The ferret that we know of today is thought to be a descendant of a variety of European Polecat, which are a very close relative of the modern ferret. The ferret has been thought to have originated in North Africa, and then imported into Europe through Roman or Norman invasions. Descriptions of ferret like creatures in writing have been found as far back as Ancient Greek writings. Strabo wrote about a ferret like creature from sometime during 63 B.C.E. and 24 C.E. He says that they were used to help alleviate a plague of rabbits that were causing a famine. Other vague references were made in history, but very clear evidence of ferret domestication is presented by the 11^th century.
       There are many different stories about ferret usage. There is one that tells of Ghengis Khan using ferrets in Afghanistan in 1221. The first reference to a ferret in England is in 1223, where a ferreter is listed in the Royal Court. From the 11^th to the 12^th centuries, one needed an anual income of forty shillings to own a ferret, also ferrets were often owned by high ranking church officials. King Richard II issued a decree that that allowed one to hunt rabbits using ferrets, being that this was their most practical use (as well as to exterminate other vermin) until the 20^th century.
       The first ferrets came to the United States in the early 1900's mainly to exterminate vermin. Many farmers would use ferrets to protect farms. The USDA even promoted the use of ferrets for pest control. However, now ferrets are no longer used to exterminate pests, and they have become the lovable pets that this website is dedicated to.