№ 47 of 100
Black-footed Ferret
Mustela nigripes
Declared extinct twice, North America's masked prairie hunter was saved by a ranch dog named Shep who brought one home in 1981.
- Range
- United States
- Region
- North America
- Habitat
- Prairie-dog towns of the Great Plains
The story
Every black-footed ferret alive descends from seven animals rescued from a Wyoming ranch. Releases at 30+ prairie sites, plague vaccines dropped by drone, and the first cloned ferrets — restoring lost genes from frozen tissue — have made this one of conservation's boldest recovery stories.
What's killing them
- Sylvatic plague
- Prairie-dog eradication removing 90% of prey base
- Habitat conversion to cropland
Who's fighting for them
U.S. Fish & WildlifeUnited States Fish & Wildlife Service
WWFWorld Wide Fund for Nature
AZA SAFEAssociation of Zoos & Aquariums — SAFE Program
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Quick answers
How many Black-footed Ferrets are left in the world?
Approximately ~370 wild. The Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and their population trend is recovering. Figures are estimates compiled from the IUCN Red List and conservation organisations.
Where does the Black-footed Ferret live?
The Black-footed Ferret is found in United States (North America). Their habitat: Prairie-dog towns of the Great Plains.
Why is the Black-footed Ferret endangered?
The main threats to the Black-footed Ferret are: Sylvatic plague; Prairie-dog eradication removing 90% of prey base; Habitat conversion to cropland.
Who is working to save the Black-footed Ferret?
Organisations working on Black-footed Ferret conservation include United States Fish & Wildlife Service; World Wide Fund for Nature; Association of Zoos & Aquariums — SAFE Program.