Ferret

Ferrets do not hibernate, but in winter, the distances traveled and the amount of time they are active decrease substantially. Black-footed ferrets lead solitary lives except during the breeding season and when females are caring for young.

Since ferrets are closely associated with prairie dogs, it is not surprising that close to 90 percent of their diet are prairie dogs. The remainder of the diet includes mice, ground squirrels, rabbits, and rats, birds and even reptiles and insects. The black-footed ferret, like other members of the weasel family, kills by attacking its prey at the neck and base of the skull. Since prairie dogs are about the size of a ferret, a struggle often ensues when prairie dogs are attacked. Black-footed ferrets are also opportunistic in their feeding behavior, they store prairie dogs to feed on at a later time, and they feed on carrion.

Several animals, including coyotes, golden eagles, great-horned owls, prairie falcons, badgers, bobcats and foxes, are known to take ferrets or are potential predators of ferrets. Several diseases affect black-footed ferrets, the most serious being canine distemper and sylvatic plague (a wildlife version of bubonic plague). Prairie dogs are susceptible to plague, and entire dog towns can be eliminated quickly. Ferrets are also susceptible to other diseases, including rabies, and human influenza, but those diseases are not known to pose a serious threat.

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