The Black-Footed Ferret
© Mary M. Alward
The black-footed ferret is listed as extirpated (destroyed totally) in Canada. What a shame that my country has all but lost this mink-sized creature.
The black-footed ferret looks like it is a very light brown. Actually, it is white. It is the colour on the tips of the long back hair that makes it have an ivory appearance. A dark brown band crosses its eyes and appears on the cheeks, feet and on the tip of its tail.
This ferret is 533 mm (2 feet) long and it weighs about 585 g (2 to 3 lbs.) Length, as stated, including the tail.
These small furry creatures are very rare in Canada today, though a recovery program is underway. The Toronto Zoo has approximately 12 pair in its breeding program.
At one time, black-footed ferrets were plentiful in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Their natural habitat is short prairie grass. They depend almost totally on black-tailed prairie dogs as their food source.
Though these creatures are almost extinct in Canada, they can still be found, though rarely, in the central United States. The US has listed them as endangered.
Black-footed ferrets are nocturnal (night) creatures. They spend the day sleeping in underground burrows. In fact, these mammals spend almost their entire life underground.
Life span of the black-footed ferret is approximately 12 years. They carry their babies for 6 weeks (gestation) and then give birth to 1 to 6 kits.
The black-footed ferret is protected under the Species at Risk Act. It is against the law to hunt or harm them. Their listing as extirpated is probably because of loss of habitat.
Links:
The Black Footed Ferret at ex-ZOO-berance
Image courtesy of Kids Planet
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