Ferret Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine produced primarily by activated macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) following recognition of pathogens or tissue injury. Synthesized as an inactive precursor (pro–IL-1β), it is cleaved into its active form by caspase-1 within the inflammasome complex and subsequently signals through the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R1), activating NF-κB and MAPK pathways that promote fever, leukocyte recruitment, vascular permeability, and amplification of inflammatory responses. In ferret health and research, IL-1β is prominently induced during respiratory viral infections such as influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2, where its expression contributes to lung inflammation, immune cell infiltration, and, in severe cases, immunopathology. Elevated IL-1β levels correlate with disease severity in these models, reflecting its role in cytokine-driven pulmonary pathology. Because ferrets are widely used as translational models for human respiratory viral infections and transmission studies, characterization of IL-1β is essential for understanding inflammasome activation, cytokine storm mechanisms, vaccine responses, and evaluation of anti-inflammatory or antiviral therapeutics. As both a biomarker and mediator of innate immune activation, ferret IL-1β plays a central role in respiratory disease research and comparative studies of inflammatory regulation.