Black-footed Ferret - Ted Rohner

Black-footed Ferret

(Mustela nigripes)

Description and Ecology

The black-footed ferret is a carnivorous mammal that is native to the North American shortgrass and mixed grass prairie. It has a tan body with a black mask on its face and has black legs and feet with a black tipped tail. They have large front paws for digging and a strong jaw and teeth for eating meat. It has a long slender body, like that of a weasel, so it can crawl through holes and dwellings of its main prey, the prairie dog. Prairie dogs make up about 90% of the ferrets diet and black-footed ferrets even take shelter in abandoned prairie dog dwellings. With the exception of breeding season and females caring for their kits, black-footed ferrets are solitary animals. They are nocturnal (most active at night) and fossorial (live mostly underground) predators.

Geographic and Population Changes 

Black-footed ferrets once numbered in the tens of thousands, but exotic diseases and widespread destructon of their habitat in the 1900s drove them to the brink of extinction. They were found throughout the Great Plains, mountain basins, and semiarid grasslands of west-central North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, wherever prairie-dogs were found. By 1986, they were thought to be extinct from the wild with only 18 left in captivity.  Today, the ferrets are slowly making a comeback, with wild populations numbering in the hundreds to thousands. However, populations are still highly variable because of their dependence on prairie dog populations. As of 2016, black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced in multiple locations within their former range shown on the map.

Listing Date and Type of Listing

The black-footed ferret was first listed by the United States government as endangered in 1967 under the  Endangered Species Preservation Act and was re-listed as endangered when the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was created in 1973. In 1987, they were taken into captivity and in 1996, they were listed as extinct in the wild. In 2008, they were listed as endangered again.

Click here to see a video of a playful black-footed ferret "dancing" in the wild.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats

Many prairie dog towns became ghost towns as populations underwent a massive decline during the 20th century. Farmers and ranchers, with government assistance, eliminated many prairie dogs because they were considered agricultural pests from their underground tunnels that were destructive to fields. Some species of prairie dogs have had 99% of their habitat taken for agriculture and development. The prairie dog population is at 5% of what it used to be. In the process, the black-footed ferret was nearly wiped out because of their extreme dependence on prairie dog for food. 

 Disease is another big factor in the black footed ferret disappearance. Plague is an exotic disease that didn't exist in North America before the 20th century. It can affect black-footed ferrets directly from infection and and as a result, death. Also they can be affected indirectly through the death of prairie-dogs.

Another major threat is the loss of habitat by conversion of grasslands to agricultural uses. The remaining habitat is now fragmented by cropland and human development. In addition, the gene diversity of the captive population in very low. This decrease in genetic diversity and increase in inbreeding may decrease fitness including immune system dysfunction and reduced reproductive success.

Description of Recovering Plan

The recovery plan was put in action on 12/23/2013. The goal of the recovery plan, along with all recovery plans, is to get the species off the endangered species list and have them become full functioning members of their ecosystems.


The first goal is to have at least 280 breeding adults in captivity throughout the three existing breeding facilities. Then have at least 3000 breeding adults in the wild in at least 6 of the 12 former states where they historically have lived. They will continue doing this and maintaining the populations with at least 100,000 ha of sustainable land for 3 years. This will get them off the endangered species list, but after they get off the list then they still have to protect their habitat.


Today, recovery efforts have helped restore the black-footed ferret population to nearly 300 animals across North America. Although great strides have been made to recover the black-footed ferret, habitat loss and disease remain key threats to this highly endangered species. In addition they have threats from predators like golden eagles, owls, and coyotes. Reintroduced animals also occasionally lack some survival skills so their mortality rate is higher than usual.

What can you do?

Adopt a black-footed ferret. You can buy a black-footed ferret stuffed animal from the WWF and they will donate your money towards the recovery of the ferret. 
Adopt a ferret here.

Focus on philanthropy and either raise money or donate your own money to support the  recovery plan.

Educate people around you about this amazing animal.

Research to learn more about black-footed ferrets and the prairie ecosystem they need to survive.

Reach out and write letters to lawmakers about the importance of this animal.

Eat locally grown foods to reduce the need for agricultural land in the ferrets natural habitat.

Travel to a Wildlife Refuge, National Park or other prairie habitat to experience their ecosystem in person.

Other Resources

“Basic Facts.” Defenders of Wildlife, 7 Dec. 2017, defenders.org/black-footed-ferret/basic-facts.

Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark. “Black-Footed Ferret.” National Geographic, 10 May 2011, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/b/black-footed-ferret/#close

“Black-Footed Ferret.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/species/black-footed-ferret.

Williams, Ted, et al. “Recovery: Hope for Black-Footed Ferrets, One of Our Most Endangered Mammals.” Cool Green Science, 30 Mar. 2016, blog.nature.org/science/2016/01/04/recovery-hope-black-footed-ferrets-most-endangered-mammals/.

“Mustela Nigripes .” Mustela Nigripes (Black-Footed Ferret), www.iucnredlist.org/details/14020/0.

“Black-Footed Ferret: an Endangered Species.” Bagheera, www.bagheera.com/inthewild/van_anim_ferret.htm.

“Population Growth.” Black-Footed Ferret - Home, blackfootedferretanne.weebly.com/population-growth.html.

“How to Help.” Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program, blackfootedferret.org/how-to-help/.

Whitman, Pamela. “Animals.” Pinterest, 21 Sept. 2012, www.pinterest.co.uk.

“Basic Facts About Prairie Dogs.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016, defenders.org/prairie-dog/basic-facts.

“Black-Footed Ferret Program Update.” Black-Footed Ferret Program Update | Lincoln Park Zoo, www.lpzoo.org/blog/black-footed-ferret-program-update.