When friends and neighbors found I had one, the referrals started coming in about re-homing unwanted pets and help with ferret care. In 1988 I started a ferret rescue, The Ferrets of Pet Pals, and I have placed over 1,300 ferrets in ten years. Any animal with teeth is capable of biting. That is, after all, the purpose of teeth. Like any family pet, ferrets need to be taught what is acceptable behavior.
Ferrets like to pounce, grab things in their mouths, and chew on spongy objects.
If you are wearing sandals made from a rubber type material, and the ferret pounces on your foot, your toe might end up the victim. You need to teach your pet that human skin is not as tough as ferret skin, and it not a play toy. According to bite statistics in New York, the only animal with fewer bite reports than ferrets were guinea pigs. In fact, it is 17 times more likely that you'll be bitten by a human, and 200 more times likely you'll be bitten by a dog, than a ferret. If you pull on an animal's tail, squeeze them too hard, or handle them improperly, an animal will protect themselves by using their teeth.