LIVE BLACK FOOTED FERRET WEBCAM

More info: Black footed ferrets are the only ferret species native to North America. The black-footed ferret is a member of the weasel family which also includes mink, badger, marten, fisher, stoat, polecat, wolverine and the domestic ferret.

In 1980 it was thought that the black footed ferret was extinct until a Wyoming ranch dog killed a black footed ferret and took it to his owners. This led to the discovery of a small relic population of 130 ferrets on the farm which were then closely monitored by wildlife biologists. By 1987 and after suffering disease, there were only 18 ferrets left. At this point, scientists captured the remaining black-footed ferrets, and these ferrets then became captive breeding stock for the foundation for later reintroductions.

Beginning with Wyoming in 1991, Black-Footed Ferrets have been reintroduced to 29 sites across 8 states, Canada, and Mexico. About 280 Black-Footed Ferrets are currently living in captive breeding facilities and, according to Nature Conservancy, about 200-300 ferrets now live in the wild. About 3,000 Black-Footed Ferrets are necessary to fully recover the species.

The Black-Footed Ferret is still an IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) endangered animal and is one of the most endangered animals in North America. The species is still at risk from disease, loss of habitat, and related declines in prey – their main source of food is the prairie dog and without sustainable populations of their main food source, the black footed ferret cannot survive.