Hoarding Ferret Adds Stolen Toilet Paper To His Collection

Ferrets are strange and interesting pets that make for fun companions with their own idiosyncrasies and quirks. They are also thieves. Did you know that that the word ferret is derived from the Latin word furittus, which means “little thief”. There is some thought that the name references the fact that most ferret have a penchant for stealing small, and some not small items, for themselves. As we see in this video, ferrets like to create little treasure hordes for themselves. In this case, it is a frankly astounding number of rolls of toilet paper.

Personally, I don’t know much about ferrets so I did a little research. The domesticated ferret is descended from the European polecat, which belongs to the weasel family. Most ferrets can grow from 20 inches long and up 4 pounds in weight. Apparently, ferrets have been domesticated for more than 2,500 years. Originally, they may have been used to hunt rabbits, which some are used to do today. Also, polecat-ferret hybrids have been found to be so destructive that some countries, like New Zealand, have strict rules about the owning of ferrets.

Did you know that a group of ferrets is called a “business”. Ferrets, unlike polecats, like to live in groups, and prefer to sleep in enclosed areas. Ferrets naturally like to horde things. Some research suggested that it is a leftover instinctual response. If a wild ferret, or polecat, kills something but doesn’t eat it all they are likely to hide it so something else doesn’t get it. In some cases, it is also creating a nest like the ferret in this video. So, it’s a mixture of keeping their things safe and creating a comfortable living space for themselves.