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How Much Do You Know About the Black-Footed Ferret

Amruta Deshpande
Black Footed ferrets are one of the most endangered species in the US. 

Read on to know more..
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Did you know?
Also known as the American polecat or prairie dog hunter, this weasel like creature is a species of mustelid native to central North America.
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A long slender body with black outlines on the feet, parts of the face including ears and its tail along with an arched & broad forehead are the characteristics of a Black-footed Ferret.
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The Black-footed Ferret was declared extinct in 1979, only to be discovered again at Meeteetse, Wyoming, USA in 1981.
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Did you know?
Sylvatic plague is a bacterial disease which is transmitted by fleas that primarily affects rodents, such as prairie dogs.
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Male Black-footed Ferrets are about 15-21 inches long with a 4.5-5 inches tail length and weighs around 1.4 – 3.09 pounds. Females are 10% smaller than the males.
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Quick Fact
A Black-footed Ferret can consume over 100 Prairie Dogs in a year which makes up to around 91% of its diet.
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Black-footed ferrets are estimated to have a life expectancy of about 1 to 4 years in the wild and up to 12 years when in captivity.
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The male Black-footed Ferrets are called ‘Hobs’, the females are called ‘Jills’ and the young ones are called ‘Kits’.
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Apart from the Prairie Falcons, Golden Eagles & the Great Horned Owls other predators of Black-footed Ferrets include Coyotes, Prairie Rattlesnakes, American Badgers, Bobcats & Ferruginous Hawks.
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After a gestation period of 42-45 days, a female Black-footed Ferret gives birth to 1-5 babies inside the burrows of the Prairie Dogs.
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