Black-Footed Ferret

prairie · predator · endangered · nocturnal

Mink-sized hunter. Black-footed ferrets are about the size of a mink with long, slinky bodies built perfectly for hunting through prairie dog tunnels. They have dark fur on their face like a mask, which is how they got their name.

Prairie dog specialist. Up to 90% of what black-footed ferrets eat is prairie dogs, making them incredibly dependent on these burrowing rodents. Without prairie dog colonies to hunt in, ferrets cannot survive in an area.

Night shift hunter. These ferrets are mostly nocturnal, meaning they hunt under the cover of darkness and sleep during the day. They are also solitary creatures that prefer living and hunting alone.

Tiny but fierce parents. Female black-footed ferrets raise their babies alone in prairie dog burrows that they've taken over. Mothers are protective and stay close to their litters until the young ferrets are ready to hunt.

Nearly extinct species. Black-footed ferrets were hunted heavily and almost died out completely, but conservation efforts have helped bring small populations back from the brink of extinction.