Other names: American black-footed ferret.

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

Description: The American black-footed ferret has a long neck and a slender, sinewy 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 muzzle, 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 and medium grass cover).
It rises through treeless spaces high into the mountains (up to 3000 m above sea level).

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

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

Behavior: leads a nocturnal lifestyle. Hearing, sight and smell are well developed. The species is highly dependent on prairie dogs. Almost all the time (up to 99%) he spends in their holes. In the area of these colonies, he rests and sleeps, immediately gets his own food, avoids predators, bad weather and feeds 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 jumps or at a slow gallop (up to 8-11 km/h). In one night you can walk up to 10 km. Males cover more distance (almost twice) than females.

social structure : except for the breeding season leads a solitary lifestyle.
Uses scent tags to communicate with relatives. He marks the boundaries of his site with a secret from the prianal glands.
In favorable years, the population density is one ferret per 50 ha of prairie dog colonies. The territory of adult ferrets is (in diameter) 1-2 km.

reproduction: the male does not participate in the rearing of offspring.

Season/breeding period: March, April.

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

Pregnancy A: lasts 41-45 days. Young males settle from their native nest for 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 during the day in the nest, while she hunts. Young people begin to hunt on their own in September-October.

Benefit / harm to humans: The black-footed ferret regulates the number of prairie dogs.

Population/conservation status : The species is listed in Appendix II of the CITES Convention.
The main threat to the species is habitat loss (the conversion of fields and meadows to agricultural use and a widespread prairie dog eradication program has reduced the black-footed ferret's habitat to less than 2% of what it used to be). The American black-footed ferret is listed in the International Red Book: in 1960-1994. as endangered, 1996-2004 like disappearing in nature.
The ferret is currently found in Canada and the USA. The population of the species in 2005 consisted of about 500 individuals in nature and about a thousand in captivity.

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Kira Stoletova

The red book is full various types animals that are on the verge of extinction or disappeared altogether. Among them is the American Black-footed Ferret. This animal belongs to the mustelid family and, through the fault of poachers, has practically disappeared from the mainland. Thanks to the efforts of livestock breeders and local historians, Black-footed ferrets are already gradually restoring their population.

This is a very unusual animal both in color and in habits. The territory of its habitat and historical homeland is North America, where they are now actively grown. After being listed in the Red Book, the trochee began to be actively protected, and now any hunting for these animals is strictly punishable by law.

Description of American Blackfoot ferrets

The description of this type of ferret 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 towards the tail and paws (hence the name Black-footed American Ferret).
A distinctive feature of the trochee of just such a breed is the so-called mask around the eyes (the color of the coat around the eyes of such animals is black).
This type of ferret has large, rounded eyes that stand out against a white muzzle, where a black nose is also visible.
The shape of the claws is pointed and slightly curved.
The average weight of the female is in the range from 650 to 850 g, and the male can reach a mass of 1200 g.
According to average indicators, the length of the calf in the described trochees is 350-600 cm, and according to the statistics of the female, it is always 10% less than the male representatives of this breed.

So expressive appearance does not leave anyone 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 polecats can be seen in wildlife reserves in North America. Or, if there is no opportunity to visit another continent, anyone can easily admire the photo 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 animals is the territory stretching from the south of Canada to the north of Mexico. For North America this species is the only native. To date, a tourist can observe the described ferrets only in 3 territorial limits in northeastern Montana, western South Dakota, and southeastern Wyoming. Except 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. Recovery continues to this day.

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

Steppe and hilly terrain in the expanses of North America.
haven for American polecat often becomes an abandoned hole left by a prairie dog (in such holes it is easier for animals to make tunnels and hide from hunting).
For obtaining food, one representative of this breed, according to average indications, needs 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 needs a large amount of free space for a normal existence. Such animals do not tolerate restrictions, and even in zoos they always get a large territory.

No less interesting is the life of such animals: the lifestyle they lead should be given special attention. The attitude towards the marten family has left its mark on the habits and habits of the trochee.

Lifestyle and nutrition

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

During the hunt, representatives of this species climb into the burrows of their victims (small rodents), where they deal with their prey, and then they also 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 during the breeding season creates a pair.

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

The diet for such animals consists of a large number options:

small rodents hiding in burrows;
large insects;
small birds, etc.

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

Conclusion

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

black-footed ferret
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If there is an opportunity, then it is definitely worth watching such ferrets, because, in addition to all external indicators, they are unusually cute, and black hair will forever remain in the memory of observers.

The black-footed ferret is a small North American predator of the weasel family. American black-footed ferrets are also called black-footed ferrets. The name comes from the English "blackfooted ferret". I must say that this animal is one of the most rare mammals North America. IN modern time American black-footed ferrets are unfortunately critically endangered. The number of American ferrets is extremely small. This is due to the human development of those places where the ferrets lived, as well as the fight against prairie dogs, which are the basis of the nutrition of polecats.

The features of the black-footed ferret include long neck, a very squat elongated body with very short legs. Its weight is over 1 kg. The black-footed ferret is so similar to the steppe ferret that it is possibly only a subspecies of it.

American black-footed ferrets are nocturnal. These animals have excellent sense of smell, hearing and vision. As already mentioned, American ferrets are extremely dependent on prairie dogs. Ferrets occupy their homes and also feed on these animals. The hole of a prairie dog, which is then occupied by a ferret, can reach a length of up to 300 m.

It should be noted that males lead more active image life than females. However, during cold weather, the activity of ferrets is much reduced, and the area of \u200b\u200bthe area they survey is also reduced. On snowy days, the American ferret does not leave its shelter at all and feeds exclusively on its own supplies.

American ferrets move in jumps or a slow gallop. In one night, a ferret can walk or gallop up to 10 km and reach speeds of up to 11 km/h. Males move around the area almost 2 times more than females.

The color of the black-footed ferret

American ferrets have white fur at the base. At the ends of the hairline, their fur is somewhat darker. Thus, the overall color of the ferret gives a yellowish brown color. The legs and tip of the tail are black. The American ferret, like its brethren, has a characteristic mask " black face". This color scheme helps American ferrets to be invisible and hide from danger.

Distribution area and habitat

Black-footed ferrets live in North America. It is worth recalling that now these hori are an endangered species. They are listed in the International Red Book. Basically, these animals live in the prairies (with low and medium height grass cover). In addition, the ferret can climb high into the mountains, up to 3000 m above sea level.

Hunting and the black-footed ferret

Most ferrets can be found in the habitats of prairie dogs. As mentioned earlier, it is prairie dogs that are the main part of the diet of black-footed ferrets. However, American ferrets also prey on rabbits, ground squirrels and birds.

Enemies of the black-footed ferret

The main reason for the extinction of black-footed ferrets is habitat loss. The processing of fields and meadows, as well as a widespread prairie dog eradication program, have significantly reduced the area where American ferrets live. The rest of the habitats given time associated with prairie dog colonies.

The black-footed ferret eats over 100 prairie dogs in about one year. Based on this data, the scientists found that it takes over 250 prairie dogs to support one family of ferrets for a year.

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 territory of the Great Plains from Albert and Saskatchewan, to Texas and Arizona (USA).

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

Color: The smooth fur of the black-footed ferret has a yellowish color; there are black spots on its muzzle, the tip of the tail and its legs are also black.

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

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

Voice: The American black-footed ferret is a very vocal animal. He screams loudly when disturbed, frightened or excited. In such a situation, he lets out several loud cries, interrupted by low hissing notes. Male black-footed ferrets "chuckle" when contacting a female during the rutting season, and the cubs make very quiet squeaky sounds.

Habitat: The American black-footed ferret is commonly found in prairie, low to medium height grassland, forming an association with prairie dogs.

Like other weasels and ferrets, the black-footed ferret easily moves around the territory in search of its prey, climbing through treeless spaces even high into the mountains. Individual individuals were found at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level, and another animal was found drowned in Lake Morena, 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 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 stretched from the Rocky Mountains in an eastward direction for over 800 miles, and extended over 3,000 miles from north to south. The plains were created from sedimentary rocks washed out of the Rocky Mountains over millions of years, which were formed from silt, sand and clay. The Rocky Mountains also blocked the flow of moist air from Pacific Ocean, creating a drier climate on the continent that favored the development of grasses over trees.

Enemies: Habitat loss is the main reason why black-footed ferrets have been on the brink of near extinction and why it remains a major threat to the species today. Conversion of fields and grasslands to agricultural use and a widespread prairie dog eradication program have reduced the black-footed ferret's habitat to less than 2 percent of what it used to be. 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 prey, prairie dogs), as well as poisoning and shooting, also remain potential threats.

The American Black-footed Ferret is commonly found in prairie dog colonies, which make up the absolute majority of their diet. In nature, prairie dogs make up 90% of the black-footed ferret's diet.

The black-footed ferret also eats gophers, other small rodents, American rabbits and birds.

A ferret typically eats over 100 prairie dogs in one year, and on this basis, 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 a single black ferret. The black-footed ferret usually surveys an area of up to 100 ha during a 3 to 8 day period in winter.

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

The American black-footed ferret is extremely dependent on the prairie dog. Due to feeding mainly on prairie dogs, the black-footed ferret spends most of its life in its colonies. It spends up to 99% of its time in prairie dog burrows, usually being only a few minutes each day. earth's surface. In burrows he sleeps, gets his food, avoids predators and bad weather, and here he brings out his young. For rest and sleep, the black-footed ferret takes underground hole made by a prairie dog.

Its long, slender body allows it to easily enter burrows to find prey while prairie dogs are sleeping. This reduces the risk of damage to the ferret, as it attacks prey of the same size as itself.

Males are more active than females. The black-footed ferret does not sleep in winter, but the amount of time of activity decreases significantly, as does the area of the surveyed territory. In winter, in the cold snowy weather the black-footed ferret can remain dormant 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 leaps or a slow gallop. He can normally move at a speed of 8 - 11 km / h. Biologists tracked a black-footed ferret that traveled 10 km in one night, during which time it examined more than 100 prairie dog holes. The distance covered by males is almost twice that of females.

Social Structure: The black-footed ferret leads a solitary life outside of the mating season, with males apparently not helping to raise and feed the young.

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

The population of black-footed ferrets consists of approximately 67% of young animals, and 33% are adults.

A study of the wild population has shown that the average ferret density in favorable habitats is approximately 1 animal per 50 ha of prairie dog colonies. The average distance between two prairie dog towns occupied by the black-footed ferret was 5.4 km. Adult ferrets occupy an area 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 burrow during the day, and gather them together at night to hunt together. Young ferrets begin to hunt on their own only from September or October, when they leave their mother and become independent and solitary.

Young males settle over greater distances, generally up to 10 - 15 km, while young females often remain close to the mother's territory.

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

Puberty: Both males and females become sexually mature in their 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 an average of 3 - 4 young, sometimes in a litter with artificial maintenance, there are up to 9-10 puppies. In nature, litter size in South Dakota averaged 3.5 (varied: 1 - 5); in Wyoming averaged 3.3 babies.

The black-footed ferret is a naturally effective prairie dog population regulator.

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

Antipathy towards prairie dogs is pronounced among some populations, including ranchers and many workers. Agriculture. Therefore, from the 1920s to the 1960s, the US government sponsored intensive programs to eradicate the prairie dog from the Great Plains states using poison and plowing prairie dog settlements (in order to prevent damage to agriculture and occupation). cattle animal husbandry). For example, the area occupied by prairie dog cities 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, he was thought to have disappeared from both countries. However, in 1981, a black-footed ferret colony was found in Wyoming, USA.

The first group of captured ferrets all died because a number of them were infected in nature with the causative agent of rabies. This led to the discovery that canine rabies was responsible for the rapid decline in the 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 increased to 311 animals and 49 animals were 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 offspring of the black-footed ferret, bred in six zoos and one government breeding center for this species, gave results that surpassed all previous ones with a total of 425 born of which 321 survived to the age of the end of mother's milk feeding.

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

Population Estimates: 1920s: There may have been approximately 800,000 individuals. 1984 - 128 individuals, in 1996 and it now manages 240 (90 males and females), 2005 - about 500 individuals. There are currently approximately 1,000 black-footed ferrets in captivity.

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American or Black-footed ferret

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

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

The black-footed ferret is about 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 the steppe ferret is not so pronounced. The only noticeable difference between these species is the shorter and coarser coat and the larger ears of the "American".

The black-footed ferret has a very long body and a blunt head. The forehead is wide, the muzzle is short, the neck is long. Short and thick paws are covered with hair, fingers are armed with sharp, slightly curved claws. Like many other ferrets, the American ferret wears a black mask around its eyes. The base color of the animal is pale yellow, with occasional black-tipped hairs on the forehead and neck, making the color a bit muddy. Body length from 31 to 41 cm, tail length 11 - 15 cm. Males weigh an average of just over 1 kg, females are inferior to them in weight by about 10%.

This species is solitary, except for the breeding season and the period of raising offspring. American ferrets are nocturnal, spending daylight hours in prairie dog burrows. Above ground, they are most active from dusk to midnight, and from 4 am to mid-morning. Terrestrial activity is more active in late summer and early autumn when the young become independent. The climate does not usually limit the activity of the black-footed ferret, but in winter it may remain in the burrow for up to 6 days.

Over 90 percent of the diet consists of prairie dogs (gophers), which are attacked while they sleep in their burrows. But depending on where you live, large insects, mountain waders, horned larks, mountain hares, mice, voles and others small mammals are also eaten.

Female American ferrets have a smaller home range than males. The territory of a male can sometimes include the habitats of several females. An adult female usually occupies the same territory from year to year.

The breeding season runs from February to March. When a male and a female in heat encounter each other, the male courts and sniffs the female genital area for several hours, in contrast to the more brusque and quick behavior seen in male European ferrets.

The female arranges a lair for the birth of offspring in the holes of prairie dogs. Between May and June, blind and helpless puppies are born, and covered with thin white hair. Litter size ranges from 1 to 5 cubs.

The entire process of raising offspring falls entirely on the shoulders of the mother. After 6 weeks, the cubs leave the burrow for the first time, and begin to get acquainted with 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.