Here's a PSA I made to increase awareness of Waardenburg's Syndrome and bad breeding practices in the ferret industry.

Marshall Farms is the largest ferret breeder in the USA, and also export their ferrets to other countries like Japan. You can identify a Marshall ferret by looking at their right ear: they will have 1 or 2 black dots tattooed, 1 to indicate spay/neutered, and 2 if they've had their scent glands removed. (I drew the tattoos on the wrong ear in the drawing -- )

If you are considering buying a ferret, please do not buy them from a pet store. There are plenty of ferrets in pet shelters that need homes, and the ferrets you find at a shelter are most likely going to be the same ferrets you find in a store anyway. Except the shelter ferrets will be quite a bit less than $160 USD.

As another alternative to pet store ferrets, there are also smaller breeders who work to breed ferrets with healthier genetics. It will be a more expensive option, but the ferrets from a good breeder won't have the shorter lifespan, possible deafness, and other health problems that the big-breeder ferrets have. As with any other big decision, research the ferret breeders near you beforehand to make sure they are credible.

Marshall Farms also makes ferret food and other ferret related products, so watch out for the brands you buy.
Of course, Marshall Farms is just one of many ferret mills. So, just be safe and never buy a ferret from a large pet store.