19. Ferret-Legging was a competition to see who could keep the most ferrets down their trousers for the longest period of time
The ferret, a domesticated form of the polecat, is a tenacious mustelid. Ferrets have long been used for hunting, as their slender build and aggression makes them ever-willing to follow larger mammals down burrows. So why not drop them down your trousers? Incredibly, this seemed such a good idea in Britain that competitions were staged. Essentially, a group of men would put as many down their trousers as they could fit, and see how long they could endure a sharp-fanged carnivore attempting to bite their way out. The current record, depending on your source, sits at around the 5-hour mark.
The ferret’s small size and effectiveness against quarry such as rabbits meant that it was a favorite amongst poachers. In Britain, it was illegal for centuries for common people to own hunting dogs or firearms, and so the easily-concealed ferret was popular for acquiring sly rabbits for the pot. When confronted by a gamekeeper or policeman, the poacher could simply slip the ferret down their trousers and try to keep as still as possible whilst the animal tried to escape: a new sport was born! Since the 1970s, Ferret-Legging has inexplicably risen in popularity, and is played around the world.
