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 a 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. Nora prairie dog, which the ferret then occupies, 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. american ferret, like his brothers, 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.

American ferret or fur of this ferret

First letter "i"

Second letter "L"

Third letter "b"

The last beech is the letter "a"

Answer for the clue "American ferret or this ferret's fur", 5 letters:
ilka

Alternative questions in crossword puzzles for the word ilka

marten sister

Fishing marten, pecan

Predator of the weasel family

American marten

Another name for the fishing marten

Word definitions for ilka in dictionaries

Wikipedia The meaning of the word in the Wikipedia dictionary
Ilka - station of the East Siberian railway on the Trans-Siberian Railway. It is located in the village of Ilka, Zaigraevsky district of Buryatia, at the 5722th kilometer of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Big Soviet Encyclopedia The meaning of the word in the dictionary Great Soviet Encyclopedia
pecan, fishing marten (Martes pennanti), a mammal of the family marten detachment predatory. The largest representative of the marten genus; body length 50≈65 cm, tail ≈ 35≈40 cm. Dark coloration. I. is widespread in North America.

New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova. The meaning of the word in the dictionary New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova.
and. Predatory animal of the mustelid family with valuable dark brown fur. Fur, the skin of such an animal. unfold Products from fur, skins of such an animal.

Examples of the use of the word ilka in the literature.

And with the money that the gold-toothed seducer offered, you could buy a lot more, and even a bicycle, so that on vacation on Ilek go swimming.

I remember one of those days we went to the river Ilek, then still full-flowing, not polluted by discharges of factories.

The river of his childhood perished - Ilek, with numerous beautiful beaches, tulip fields disappeared behind its high steeps, dragonflies, butterflies, grasshoppers hatched clean in the meadows, dried up and turned into swamps of a lake with crucians and lilies, with duck hunting in autumn.

The close smell of water hit the half-open window and reminded Ilek-- the river of his childhood.

During my childhood Ilek He was not only a breadwinner and drinker, but also the beauty of the region, dozens of generations grew up on its shores, thousands and thousands dream of him.

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Kingdom: Animals


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Kingdom: Animals

American or Black-footed ferret

The 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 one year of age.

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, except for the mating season, and at the same time, males apparently do not help 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.

Among the endangered mustelid species listed in the Red Book of North America is the American black-footed ferret, which was almost exterminated in Canadian territory and began to restore its quantitative composition since 1980 through artificial breeding.

The appearance of the American black-footed ferret resembles a marten:

• the animal has a body stretched in length by 45 cm on short legs with long neck and a fluffy tail 15 cm long, a small head;
• light color at the very base, the fur darkens towards the tips of the villi,
• the muzzle is decorated with a black mask, which stands out in contrast against a light background, but hides the animal well in natural environment a habitat,
• in the total mass of cream-yellow coloration, black legs, the abdomen and the tip of the tail are clearly visible.

The weight of the American black-footed ferret does not exceed 1 kg. If you look at the photo of the black-footed ferret, you can see its close resemblance to the steppe representative. Today, thanks to the efforts of scientists, the population of the American ferret has been brought to more than 600 individuals, but the Red Book still does not delete it from its pages.

Lifestyle

You can meet the American ferret only in North America. Grown in artificial conditions animals are released into the wild. The black-footed ferret can live in lowlands and medium height grasses, but is also able to climb up to 3 km above sea level into the mountains.

The American ferret is a nocturnal predator. Endowed by nature with an excellent sense of smell and excellent hearing, ferrets perfectly navigate in the dark and hunt without light. Skillfully using its flexible and thin body, the ferret is able to quickly seep into the holes of rodents, coping with its prey and occupying its home in the near future.

Bred under conditions national parks and zoos, black-footed polecats settle in the US states of Montana, South Dakota, Colorado and Arizona. They also exist in Mexico.

By nature, the black-footed ferret is a loner. He does not seek to join the pack, only when attacked mating season picks up a mate, but does not show much aggression when relatives appear next to him in the inhabited territory.

Nutrition

The main diet for the American black-footed polecat is small-sized animals, including:

• rodents,
• large insects,
• small birds.

Among rodents, ground squirrels or steppe dogs are the main object for prey, which each family of American ferrets is ready to eat up to 250 individuals per calendar year, therefore, colonies of ferrets often settle in the habitats of rodents. For proper nutrition, one animal needs an average of up to 100 steppe dogs per year.

Looking for food american hori able to run up to 10 km per night, developing speeds up to 10-11 km / h. They usually move in leaps and bounds.

Land development by farms and the extermination of mouse-like rodents has become one of the reasons for the significant decline in the population of American black-footed polecats, for which they are the main source of food.

reproduction

For the American black-footed ferret, sexual maturity begins at 12 months of age at medium duration their life is 4 years. Under the condition of living under the supervision of a person in captivity, the American ferret can live up to 9 years.

If a male usually needs about 45 hectares of territory to get food for himself, then a female with offspring needs at least 55 hectares to survive. Very often, the trajectories of males intersect with the ranges of not one, but several females.

At the onset of the mating season, females of the American black-footed polecat actively seek out males.

The beginning of the rut of the American black-footed polecat falls on the spring period, this is March or April. In contrast to the fertility of the steppe ferret, the offspring of the American representative usually has no more than 5-6 cubs, which the female ferret bears for 35-45 days.

Newborn horyats stay with their mother in the hole for about 1.5 months. When offspring appear in summer period the female stays with the cubs in the burrows, and when autumn comes, when the grown ferrets become independent, the family is divided and the animals scatter.