COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hundreds of ferret enthusiasts gathered at an exposition center in Columbus on Saturday for the Ferret Buckeye Bash, the United States’ largest annual ferret show, underscoring a niche but passionate community devoted to one of America’s most unconventional pets.
Attendees arrived accompanied by their ferrets, carried in cages, strollers, or cradled closely. The event featured a range of activities designed to engage both longtime owners and the ferret-curious, including races through plastic tunnels, costume parades, and playful challenges such as ferrets escaping from brown paper bags. A highlight was the competition judged on criteria like skeletal structure, muscle tone, temperament, and cleanliness, with judges awarding points to determine the best in show. This year’s top prize was awarded to ferret No. 703, unseating previous champion Jelly Bean, a companion ferret recognized in 2025.
The gathering reflects both affection for the species and the challenges facing ferret ownership in the United States. While once more widespread during a surge of popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, the ferret community has since contracted and now primarily consists of dedicated older owners in their 60s and 70s, many of whom have spent decades breeding, rescuing, and advocating for the animals.
Scarlett Gray-Saling, 74, who has organized the event for 25 years, noted a decline in participation—down from over 300 ferrets registered in past years to just 101 this year. Longtime owners like Pam VanOverloop and Michael Schell brought their pedigreed and award-winning ferrets, while others such as Mary Cruse, 75, displayed rescued animals, including Hammie, a former kissing competition winner who was found abandoned in the wilderness. Cruse, who has rescued 29 ferrets over her lifetime, indicated this would be her final year caring for these animals as she approaches her late seventies.
The event also highlighted connections to broader issues in ferret ownership. A New York-based company, Marshall Farms, controls much of the pet ferret market in the United States and also supplies ferrets for biomedical research, where the animals’ respiratory similarity to humans has made them valuable in studies on influenza, cystic fibrosis, and COVID-19 treatments. While Marshall Farms acknowledged ethical debates surrounding animal research, it stated that interest in ferrets is generally cyclical and currently experiencing growth.
Veterinary costs and other expenses have increasingly posed barriers for younger potential owners. Yet new enthusiasts are emerging, such as 20-year-old Eliza Warner, a preschool teacher who began ferret ownership on impulse after a visit to a pet store. Despite initial family disapproval and significant vet bills, Warner has expanded her collection and expressed intentions to participate more actively in ferret shows and communities, eventually possibly becoming a breeder or rescuer herself.
The Ferret Buckeye Bash thus serves not only as a celebration of the species but also as a critical gathering point for a community seeking to sustain ferret culture amid evolving challenges. As younger owners like Warner enter the fold, the future of the ferret subculture appears to hinge on balancing tradition with fresh enthusiasm in an environment that remains both endearing and demanding.