Black Footed Ferrets Make Comeback In North America

The domestic ferret is related to the black footed ferret, however the black footed ferret remains a separate species. The American Ferret Association has stated that the ferret is the nation's third most popular pet.

In the wild, ferrets live less than five years and are unable to reproduce until around a year of age. Due to their short lifespan, just a slight improvement in their overall survival rate would increase their population.

Matt Grenier, a biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department who conducted a study on the black footed ferret stated "Most mammals that have been taken into captivity have a slow life history, unlike the fast life history of the black footed ferret". Based on the fast life span and sped up reproductive process, the researchers see a much improved future for the black footed ferrets.

Ferret's Difficult Past

It is uncertain as to the amount of black footed ferrets once lived in North America's prairies, however many researchers suggest that the black footed ferret was very common until farmers began converting the animals homes on prairie lands into agricultural fields. Farmers poisoned the prairie dogs which killed the main source of prey and food for the black footed ferrets, effectively reducing the animals numbers.

Black footed ferrets are also prone to exotic diseases like the sylvatic plague which affects both prairie dogs and ferrets. The sylvatic disease was first introduced by rats in the early 1900's eventually arriving to ferret country in 1930.

Scientists, mistakenly claimed that the animal was extinct, however later found 120 feral ferrets in 1981 when a dog brought one home in its mouth. In 1991, a captive breeding program began and ferrets have been released into the wild successfully in six states and Mexico.

In a three year period between 1991 and 1994, 220 captive born ferrets were introduced in Wyoming. Disease wiped out these early efforts and by 1997 only five were remaining.

Ferrets and prairie dogs Share Commonalities

The black ferret is on the upswing and recently 223 black footed ferrets were counted in the Shirly Basin of Wyoming. Grenier's team tracks both the praire dog and the black footed ferret species and has found a direct correlation between rises in prairie dogs and ferrets. Prairie dogs server as food for the ferret and their burrows are used to raise young.

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