Ferrets

how many black footed ferrets are left


How many Black-Footed Ferrets are Left?

The Black-footed Ferret, one of the rarest mammals in North America, is on the brink of extinction. In the wild, there are thought to fewer than 300 black-footed ferrets remaining.

Conservation Status

The dramatic decline in the black-footed ferret population has been attributed to the destruction of its habitat: open prairie with its preferred prey, prairie dogs. The species has been listed as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service since 1967 and was declared extinct in the wild in 1979. Through the collaborative efforts of wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, and private landowners, black-footed ferrets have been successfully reintroduced into a number of states, but their population remains precarious.

Preserving the Species

In order to ensure the survival of the species, great strides have been taken to conserve the Black-footed Ferret. These include the following:

  • Protection of prairie habitat to support the ferret’s primary food source, prairie dogs.
  • Captive breeding programs to grow the population. The captive population has been estimated to be around 800 ferrets.
  • Captive breeding with the release of ferrets into the wild as encouraged by The Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team.

A Bright Future

Although the Black-footed Ferret population is still perilously low, some good news has been reported in recent years. The species was officially declared “stable” in 2013, meaning that the population is increasing, rather than decreasing. Hopefully, with the continued dedication of conservation groups, we can ensure the protection of this unique species for generations to come!

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