The Black Footed Ferret

Even though they share a similar name the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) in fact is a different species then the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

Black-footed ferrets once populated southern canada and the western plains states. Unfortunately for the Black-footed ferret farms and modern agriculture brought the near eradication of prairie dogs , which is the black footed ferrets main food source. without a food source and suffering from canine distemper outbreaks the Black-footed ferret almost became extinct.

Although there are extensive captive breeding programs underway the black-footed ferret is still one of the most endangered mammals in North America. The Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team (BFFRIT) was created in 1996 to more effectively integrate the expertise and resources of various parties contributing to the recovery of the black-footed ferret. The goal of the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Plan is to establish 10 or more widely separated, self-sustaining, wild black-footed ferret populations in order to consider down listing of the species to "threatened" status. Find out more about the Black-footed ferret and how you can help them at www.blackfootedferret.org