by Zach David
The ferret is a very popular pet, and for good reason! They’re energetic, adorable, and are sure to bring a smile to your face. Although they’re quite common and there’s many different types of ferrets, it can be hard to find a good ferret breeder. Fortunately, we’ve made the process of finding a reputable breeder easier for you.
There are very few ferret breeders within the United States. For many states we’re unable to find a breeder. In this case, we’ve highlighted a reputable ferret shelter where you can adopt a healthy ferret.
In many cases this is a better option, as ferrets in shelters are in desperate need of a loving home. Some states don’t even have a dedicated ferret shelter.
To make them easier for you to identify, we’veunderlinedthe names of ferret breeders.
If you’re a breeder/rescue and would like to get listed, pleasecontact us!
Table of Contents
American Ferret Breeders
Below we’ve highlighted some very passionate and credible ferret breeders, as well as shelters in states that don’t have breeders. We strive to keep this directory current and accurate. Please note that we do not know all of these breeders/shelters and cannot personally endorse them.
Alabama
- Jeremy’s Boggle Ferret Bungalow
- This is a rescue, not a breeder!
- Nicole Berrey
- Grady, AL
- facebook.com/jeremysboggleferretbungalow
- [emailprotected]
- (334) 301-3558
Alaska
- Fuzzy Ferrets of the North
- Butch and Debbie Sims
- Anchorage, AK
- fuzzyferrets.com
- [emailprotected]
- (907) 338-1301
Arizona
- AZ Ferret Rescue
- Diane Simonian
- Phoenix, AZ
- facebook.com/ArizonaFerretRescue
- [emailprotected]
- (602) 672-5636
Arkansas
- Circle B Ferretry
- Barbara & Dennis Burnett
- Sherwood, AR
- [emailprotected]
- (501) 766-2004
California
- West Coast Ferret Rescue
- Sacramento, CA
- westcoastferrets.com
- [emailprotected]
- (916) 992-3132
Colorado
- Ferret Dreams Rescue and Adoption
- Denver, CO
- ferretdreams.org
- [emailprotected]
- (303) 953-0733
Connecticut
- Ferret Association of Connecticut
- Hartford, Connecticut
- ferretassn.org
- [emailprotected]
- (860) 247-1275
Delaware
- Oxford Ferret Rescue
- Oxford, PA (services Delaware)
- oxfordrescue.org
- (443) 350-7245
Florida
- Broward Ferret Rescue
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- browardferretrescue.org
- [emailprotected]
- (954) 444-5370
Georgia
- Kindness Matters Ferret Rescue
- Acworth, GA
- kindnessmattersferretrescue.com
- [emailprotected]
- (770) 235-0070
Illinois
- Greater Chicago Ferret Association
- Chicago, IL
- gcfa.com
- [emailprotected]
- (708) 442-8650
Indiana
- Woodlands Ferretry
- Peggy S Martin
- Dillsboro, IN
- [emailprotected]
- (812) 438-1299
Iowa
- Animal Rescue League of Iowa
- Des Moines, IA
- arl-iowa.org
- [emailprotected]
- (515) 262-9503
Kentucky
- MiddleEarthFerrets
- Stephanie Plum
- Franklin, KY
- middleearthferretry.net
- [emailprotected]
- (478) 718-6847
Louisiana
- Louisiana Bon Temps Ferret Rescue
- Breaux Bridge, LA
- facebook.com/pg/Louisiana-Bon-Temps-Ferret-Rescue-1040349312745460
- [emailprotected]
- (303) 520-9330
Maine
- Ferret Rescue of Maine
- Buxton, ME
- ferretrescueofmaine.org
- [emailprotected]
- (207) 423-2297
Maryland
- Just a Business of Ferrets
- Vickie McKimmey
- Thurmont, MD
- jbferret.com
- [emailprotected]
- (301) 898-1568
Massachusetts
- South Shore Ferret Care & Fortunate Ferret Shelter
- Holbrook, MA
- facebook.com/southshoreferretcare
- [emailprotected]
- (781) 249-4628
Michigan
- West Michigan Ferret Connection
- Grand Rapids, MI
- westmichiganferretconnection.com
- [emailprotected]
- (616) 447-2978
Minnesota
- Bandit & Friends Ferret Sanctuary
- Fargo, ND (services Minnesota)
- facebook.com/Banditandfriends
- [emailprotected]
Missouri
- Furry Ferret Rescue
- Saint Louis, MO
- furryferretrescue.org
- [emailprotected]
- (314) 608-0370
Nebraska
- Rai-Lee’s Rescues
Nevada
- Angel Ferret Shelter Services
- North Las Vegas, NV
- angelferretshelter.webs.com
- [emailprotected]
- (702) 576-6274
New Hampshire
- 4 Lil Paws Ferret Shelter
- Brentwood, NH
- facebook.com/4-Lil-Paws-Ferret-Shelter-524920284279550
- [emailprotected]
- (603) 778-0172
New Mexico
- Mi Corazon Ferrets
- Daniel and Linda Gurule
- Farmington, NM
- micorazonferrets.com
- [emailprotected]
- (505) 326-0409
New York
- Lakeroad Ferret Farm Rescue/Shelter
- Naples, NY
- ferretfarm.org
- [emailprotected]
- (585) 374-8393
North Carolina
None
North Dakota
- Bandit & Friends Ferret Sanctuary
- Fargo, ND
- facebook.com/Banditandfriends
- [emailprotected]
Ohio
- Noah’s Ark Ferretry
- Patricia Highley
- Centerburg, OH
- [emailprotected]
- Four Paws Wrecking Crew
- Susan Mentzer-Hahn
- Columbus, OH
- fourpawswrecking.com
- [emailprotected]
- (614) 678-4444
- Scarlett’s Happy Dookers
- Scarlett A. Gray-Saling
- Delaware, OH
- scarletts-happydookers.com
- [emailprotected]
- (614) 563-5829
- PVO Ferrets
- Pam VanOverloop
- Westchester, OH
- PVOFerrets.com
- [emailprotected]
- (513) 779-9906
Oklahoma
- Rainy Day Rescue
- Jaclyn Rains
- Kellyville, OK
- rainydayrescue.weebly.com
- [emailprotected]
- (918) 844-9395
Oregon
- Willamette Valley Ferret Shelter
- Willamette Valley, OR
- willamettevalleyferretshelter.org
- [emailprotected] (503) 852-3182
Pennsylvania
- Ravensnest Ferrets
- Ruth L. Heller, DVM and Beth Bowles
- Harrison City, PA
- facebook.com/RavensnestFerrets
- [emailprotected]
- (724) 744-4114
- Ferrets in Paradise Ferret R & S
- Jessie Molan
- Philadelphia, PA
- [emailprotected]
- (215) 289-4850
- Novel Beginnings Ferretry
- Mary McCarty-Houser
- State College, PA
- facebook.com/nbferret
- [emailprotected]
- (814) 237-9267
Tennessee
- Southern Dooks Ferret Rescue And Sanctuary
- Kingsport, TN
- facebook.com/SouthernDooks
- [emailprotected]
- (423) 217-2350
Texas
- Top Notch Ferrets
- Rita Littles
- Houston, TX
- topnotchferrets.com
- [emailprotected]
Vermont
- Rainbow Ferret REscue
- Jim Hart
- Cavendish, VT
- facebook.com/RainbowFerretREscue
- [emailprotected]
- (802) 554-0008
Virginia
- The Clay Ferret
- Danee Devore
- Alexandria, VA
- facebook.com/groups/TheClayFerret/
- [emailprotected]
- (703) 780-6155
Washington
- Ferret Patch Kits
- Suzanne Hamilton
- Newman Lake, WA
- [emailprotected]
- (509) 226-2067
- Ferret Haven of Spokane/Wannabe Wild Weasels Ferretry
- Paula C Woodland
- Spokane, WA
- [emailprotected]
- (509) 327-8435
West Virginia
- Nirvana Ridge Ferret Rescue
- Brandy Station, VA (serves West Virginia)
- nirvanaridge.org
- [emailprotected]
- (703) 342-9032
Wisconsin
- The Hidey Hole
- Lynn Toole
- Wisconsin Dells, WI
- thehideyhole.com
- [emailprotected]
- (608) 844-4471
Wyoming
- Wyoming NO KILL Ferret Rescue Sanctuary
- Randy Schein
- Guernsey, WY
- facebook.com/Wyoming.Ferret.Rescue
- [emailprotected]
- (307) 331-5589
Identifying A Good Ferret Breeder
Ferrets can be susceptible to certain diseases, especially if they come from a bad breeder. Good breeders should take excellent care of their ferrets and keep detailed records of their lineage and genetics.
If you decide to purchase a ferret from a breeder, you need to do your research. Backyard breeders are much more likely to neglect their ferrets’ needs.
When you find a ferret breeder/rescue, you’ll need to do a little bit of vetting. There are a few questions that you should ask them to verify that you’re supporting a good business and getting a healthy ferret:
- May I see your ferrets’ living conditions?
- Do you have references for previous buyers?
- Can you provide me with your ferrets’ genetic histories?
- Do you provide birth certificates with details about the parents?
- What food do you feed to the ferrets as kits and adults?
- Am I allowed to interact with the kit in person first?
- Do you keep sick/nursing ferrets separate?
- Will you be able to answer any other questions I may have about ferret care?
Additionally, you should take a mental note of the living conditions of the ferrets. The ferrets should be kept in an environment that meets all of the following:
- Cleanliness (clean cages, food bowls, litter boxes, water bottles, etc.)
- Generally calm ferrets that don’t become nervous/aggressive when held
- Soft and clean fur without fleas
- Clean ears
- Hard, well-kept nails
- Clear eyes
Buying Ferrets Online
There are not many ways to purchase ferrets online, as most breeders and shelters don’t ship their ferrets and don’t provide ways to purchase them directly from their website. You must make the purchase in person. However, there are some ways to make purchases online.
Essentially all websites that sell their ferrets online have images of the ferrets in addition to their name and their age. Really good sources will mention the genetic history of the ferret (or will provide it to you when asked).
While it may be convenient to buy a ferret online, it’s definitely not cheaper. You’ll still incur all the costs of a ferret, but you’ll also likely have to pay shipping (if the seller offers shipping). Airlines do offer live animal shipping, but it’s often quite expensive as it requires a lot of care and expedited shipping.
You’ll also want to make sure that you still ask all of the questions highlighted above. Just because you’re buying online doesn’t mean that you can neglect the background check that you must carry out. Several emails and phone calls should provide you all of the information that you require.
Where To Buy Ferrets Online
As stated, there are a few places to purchase ferrets online. While most sellers won’t ship ferrets, some allow you to easily do your “shopping” online before picking up your new ferret.
Ferret Breeder/Shelter Website
This is an obvious source for finding ferrets online, as these are the sources listed above! Essentially every ferret breeder and shelter will list their ferrets online for easy shopping. Some websites will list prices, too, so you don’t have to call or email to figure out their price points.
Craigslist
There are quite a few ferrets for sale on Craigslist at all times, so it’s a nice way to find one to purchase. Do note that Craigslist doesn’t have the best reputation, so you should do your due diligence when purchasing a ferret from there.
Still ask the owner about the previous living conditions of the ferret, why they’re selling it, and if the ferret has any health problems. If the owner is close, meet up with them to look at the ferret in person before making a decision.
Local Classifieds
There are a bunch of different websites that are essentially classified ad listings for a particular area. An example of this could be KSL, which is a classified website for Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.
There are also some more generic classified sites along the lines of Craigslist, such as Hoobly.
Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are a phenomenal way to find ferrets that are either for sale or that desperately need a new home. You’re able to find either a local ferret group or find a more generic country-wide group. This particular ferret and accessory buy/sell group has over 5,000 buying and selling ferrets and ferret supplies.