The first reintroduction happened in 1991 with 49 ferrets released back into the wild in Shirley Basin, Wyoming. This led to the discovery of a small number of black-footed ferrets nearby.įrom only seven breeding black-footed ferrets, conservationists re-established their numbers in captivity. Skunks often carry rabies (PDF), so do not go near skunks (which will also keep you from getting sprayed) and make sure your pets are vaccinated. Then, in 1981, a rancher’s dog in Wyoming brought home a ferret it had killed. Foraging at night, they are opportunistic omnivores that will eat insects, berries, eggs, and small birds and mammals. Instead, they are more commonly recognized as crepuscular creatures. They can sleep during both daytime, and nighttime hours, though usually, (most)ferrets prefer sleeping during nighttime. In fact, one ferret can eat over 100 prairie dogs in a year! Their near-eradication almost wiped out the ferrets. Ferrets cannot be categorized as nocturnal animals. Ferrets can be active at any time of the day, depending on what they are used to or allowed to do in their environment. ![]() Prairie dogs are 90% of the black-footed ferret diet. Sylvatic plague (which the ferrets are also susceptible to).Habitat conversion to cropland or other types of development.Being deliberately exterminated (they are often considered an agricultural pest).But by the 1970s they were feared to be extinct as a result of habitat fragmentation and widespread prairie dog declines due to: There may have been as many as 5 million black-footed ferrets in the United States in the early 1900s. While this name may sound mean to those who have never owned a ferret, it will make perfect sense to seasoned ferret lovers. The scientific name for a ferret is Mustela putorius furo which actually stands for stinky little thief. Black-footed Ferrets are obligate carnivores. Mustela Putorius Furo Means Stinky Little Thief. They are known to be quite playful and vocal! They bark, chatter, and even chuckle, and the "ferret dance" is hopping about with their mouths wide open, apparently having all sorts of fun. They are nocturnal and spend most of their time underground, either in prairie dog burrows or in their own dens. The black-footed ferret is roughly the size of a mink and is similar in appearance to the European polecat and the Asian steppe polecat. ![]() Their coats are yellow-beige with distinctive black markings on their face, feet, legs, and tail that help them blend in with their habitat. Adults are 18 to 24 inches long and weigh less than three pounds. Black-footed ferrets are a member of the weasel family and about the same size as minks.
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