The natural diet of the European polecat ferret consists of whole small prey, i.e., meat, organs, bones, skin, feathers, and fur. Polecat ferrets mainly hunts voles, rabbits, small rodents, They also feeds on frogs, other amphibians, carrion and bird eggs.
Domestic Ferrets are not able to survive on their own in the wild. They would not eat, because they have lost all ability to find food and would starve and die.
See related question below for Black footed ferrets
Domestic ferrets used for hunting here in the UK have been cross breeding with the wild polecat for many years and these ferrets can survive in the wild and they do well with the jills rearing large litters
A pink eyed polecat is an albino ferret that was domesticated from the European polecat ferret
Most scientists believe that the ferret descended from the European polecat ferret (Mustela putorius) and the Steppe polecat ferret (Mustela eversmanni). It is more true to say that the ferret was domesticated from the European polecat ferret. Domestic ferrets can breed with European polecat ferrets and produce fertile offspring
European polecat ferret (mustela putorius) in which the domestic ferret (mustela putorius furo) was domesticated from. Domestic ferrets can successfully breed with European polecat ferrets.
A female European polecat ferret is called a "Jill"
Polecats and Ferrets are genetically very similar. The difference between a domestic ferret and a European polecat is that a ferret is the domestication of the Polecat and is a pet. Domestication has reduced the Ferrets ability to fend for themselves. Polecat Ferret hybrids do exist and are very difficult to distinguish from a true Polecat. The domestic ferret is smaller, and has a more fragile bone structure. A domestic ferret is usually lighter in color, and the mask does not reach the tinted neck band like it does with the European polecat. The European polecat has a rounder face. The back of the ears of a European polecat is dark, whereas it is light in the domestic ferret. European polecat jaws are much stronger than those of the domestic ferret. The European polecat is more muscular. The European polecat is a solitary animal and only meets in the mating season, while the ferret loves company.
Black footed ferret in North America or European polecat ferret in Europe
Domestic ferrets are thought to be domesticated from the European polecat ferrets
The domesticated ferret probably comes from the European polecat or the Steppe polecat (Russia - Sibir).
Depends on which ferret - Black footed ferret or European polecat ferret = the common habitat for both is they live in underground burrows
It may be illegal, depending on the area of the world your in. Contact animal control authorities for advise
In Wales the polecat ferret is well-established and widespread. In the UK, there is a European ferret polecat that lives in the wild. Domestic ferrets have long ago lost all natural instincts and cannot survive on their own in the wild, they totally rely on humans. Hybrids between European ferret polecats and domestic ferret could survive on their own. Studies on ferrets in the UK was determined that domestic ferrets and European polecat ferret are so closely related, they are regarded as the same species.
Fitch is the fur of an European polecat ferret (Mustela putorius) and is not an endangered species