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American or Black-footed ferret

The American ferret, or black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is a species of mustelid native to the central North America.

The American ferret was first discovered and described in 1851, but due to the decline in prairie dog numbers throughout the 20th century, the ferret population steadily declined and was declared extinct in 1979. Only by the mid-1980s was it possible to discover the last wild population of these animals, which were captured and transported to the territory of the research base for breeding. It is now listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The black-footed ferret is approximately the size of a mink, and differs from the European ferret in the greater contrast between dark limbs and light body; as well as a shorter black tip of the tail. But the difference between the American and steppe ferret is not so pronounced. The only noticeable difference between these species is the shorter and coarser coat and larger ears of the “American”.

The black-footed ferret has a very long body and a blunt head shape. The forehead is wide, the muzzle is short, the neck is long. Short and thick paws are covered with hair, the fingers are armed with sharp, slightly curved claws. Like many other ferrets, the American one wears a black mask around its eyes. The main color of the animal is pale yellow; on the forehead and neck there are sometimes hairs with a black tip, which makes the color a little dirty. Body length is from 31 to 41 cm, tail length is 11 – 15 cm. Males weigh on average just over 1 kg, females are about 10% inferior to them in weight.

This species is solitary, except for the breeding season and the period of raising offspring. American ferrets lead night look life, spending daylight hours in prairie dog burrows. Above ground they are most active from sunset to midnight, and from 4 a.m. to mid-morning. Ground activity is more active in late summer and early autumn, when the young become independent. Climate does not generally limit the activity of the black-footed ferret, but in winter period it can remain in the burrow for up to 6 days.

More than 90 percent of the diet consists of prairie dogs (gophers), which are attacked while they sleep in their burrows. But depending on the habitat, large insects, mountain waders, horned larks, mountain hares, mice, voles and others small mammals, are also used as food.

Female American ferrets have a smaller home range than males. A male's territory may sometimes include the habitats of several females. The adult female usually occupies the same territory year after year.

The breeding season lasts from February to March. When a male and a female in heat encounter each other, the male will groom his partner and sniff her genital area for several hours, which is a contrast to the more abrupt and faster behavior seen in male European ferrets.

The female makes a den for the birth of offspring in the burrows of prairie dogs. Between May and June, puppies are born blind and helpless, and covered with fine white hair. Litter size ranges from 1 to 5 pups.

The entire process of raising offspring falls entirely on the shoulders of the mother. After 6 weeks, the cubs leave the hole for the first time and begin to get acquainted with the outside world. The young reach adult weight and become independent a few months after birth, from late August to October. Puberty occurs at the age of one year.

Other names: American black-footed ferret.

Area: eastern and southern regions of the Rocky Mountains, the territory of the Great Plains from Alberta and Saskatchewan to Texas and Arizona (USA).

Description: The American black-footed ferret has a long neck and a slender, wiry body with very short legs. The tail is fluffy. Males are larger and heavier than females.

Color: The fur is smooth yellowish, there are black spots on the face, and the tip of the tail and paws are black.

Size: total length 46-60 cm, tail 13-15 cm.

Weight: 0.7-1.1 kg.

Lifespan: in nature 3-4 years, in captivity 8-9 years.

Habitat: prairie (with low to medium height herbaceous cover).
It rises through treeless spaces high into the mountains (up to 3000 m above sea level).

Enemies: birds of prey and humans. Diseases (such as plague) and poisoning also affect population numbers.

Food: Black-footed ferrets can be found on prairie dog colonies, which make up the bulk of their diet (up to 90%). Whenever possible, it eats ground squirrels, American rabbit rabbits and birds.
In a year, one individual eats more than 100 prairie dogs, and one ferret family needs more than 250 dogs.

Behavior: nocturnal. Hearing, vision and sense of smell are well developed. The species is extremely dependent on prairie dogs. He spends almost all of his time (up to 99%) in their burrows. In the area of ​​these colonies, he rests and sleeps, immediately obtains food for himself, avoids predators, bad weather and feeds the offspring.
Males are more active than females. In winter, the activity of black-footed ferrets decreases, as does the area of ​​the surveyed territory. On cold and snowy days it remains in the hole, feeding on its reserves.
On the ground it moves in leaps or slow gallops (up to 8-11 km/h). In one night it can cover up to 10 km. Males travel a greater distance (almost twice) than females.

Social structure : Except for the breeding season, it leads a solitary lifestyle.
To communicate with relatives, it uses scent marks. The boundaries of its territory are marked with secretions from the anal glands.
In favorable years, the population density is one ferret per 50 hectares of prairie dog colonies. The territory of adult ferrets is (in diameter) 1-2 km.

Reproduction: The male does not participate in raising the offspring.

Breeding season/period: March-April.

Puberty: in the first year of life. Reproductive age up to 3-4 years.

Pregnancy: lasts 41-45 days. Young males disperse from their native nest over considerable distances (10-15 km), while females remain close to their mother.

Offspring: the female gives birth to 3-4 puppies (on average). As the cubs grow older, the female leaves them alone in the nest during the day while she hunts. Young people begin to hunt on their own in September-October.

Benefit/harm for humans: The black-footed ferret regulates prairie dog populations.

Population/Conservation Status: The species is listed on Appendix II of the CITES Convention.
The main threat to the species is habitat loss (conversion of fields and meadows to agricultural use and widespread prairie dog eradication programs have reduced black-footed ferret habitat to less than 2% of what previously existed). The American black-footed ferret was listed on the International Red List: 1960-1994. as endangered, 1996-2004 like something that has disappeared from nature.
Currently, the ferret is found in Canada and the USA. The population of the species in 2005 numbered about 500 individuals in the wild and about a thousand in captivity.

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Order - Carnivores / Suborder - Canidae / Family - Mustelidae / Subfamily - Mustelidae

History of the study

The American ferret, or black-footed ferret (lat. Mustela nigripes) is a small North American predator, close relative Russian steppe ferret and other representatives of the mustelid family. By 1937, the black-footed ferret was completely exterminated in Canada, and since 1967 it has been listed as an endangered species on the Red List of North America. In the mid-1980s, the last known wild population of ferrets was captured and transported to a research facility to artificial breeding. Now the release of the black-footed ferret into its former habitat in the United States is being called a "surprising comeback."

Spreading

The habitat of the American ferret is the eastern and southern regions of the Rocky Mountains, the territory of the Great Plains from Alberta and Saskatchewan to Texas and Arizona (USA).

Appearance

The black-footed ferret is approximately 45 cm in length, with a bushy 15 cm tail, and weighs more than 1 kg. Like most members of this family, Mustela nigripes have a squat, elongated body with very short legs. Their fur, white at the base, becomes darker at the ends of the hairline and gives the overall yellowish-brown color of the animal. The legs and end of the tail are black, and the black-footed ferret also has the “black face” mask characteristic of many ferrets. This color scheme helps ferrets be invisible in their habitat.

Lifestyle

The American black-footed ferret's habitat is prairie (low to mid-height grass cover). It rises through treeless spaces high into the mountains (up to 3000 m above sea level).

Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. Hearing, vision and sense of smell are well developed. The species is extremely dependent on prairie dogs. He spends almost all of his time (up to 99%) in their burrows. In the area of ​​these colonies, he rests and sleeps, immediately obtains food for himself, avoids predators, bad weather, and feeds his offspring.

Males are more active than females. In winter, the activity of black-footed ferrets decreases, as does the area of ​​the surveyed territory. On cold and snowy days it remains in the hole, feeding on its reserves.
On the ground it moves in leaps or slow gallops (up to 8-11 km/h). In one night it can cover up to 10 km. Males travel a greater distance (almost twice) than females.

Except for the breeding season, it leads a solitary lifestyle. To communicate with relatives, it uses scent marks. The boundaries of its territory are marked with secretions from the anal glands. In favorable years, the population density is one ferret per 50 hectares of prairie dog colonies. The territory of adult ferrets is (in diameter) 1-2 km.

Reproduction

The male does not participate in raising the offspring. The breeding season is March-April. Puberty occurs in the first year of life. Reproductive age up to 3-4 years. Pregnancy lasts 41-45 days. Young males disperse from their native nest over considerable distances (10-15 km), while females remain close to their mother.

The female gives birth to 3-4 puppies (on average). As the cubs grow older, the female leaves them alone in the nest during the day while she hunts. Young people begin to hunt on their own in September-October.

Nutrition

Black-footed ferrets can be found on prairie dog colonies, which make up the bulk of their diet (up to 90%). Whenever possible, it eats ground squirrels, American rabbit rabbits and birds. In a year, one individual eats more than 100 prairie dogs, and one ferret family needs more than 250 dogs.

Number

US federal and state agencies are working with private landowners to conserve the black-footed ferret in wildlife through the release of ferrets bred in captivity, zoos and scientific zoological centers in their natural environment habitat. The release locations were Montana, South Dakota, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Chiufua Mexico.

In 1981, a small population of 130 animals was discovered near Meeteetse, Wyoming. Immediately after the opening of this ferret settlement, more than half of the ferrets died due to disease. It was decided to save the fate of black-footed ferrets to capture 18 individuals of different sexes and place them on the territory of the scientific and zoological center.

According to information about the status of the black-footed ferret in 2007, its number exceeds 600 units in the United States. Although it is still considered an endangered species according to the old assessment of 1996, since at that time ferrets lived only in captivity by a group of specialists.

The plan to restore the ferret population to its native environment aims to establish 10 or more separate, self-sustaining wild populations as its ultimate goal. Biologists hope to have 1,500 free-ranging black-footed ferrets by 2010, with at least 30 breeding adults in each population.

Kira Stoletova

The Red Book is complete various types animals that are on the verge of extinction or have disappeared completely. Among them is the American Black-footed Ferret. This animal belongs to the mustelid family and, due to the fault of poachers, has practically disappeared from the mainland. Thanks to the efforts of livestock breeders and local historians, Black-footed ferrets are gradually restoring their population.

This is a very unusual animal both in color and habits. Its habitat and historical homeland is North America, where they are now actively grown. After they were included in the Red Book, they began to actively protect them, and now any hunt for these animals is strictly punishable by law.

Description of American Blackfoot ferrets

The description of this type of trochee is worth special attention, because this breed has remarkable appearance features.

Distinctive features of Black-footed ferrets:

• The ferret has a long, elongated body and neck, short and thick legs.
• The fur color of such animals is yellow-brown, darker on the back, and generally turns black toward the tail and paws (hence the name Black-footed Ferret).
• A distinctive feature of this particular breed of trochees is the so-called mask around the eyes (the color of the fur around the eyes of such animals is black).
• This type of trochee has large, rounded eyes that stand out on a white muzzle, where a black nose is also visible.
• The shape of the claws is pointed and slightly curved.
• The average weight of a female ranges from 650 to 850 g, while a male can reach a weight of 1200 g.
• According to average indicators, the body length of the described trochees is 350-600 cm, and according to statistics, females are always 10% smaller than the male representatives of this breed.

So expressive appearance leaves almost no one indifferent, which is why the skins of such animals are highly valued by hunters, although it is important to remember that now the Red Book contains the name American Black-footed Ferret, which automatically prohibits any activity aimed at depopulating the species.

American Black-footed Crochet can be seen in nature reserves in North America. Or, if there is no opportunity to visit another continent, anyone can easily admire photos of the Black-footed Ferret on the Internet.

Habitat

The black-footed ferret is an animal that was quite common until the beginning of the last century. The historical range of the animals is the territory stretching from the south of Canada to the north of Mexico. For North America this type is the only indigenous representative. Today, a tourist can observe the described ferrets only in 3 territorial limits in the northeast of Montana, in the western part of South Dakota and in the southeast of the state. Wyoming. Besides places natural habitat people can also see how the American ferret behaves in a zoo or nature reserve. In places of natural settlement, the population was restored. The restoration continues to this day.

Knowing the range of these animals, it is quite easy to guess about their living conditions:

• Steppe and hilly terrain in the vastness of North America.
• a haven for American trochees Often an abandoned hole left by a prairie dog becomes abandoned (in such holes it is easier for animals to make tunnels and hide from hunting).
• To obtain food, one representative of this breed, on average, requires quite a lot of space: within 40-45 hectares.
• Females with offspring require even more space to survive: up to 55 hectares.
• One male can introduce several females into the habitat at once.

The black-footed ferret is a freedom-loving creature that requires a large amount of free space for normal existence. Such animals do not tolerate restrictions and even in zoos they always receive a larger territory.

No less interesting is the life of such animals: the lifestyle they lead should be given special attention. The relationship to the mustelid family left its mark on the habits and habits of polecats.

Lifestyle and nutrition

The American ferret is predominantly nocturnal. This is a predatory animal whose activity occurs at night. Having a good sense of smell and even more acute hearing, representatives of this breed can easily navigate without sunlight. Their black coat allows them to remain less noticeable.

During the hunt, representatives of this species climb into the burrows of their victims (small rodents), where they deal with the prey, and then settle for a while. They are fast and agile, thanks to the structure of their body.

The black-footed ferret is a solitary animal. He does not try to get into the flock and only creates a pair during the breeding season.

With all these qualities, the American ferret is a friendly animal and non-aggressive towards representatives of its species.

The diet for such animals consists of large quantity options:

• small rodents hiding in holes;
• large insects;
• small birds, etc.

These cute at first glance animals are still predators. According to statistics from livestock farmers, one black-footed ferret consumes about 100 prairie dogs during the year. In reserves they are specially fed, and the cubs are given milk. In the 80s of the last century, all animals kept in captivity were released into free environment habitat to restore the population and save the species from extinction.

Conclusion

The American ferret is a rare animal, but beautiful and unusual. The fact that it is included in the Red Book only gives this breed an aura of mystery and makes it even more interesting for others and tourists.

Black-footed ferret

15x4 - 15 minutes about the resurrection of species

Which Bear Is Best?

If possible, then it is definitely worth watching such ferrets, because, in addition to all external indicators, they are unusually cute, and their black fur will forever remain in the memory of observers.

Black-footed ferret, Black-footed Ferret: Mustela nigripes Audubon & Bachman, 1851. Other names: American black-footed ferret

Range: The original range of the black-footed weasel occupied the eastern and southern regions of the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains from Alberta and Saskatchewan to Texas and Arizona (USA).

The American black-footed ferret has long neck and a slender, wiry body, with very short legs.

Color: The smooth fur of the black-footed ferret is yellowish in color; There are black spots on her face, the tip of her tail and its legs are also black.

The American [black-footed] ferret is 46 - 60 cm in length, including 13 - 15 cm of a fluffy tail. Weight: It weighs 0.7 - 1.1 kg, with males weighing slightly more than females.

Life Span: Ferrets typically live about 3 - 4 years in the wild (the oldest lived at least 8 years) and 8 - 9 years in captivity (the oldest was at least 11 years old).

Voice: The American black-footed ferret is a very vocal animal. He screams loudly when disturbed, scared or excited. In such a situation, he makes several loud cries, interrupted by low hissing notes. Male black-footed ferrets "giggle" when interacting with a female during the rutting season, and the cubs make very quiet squeaking sounds.

Habitat: The American black-footed ferret is typically found in prairies with low to mid-height grass cover, in association with prairie dogs.

Like other weasels and ferrets, the black-footed ferret easily moves across an area in search of its prey, climbing through treeless spaces even high into the mountains. Some individuals were found at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level, and another animal was found drowned in Morena Lake, Colorado [USA], located at an altitude of 3125 m.

The North American prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems on earth - perhaps even more endangered than the South American rainforest or the old-growth forests of the American Northwest. The prairie plains of North America began to form about 20 million years ago, but in some areas, up to 99 percent of the prairie has been destroyed in just the past 125 to 150 years.

The area known as the Great Plains was once the largest field on earth and covered most of the continental US along with parts of southern Canada and northern Mexico. The prairie extended from the Rocky Mountains eastward for over 800 miles, and extended over 3000 miles from north to south. The plains were created from sedimentary rocks washed out of the Rocky Mountains over millions of years, which formed silt, sand and clay. The Rockies also cut off flows humid air from Pacific Ocean, creating a drier climate on the continent that gave grasses an advantage over trees.

Enemies: Habitat loss is the primary reason why the black-footed ferret was on the brink of near extinction and why it remains a major threat to the species today. Conversion of fields and meadows to agricultural use and widespread prairie dog eradication programs have reduced black-footed ferret habitat to less than 2 percent of what previously existed. Remaining habitats are now fragmented, associated with prairie dog colonies, separated by large expanses of cropland and human structures. Diseases, including plague (affecting both black-footed ferrets and their prairie dog prey), as well as poisoning and shooting, also remain potential threats.

The American black-footed ferret is usually found on colonies of prairie dogs, which make up the absolute majority of their diet. In the wild, prairie dogs make up 90% of the black-footed ferret's diet.

The black-footed ferret also eats ground squirrels, other small rodents, rabbits and birds.

A ferret typically eats over 100 prairie dogs in one year, and from this, scientists have calculated that over 250 prairie dogs are needed to support one family of black-footed ferrets for one year.

It has been estimated that about 40 - 60 ha of prairie dog colonies are needed to support one black ferret. The black-footed ferret will typically explore an area of ​​up to 100 hectares over a 3 to 8 day period in winter.

The black-footed ferret is a secretive animal, primarily nocturnal. He has well-developed external senses: acute hearing, sensitive sense of smell and good vision.

The American black-footed ferret is extremely dependent on the prairie dog. Because it feeds primarily on prairie dogs, the black-footed ferret spends most of its life in prairie dog colonies. It spends up to 99% of its time in prairie dog burrows, usually spending only a few minutes each day on earth's surface. In burrows he sleeps, gets his food, avoids predators and bad weather, and here he breeds his young. To rest and sleep, the black-footed ferret occupies an underground burrow made by the prairie dog.

Its long, slender body allows it to easily penetrate burrows to find prey while prairie dogs are sleeping. This reduces the risk of injury to the ferret since it is attacking prey that is the same size as itself.

Males are more active than females. The black-footed ferret does not sleep in winter, but the amount of activity time decreases significantly, as does the area of ​​the surveyed territory. In winter, in cold, snowy weather, the black-footed ferret can remain inactive for long periods, up to 6 nights and days, remaining in a burrow in which it subsists on previously stored food.

When the black-footed ferret travels across the surface of the earth, it moves in a series of hops or a slow gallop. It can normally move at a speed of 8 - 11 km/h. Biologists tracked a black-footed ferret as it traveled 6 miles in one night, during which time it explored more than 100 prairie dog burrows. The distances covered by males are almost twice as large as those of females.

Social Structure: The black-footed ferret is solitary except during mating season, with males apparently not helping to raise and feed the young.

The black-footed ferret uses scent marks to communicate with its fellow tribesmen, using the secretion of the anal glands for this purpose. It marks its territory by applying an odorous gland secretion to rocks, soil and vegetation.

The black-footed ferret population consists of approximately 67% juveniles and 33% adults.

A study of the wild population found that the average ferret density in favorable habitats was approximately 1 animal per 50 ha of prairie dog colonies. The average distance between two prairie dog towns occupied by black-footed ferrets was 5.4 km. Adult ferrets occupy a territory with a diameter of approximately 1 - 2 km.

Reproduction: The young emerge from the burrow in July. In late summer, females increasingly leave their offspring alone in the hole during the day, and gather them together at night to hunt together. Young ferrets begin to hunt on their own only in September or October, when they leave their mother and become independent and solitary.

Young males disperse over longer distances, generally up to 10 - 15 km, while young females often remain close to the maternal territory.

Breeding Season/Period: Mating usually occurs in March and April.

Puberty: Both males and females become sexually mature in the first year of life. The peak reproductive period for males and females is around three to four years of age.

Pregnancy: 41 - 45 days (about 7 weeks)

Offspring: the female brings on average 3 - 4 young, sometimes in a litter with artificial keeping there are up to 9-10 puppies. In the wild, litter size in South Dakota averaged 3.5 (range: 1 - 5); in Wyoming averaged 3.3 babies.

The black-footed ferret is a natural, effective regulator of prairie dog numbers.

The black-footed ferret is listed on the Convention's Appendix Sites as an endangered species and on Appendix II of the Agreement on International Trade (a list of species prohibited from commercial trade).

Antipathy towards prairie dogs is pronounced among some groups of the population, including ranchers and many workers agriculture. Therefore, from the 1920s to the 1960s, the U.S. government sponsored intensive programs to eradicate the prairie dog from the Great Plains states, using poison and plowing up prairie dog populations (to prevent damage to agriculture and cattle ranching). ). For example, the area occupied by prairie dog towns in Kansas was reduced by 98.6%; the black-footed ferret was apparently an unintentional victim of the prairie dog eradication campaign. Even in the 1990s, federal agencies authorized and subsidized the annual eradication of 80,000 hectares of prairie dog colonies.

Thus, the black-footed ferret experienced a dramatic decline in numbers during the first half of the 20th century. – she hasn’t dated since 1937. In the late 1970s it was thought to have disappeared in both countries. However, in 1981, a colony of black-footed ferrets was found in Wyoming, USA.

The first group of captured ferrets all died because a number of them were infected in nature with the rabies pathogen. This led to the discovery that canine rabies was responsible for rapid decline Ferret population in Meeteetse. At this point, all 18 remaining ferrets were captured, vaccinated, quarantined, and sent to a breeding center. As a result of the black-footed ferret breeding program, by 1991 the captive population had increased to 311 animals and 49 animals had been released back into the wild. They now live in seven sites where the species has been reintroduced, including sites in Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, South Dakota and along the Colorado-Utah border, as well as in Chihuahua, Mexico.

In 1998, the number of black-footed ferret offspring bred at six zoos and one government breeding center for the species produced results that surpassed all previous ones, with a total of 425 born, of which 321 survived to the age of weaning.

Status and Trends: 1960s - 1994: endangered species; 1996 - 2004: extinct in the wild (IUCN 2004). Currently, the black-footed ferret is found in Canada and the United States.

Population Estimates: 1920s: Possibly approximately 800,000 individuals. 1984 - 128 individuals, in 1996 and it now controls 240 (90 males and females), 2005 - about 500 individuals. There are currently approximately one thousand black-footed ferrets in captivity.