Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes)--by Michael Cerone

Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes)

By: Michael Cerone 

Description & Ecology:

The Black-Footed Ferret is a medium size, nocturnal carnivorous mammal in the Mustelid family, the same family as weasals, badgers, otters, wolverines, etc. They usually weigh 1-2.5 pounds, and span up to 2 feet long including their long tails. The Black-Footed Ferret is distinguished by its large & perked up ears, black raccoon-like “mask” across its eyes, as well as their black feet and black tips on the end of their tails (which span up to 6 inches). These mammals are restricted to open grassland, prairie-like habitats or mountain basins containing a prairie dog population, as prairie dog are the Black-Footed Ferret’s main prey, and the prairie dogs’ burrows serve as shelter for ferrets as well. These ferrets are historically found in central North America in places with said open, prairie-style habitat.

(****Notice the black feet and spot on the tail****)

Geographic and Population Changes:

Originating in Siberia, these ferrets are claimed to have migrated to the North American planes, ranging from Canada all the way into Mexico, approximately 800,000 years ago. Up until the last known wild population of Black-Footed Ferrets was discovered in Mellette County, South Dakota in 1964, these ferrets were considered extremely rare. Since this last known population, a tiny metapopulation in an area surrounding Mellete County was found but quickly died off, and another wild population has not been found since the group in Mellette County. However, populations have been reintroduced all over the midwest states in the U.S., most recently in: South Dakota, New Mexico and Montana. However, not all of these reintroduced populations have been successful. From 2009-2012 the numbers of Fall populations when ferrets are most successful are reduced by 50% by the time Spring arrives. As of 2015, all populations of the Black-Footed Ferret exist in captive breeding areas and managed reintroduction locations, with the only self sustaining populations being two separate groups in South Dakota, one in Arizona, and one in Wyoming out of the 17-22 original reintroduced populations—Mexico and Canada populations of Black-Footed Ferrets are considered regionally extirpated. Even with the management of reintroduced populations, these ferrets still struggle and their overall population continues to decrease. 

Listing Date and Type of Listing:

1967—classified as endangered.

1987—considered extinct in the wild. 

2008—listed as endangered again due to reintroduction efforts. 

Currently remain listed as Endangered, as well as declining in population to date.

Cause of Listing and Main threats to its continued existence:

The three primary causes of of Black-Footed Ferret Endangerment are:

1.) Habitat Destruction & Degradation due to Native Prairie Conversion:

The conversion of their prairie habitats into farmland to be used for agriculture have destroyed the livable habitat for prairie dogs, and as a result the Black-Footed Ferret, as these ferrets are dependent on prairie dogs for pray and for their shelters; approximately 112 million acres of livable prairie habitat has been destroyed for agricultural use in recent years.

 2.) Disease:

-Canine distemper: systematic disease commonly found in carnivorous mammals; the disease is deadly to mammal populations, and due to a canine distemper vaccine ultimately spreading the disease through wild ferrets even more led to mass populations being devastated by this disease. 

-Sylvatic plague:  fatal bacterial disease which both ferrets and prairie dogs are extremely susceptible to; due to the spread of this disease to both Black-Footed Ferrets and prairie dogs alike, the populations of both declined drastically (Sylvatic Plague is debatably the biggest cause of Black-Footed Ferret endangerment). 

(Below is a BFF being treated for Sylvatic Plague)                                                                                            3.) Poisoning of Prey:

Poisoning of prairie dogs to reduce competition with domesticated livestock leads to poisoning in these ferrets as a result. Due to their dependency on prairie dogs for prey and shelter, when these animals are harmed or populations are reduced it has a direct, negative impact on Black-Footed Ferret populations. 

Description of Recovery Plan:

There have been several recovery plans in the past, but most recently in 2013 a 2nd Final Revision Recovery Plan for the Black-Footed Ferret was implemented.

Goal of Recovery Plan: The ultimate goal of this recovery plan is to restore the Black-Footed Ferret to be dropped Threatened status of listing, and ultimately protect and aid the species enough to be dropped from the Endangered Species list entirely. 

Actions (in summary):

1.) Continue to improve aggressive reintroduction population management efforts and maintain the stability of the Captive Breeding populations

2.) Work to fight against Sylvatic Plague in prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets

Specific Actions (according to the Recovery Plan itself):

1. "Conserve and manage a captive ferret population of sufficient size and structure to support genetic management and reintroduction efforts."

2. "Identify prairie dog habitats with the highest biological potential for supporting future free-ranging populations of ferrets. "

3. "Establish free-ranging populations of ferrets to meet downlisting and delisting criteria." 

4. "Ensure sufficient habitat to support a wide distribution of ferret populations over the long term considering social, political, and economic concerns of local residents. "

5. "Reduce disease-related threats in wild populations of ferrets and associated species."

6. "Support partner involvement and conduct adaptive management through cooperative interchange."


What Can You Do?

Spread the Word: tell friends, family, colleagues, or anyone you can about what is happening with these ferrets and how we can protect them.

Donate: donate money to conservation efforts to help aid with the recovery; every dollar counts!

I chose this animal because all my life I have loved ferrets of any kind. For some reason, they have always reminded me of smaller dog-like creatures, and I have wanted to own one as a pet since I was little. However, since it is illegal to own any type of ferret in California (where I'm from), I was never able to have one. Plus, how can one not want to help one of these cute little guys?

Other resources:

For more info on Black-Footed Ferrets, visit:

https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/blackFootedFerret.php

https://blog.nature.org/science/2016/01/04/recovery-hope-black-footed-ferrets-most-endangered-mammals/


Works Cited:

Information

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2013. Recovery plan for the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado. 157 pp.
                ------(Official Recovery Plan of 2013 Document)

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/14020/0

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=6953



Images:

https://blog.nature.org/science/2016/01/04/recovery-hope-black-footed-ferrets-most-endangered-mammals/

http://www.prairiewildlife.org/bff.html

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/14020/0

https://blog.nature.org/science/2016/01/04/recovery-hope-black-footed-ferrets-most-endangered-mammals/

https://www2.usgs.gov/envirohealth/geohealth/v06_n02.html

http://www.defendersblog.org/2012/12/how-the-esa-saved-the-black-footed-ferret/