Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).
Image: Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The black-footed ferret is North America's only native ferret and one of its most endangered mammals. It is assessed as Endangered.
Once thought extinct, it was rescued through captive breeding and reintroduced to the prairies.
Range & habitat
Grasslands of central North America, in reintroduced populations.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Loss of prairie dogs (its main prey)
- Disease (plague and distemper)
- Habitat loss
Why it matters
Tightly tied to prairie dogs and prairie habitat, the black-footed ferret is a landmark recovery story and a symbol of North American grassland conservation.
Gallery
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).
Image: laiet17, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Black-footed Ferret
- IUCN Red List — look up Black-footed Ferret (authoritative status)
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the black-footed ferret depend on prairie dogs?
Why is the black-footed ferret Endangered?
Last updated: