The Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) is a small carnivorous North American prairie animal closely related to the Steppe Polecat from Russia, and a member of the diverse family Mustelidae which also includes weasels, mink, polecats, martens, otters, and badgers. It should not be confused with its close relative the domesticated ferret.The Black-footed Ferret is an endangered mammal in North America, according to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). They became extirpated in the wild in Canada in 1937, and were classified as endangered in the U.S. in 1967. The last known wild population was taken into captivity in 1985, a few years after its accidental discovery in Meeteetse, Wyoming.
Ten Facts about Black-footed Ferret
- Black-footed ferrets are 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm) long, including a 5 to 6 inch (13-15 cm) tail. They weigh only one-and-a-half to two-and-one-half pounds (0.68 - 1.13 kg), , with males slightly larger than females.
- Black-footed ferrets are primarily nocturnal, making direct observation difficult. Most of their daytime activity is limited to the first few hours following sunrise.
- They spend most of their time underground in prairie dog burrows, typically spending only a few minutes aboveground each day to hunt or find new burrows or, in spring, mates.
- Breeding activity generally occurs in March and April, and after a gestation period of 41 to 43 days, a litter of kits is born.
- The average litter size is three to four young, but single kits, as well as litters of nine or ten have been recorded.
- The kits are born blind and helpless, weighing only 5 to 9 grams at birth, with thin, white hair covering their bodies. Their dark markings appear at about 3 weeks of age, and young kits begin to open their eyes about 35 days after birth.
- They are what is called an obligate carnivore, meaning that they specialize in eating one type of animal.
- Most mustelids have long bodies and short legs, well-developed claws, short, rounded ears, and scent glands under the tail.
- heir large skulls and strong jaws and teeth are adapted for eating meat.
- ome well-known members of the mustelid family include mink, skunks, badgers, martens, fishers, weasels, stoats, polecats, wolverines, and the European, or domestic ferret, sold in pet stores.
