Black-footed Ferret

Black-footed Ferret Mustela nigripes

Range:

Historical: Across the Great Plains, from southern Canada to northern Mexico 

Remaining natural populations: None, this species went extinct in the wild 

Reintroduced populations: Reintroduced at >30 locations in the US, Canada and Mexico

Habitat:

Prairie grasslands, coinciding with prairie dog habitat since the ferrets depend on prairie dog burrows for shelter and prairie dogs for prey

Size:

Typically measuring 48–61cm (19–24 in) in length including a 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail and weighing 635–1135 g (1.4–2.5 lbs)

Young:

Called kits, litter size typically 3–4 kits but can number between one and eight

Gestation:

41–43 days, kits typically born May–June

Diet (wild): Prairie dogs make up 90% of their diet in the wild. May also eat small mammals and birds.

Life span:

Up to around four years in the wild and as long as eight years in managed care

Conservation status: Endangered

Threats:

Loss of habitat and prey; conversion of grasslands to agricultural land, prairie dog eradication, non-native diseases including plague and canine distemper

Appearance:

Feet, face mask and tail tip are all black, remaining fur is a yellow-buff color, lighter on the belly and nearly white on the head. Slender with short legs and large front paws and claws developed for digging.

Social/Family units: Solitary

Predators:

Owls, golden eagles, coyotes

Locomotion:

Live and hunt mainly underground in prairie dog tunnels

Activity: Nocturnal

Did you know?

This species was considered extinct (twice) mainly due to extermination of prairie dog communities as well as disease. In 1981, a Wyoming ranch dog named Shep brought home a dead animal that the ranchers had never seen before. They brought it to a taxidermist, who recognized it was a black-footed ferret. And so the last remaining population of ferrets was found. This population was being closely monitored when it began to dwindle due to disease. Wildlife managers brought 18 ferrets into managed care, the last known black-footed ferrets remaining. These animals were the start of the black-footed ferret breeding program. Through reintroduction at over 30 sites across North America, there are now a few hundred black-footed ferrets in the wild and another few hundred in managed care facilities.

Domesticated ferrets that are kept as pets are actually descended from the European polecat and not closely related to the black-footed ferret, which is the only ferret native to North America.

At the Phoenix Zoo:

We became part of the breeding program in 1991 and since then, over 500 black-footed ferrets have been born at the Zoo. There are only six black-footed ferret breeding facilities in the world, so we are proud to be an integral part of recovery efforts for this species.