life-span....

Question
Hello there, I wuz curiouse how long an average ferrets life-spanis. Some people say its 9-10 yrs.  Others say 4-5 years. Also, 6 years. I dont kno wich one to believe... please help me!

Answer
Hello Mandy,

Well, I hate to say it but every one is right -- sort of.... Ferrets, like all other animals (humans included) have a lifespan that is "typical" of their species. An example would be, the human male's typical lifespan is something like 70-75yrs old and a human female is about 75-80yrs old. Of course lots of things are going to determine how long ANY living creature carries on -- hereditary disease, lifestyle, healthy vs. unhealthy diet, exercise, and so on and so on.

With all that said, a ferret's upper limit to longevity will be around 10 years old -- although their demise is usually sooner due to some sort of disease (age related or not).

Hope that helps!!!

Sincerely,
Adrienne Mortimer