Black-Footed Ferrets
In this article, Bella talks about black-footed ferrets in the wild, and their declining numbers.
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Black-footed ferrets
Black-footed ferrets
By: Bella Eichmann
By: Bella Eichmann
Ferrets are a common name in the topic of pets. Basically, ferrets seem to be tiny, psychotic, elongated cats. It is no surprise that these animals are seen in pet stores alongside hamsters and parakeets. As is true for many domesticated animals, there are wild variants of ferrets, as well. The most predominantly known of these wild variants is the Black-Footed ferrets.
Black-footed ferrets, otherwise known as Mustela nigripes, are native to North America, with around 495 species currently in the wild. This species is the only known wild species of ferret native to the continent. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service states that "The earliest fossil record of the black-footed ferret is from approximately 100,000 years ago, according to Anderson et al., 1986, and Clark, 1986.” Reportedly, in the late 1800s, there were an abundance of them. However, by the end of the 1950s, their numbers devastatingly dropped. They were even presumed extinct until 1964, when a small group was found in South Dakota. After this discovery, captive breeding efforts were made, though unsuccessful. The population died out shortly afterward, in the year 1974. Then, in 1981, another group of ferrets was rediscovered in Wyoming. This finding led to the creation of the Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program, which is still around to this day.
Black-footed ferrets are currently still one of the most endangered mammals in North America, with fewer than 490 of these ferrets still remaining in the wild. Non-native diseases and habitat loss are two major reasons for their decline in numbers. According to the World Wildlife Fund, "The ferret is entirely dependent on the presence of prairie dogs and their colonies for food, shelter and raising young. Without ample reintroduction sites and protection from plague, full black-footed ferret recovery remains difficult.” Both the Black-footed ferrets and their prey are highly susceptible to the sylvatic plague, a flea-borne disease that affects wild rodents.
To save this species from extinction, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is working with wildlife programs, tribal communities, and organizations of all kinds. They are doing this by supporting efforts to eliminate the sylvatic plague, finding and establishing new introduction sites for the species, taking care of current ferret populations, and driving the resources to achieve recovery. Back in 2013 and 2014, a total of fifty-two ferrets had been released on the Fort Belknap Reservation. In 2015, fifteen ferrets were released on the Fort Belknap Reservation. This reservation, established back in 1988, has been a home to Black-Footed Ferrets since 1997.
Though past efforts to remove this species from the Endangered List have been unsuccessful, there is hope for their future. With serious efforts being made, there is a chance that black-footed ferret populations could bounce back. For those who want to further increase their chance of rebound, the World Wildlife Fund has many donation options and apparel to further support their efforts toward saving species from extinction.
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