself by clever or devious means.
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Ferret

The black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes.
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Weasel

(intransitive) To engage in clever or devious behavior.
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Ferret

(figurative) A diligent searcher.
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Weasel

Any one of various species of small carnivores belonging to the genus Putorius, as the ermine and ferret. They have a slender, elongated body, and are noted for the quickness of their movements and for their bloodthirsty habit in destroying poultry, rats, etc. The ermine and some other species are brown in summer, and turn white in winter; others are brown at all seasons.
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Ferret

(dated) A tape of silk, cotton, or ribbon, used to tie documents, clothing, etc. or along the edge of fabric.
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Weasel

Small carnivorous mammal with short legs and elongated body and neck
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Ferret

To hunt game with ferrets.
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Ferret

To uncover and bring to light by searching; usually to ferret out.
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Ferret

An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela furo syn. Putorius furo), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color, with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in Europe. Ferrets are used to drive rabbits and rats out of their holes. They are sometimes kept as pets.
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Ferret

A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; - called also ferreting.
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Ferret

The iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles.
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Ferret

To drive or hunt out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts; - often used with out; as, to ferret out a secret.
Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him.
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Ferret

Ferret of prairie regions of United States; nearly extinct
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Ferret

Domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits
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Ferret

Hound or harry relentlessly
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Ferret

Hunt with ferrets
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Ferret

Search and discover through persistent investigation;
She ferreted out the truth
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Ferret

To drive out something hidden or elusive.
The detective ferreted out the truth.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries

What is a weasel?

A small, slender carnivorous mammal, typically wild.
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Can weasels be domesticated like ferrets?

Weasels are typically wild and not suited for domestication like ferrets.
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What is a ferret?

A domesticated mammal related to the weasel, often kept as a pet.
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Are weasels solitary?

Yes, weasels are generally solitary animals.
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What do ferrets eat?

Ferrets are carnivores and usually eat commercially prepared ferret food.
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Where do weasels live in the wild?

Weasels live in a variety of environments, including forests and grasslands.
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How long do ferrets live as pets?

Ferrets typically live for 6 to 10 years.
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Are weasels aggressive?

Weasels can be aggressive, especially when threatened.
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Can ferrets be trained?

Yes, ferrets can be trained to do simple tasks and tricks.
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What is the natural habitat of a weasel?

Natural habitats include forests, grasslands, and marshes.
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Do ferrets get along with other pets?

It varies; ferrets can get along with some pets but may be aggressive to others.
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Can weasels be kept as pets?

Keeping weasels as pets is generally not advised due to their wild nature.
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Do ferrets make good pets?

Yes, ferrets can be playful and affectionate pets.
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Do weasels hibernate?

Some weasel species hibernate, while others do not.
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Are ferrets noisy pets?

Ferrets are relatively quiet but can make soft vocalizations.
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How do weasels hunt?

Weasels hunt by using their agility to catch small animals.
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What do weasels eat?

Weasels eat small mammals, birds, and occasionally insects.
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Can ferrets be let loose outside?

It's not recommended to let ferrets loose outside as they may not survive.
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Do ferrets need special care?

Yes, ferrets need proper diet, grooming, and regular veterinary care.
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Are ferrets prone to any health issues?

Ferrets can be prone to certain diseases, including adrenal gland disorders and insulinoma.
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About Author
Shumaila Saeed
Written by
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

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