Ferret Timeline
155
400 B.C.
First ferrets are living in Egypt and/or the Mediterranean area.
300 B.C.
Arisotle and Aristophanes reference a ferret - like creature of Libyan descent in written works.
23 - 79 A.D.
The Roman author, philosopher, and naturalist mentions ferrets in his written works.
600 A.D.
Seville writes about ferrets being used to hunt rabbits.
1000 A.D.
Ferrets spread to Western Europe most notably in the United Kingdom
1200 A.D.
Ferrets spread into Germany, Afghanistan, and the surrounding regions.
1300 A.D.
King Richard II of England passes laws that limit the use of ferrets for hunting the the considerably wealthy. A person earning less than an annual income of 40 shillings is not allowed to use ferrets to hunt. He later passes laws that prohibit the use of ferrets for hunting all together except in his palace.
1551 A.D.
Gerner of Zurich describes the first albino ferret as being a "light urine color".
1700 A.D.
Ferrets are used to transport wiring through pipes when building ships, houses, trains, etc.
1870 A.D.
Ferrets are introduced to New Zealand to control an overpopulation of landscape harming rabbits. The ferrets over hunt the rabbits in New Zealand to a dangerous low number and then start to hunt their native birds, who before had no carnivorous predators.
1900 - Present (2011)
Ferrets are becoming increasingly popular in most parts of the world solely as a companion or pet. Most people no longer use ferrets for hunting, or it is outlawed. Ferrets are also completely illegal in certain places.