Frequently Asked Questions

Why are black-footed ferrets endangered?
The black-footed ferret is an animal of the western grasslands, completely dependent upon prairie dogs for its survival. Prairie dogs have declined in numbers due to habitat destruction, poisoning, and plague, so that today they inhabit only about 2% of their original range. As prairie dog numbers declined, so did the black-footed ferret, until only 18 known individuals were left in the wild in 1986.

Are black-footed ferrets the same as domestic ferrets?
No--the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is an endangered species and the only ferret native to North America. The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius) is of European origin and has been domesticated for hundreds of years.

What family of animals does the black-footed ferret belong to?
The black-footed ferret is a member of a group of carnivorous mammals known as mustelids. Its many relatives include the mink, weasel, skunk, badger, otter and wolverine, to name a few. All mustelids have scent glands under their tails, and most have long, slender bodies with short legs.

What do black-footed ferrets look like?
Black-footed ferrets are 18-24 inches long, including a 5-6 inch tail. They weigh up to two-and-one-half pounds, with males slightly larger than females. Their short, sleek fur is a pale yellow-buff color, lighter on the belly and nearly white on the face and throat. They are char- acterized by a black face mask and black feet.

Where are black-footed ferrets found?
In the wild, black-footed ferrets once ranged throughout the Great Plains wherever prairie dog colonies thrived from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Today, they have been reintroduced into parts of their former range in Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana and Arizona.

Where do black-footed ferrets live?
In the wild, black-footed ferrets live in prairie dog colonies. They eat, sleep, and raise their young in prairie dog burrows, and cannot survive for extended periods outside of a prairie dog colony. They spend about 90% of their time underground.

When are ferrets active?
Black-footed ferrets are primarily nocturnal, so are most active at night. During the winter months, they are considerably less active, but they do not hibernate. During harsh weather, they may spend up to a week below ground subsisting on cached food.

How long does a black-footed ferret live?
Few black-footed ferrets live beyond 3-4 years of age in the wild and 8-9 years in captivity.

However, an 8 year old male was found alive and well in the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands in South Dakota in 1998. He had been released as a 5 year old in 1995, and had not been seen for over 3 years!

How fast can a black-footed ferret run?
When aboveground, ferrets travel in a series of jumps or a slow "gallop". They can travel at a rate of 5-7 miles per hour. Biologists have tracked ferrets who have traveled 6 miles in one night, and one busy ferret checked out over 100 prairie dog burrows in a single night!

How do black-footed ferrets communicate?
Black-footed ferrets chatter loudly when they are alarmed or excited. At such times, they emit several loud barks interrupted by low hissing sounds. Male ferrets "chortle" to females during breeding, and ferret kits emit tiny squeaking sounds. Black-footed ferrets also communicate with scent. They establish territories and mark them by rubbing their scent glands on rocks, soil, and vegetation.

What do black-footed ferrets eat?
In the wild, prairie dogs make up 90% of a ferret's diet. A ferret may eat over 100 prairie dogs in one year, and scientists calculate that over 250 prairie dogs are needed to support one ferret family for one year. They may also eat ground squirrels, small rodents, rabbits and birds.

How does a black-footed ferret kill a prairie dog?
Ferrets kill their prey by a bite to the back of the neck or throat. They do most of their hunting at night inside prairie dog burrows, killing prairie dogs while they sleep. The close confines of the burrow make it difficult for their prey to escape.

How long is a female ferret pregnant?
Gestation is 41-43 days.

What is a baby ferret called?
Baby ferrets are called "kits".

How many kits are in an average litter?
Average litter size is from 3-4 kits, although single kits and litters of 9 and 10 have been documented.

Where and when are ferret kits born?
Black-footed ferret kits are born in the spring. In the wild, they are born underground in prairie dog burrows.

Are black-footed ferrets good parents?
Male ferrets play no part in raising kits, but females are excellent parents. Kits are born blind and helpless and stay below ground until they are about 2 months old. At this age, the female begins to take her young on hunting forays and separates the kits into different burrows. By October, the young are completely independent and will disperse to their own territories.

Are black-footed ferrets playful?
Black-footed ferrets are very playful, especially as kits. They are often observed chasing one another, stalking, or staging mock "attacks"--all valuable skills they will need to hunt as adults.

Both wild and captive ferrets do the "ferret dance" with mouths wide open, hopping, leaping, and bucking with total reckless abandon!

What is preconditioning?
Preconditioning is a process of exposing captive juvenile ferrets to natural burrow systems and prairie dog prey during their early developmental stages of life. Ferrets who will be rein- troduced are placed in large, outdoor pens for extended periods to prepare them for life in the wild. Preconditioning has significantly enhanced the survival of captive reared ferrets reintroduced into the wild.

What animals prey on black-footed ferrets?
Black-footed ferrets are preyed upon by a large number of predators, including coyotes, foxes, badgers, bobcats, owls, hawks, eagles and rattlesnakes.

What are the main threats to the black-footed ferret?
The biggest threat to the black-footed ferret is lack of suitable habitat and the continued decline of the prairie dog--the animal on which the ferret depends for survival. Unless efforts are made to protect and conserve the prairie ecosystem, the ferret and many other plant and animal species could face the threat of extinction. Disease also poses a significant threat to the black-footed ferret. Sylvatic plague, spread by fleas, is deadly to both ferrets and prairie dogs, and ferrets are also susceptible to canine distemper, pneumonia, tularemia, and a variety of internal parasites.

Where have black-footed ferrets been reintroduced?
Black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced in the Shirley Basin in central Wyoming; Badlands National Park and the adjacent Buffalo Gap National Grassland in South Dakota; the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana; and the Aubrey Valley near the town of Seligman in northwestern Arizona. Proposed release sites have been identified in an area which straddles the northwest Colorado and eastern Utah border.

How do researchers find black-footed ferrets in the wild?
All released black-footed ferrets are ear tattooed and a small transponder chip is implanted under their skin to aid in individual identification. Some are radio-collared prior to release to provide biologists with information on their movements and survival. Field crews conduct spotlight surveys to locate ferrets by their distinctive green eyeshine, and in winter, snow tracking is another means of locating ferrets.

How many black-footed ferrets have been born?
As of 1998, over 2600 ferrets have been born in the captive breeding program since 1987.

How many black-footed ferrets are there?
The captive breeding program maintains a core breeding population of 240 ferrets of prime breeding age (1-3 years). There are approximately 50 ferrets exhibited in zoos across North America. While it is impossible to know the exact number of ferrets in the wild, 1998 marked the first year since recovery efforts began that there were more ferrets living in the wild than in captivity. The total population probably numbers around 600 individuals.

Where can I see a black-footed ferret?
Many zoos and several federal agency's visitor centers across North America have black-footed ferrets on display. For a complete list click here.

How can I help save the black-footed ferret?
Visiting this Web site is a great start! Explore the many links to other sites to learn more about black-footed ferrets and the prairie ecosystem and be sure to share what you learn with others.

Stop at a visitor center near a reintroduction site or visit one of the many zoos displaying or breeding ferrets to learn more about efforts to save them.

Get involved! Participate in any state or federal land management planning efforts that affect native prairies and the species that depend on the prairie ecosystem. Write your state and federal representatives to let them know that you feel the prairies are worth preserving.