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Black-footed ferrets – how the
Louisville Zoo is helping in their recovery
AZA: Association of Zoos and
Aquariums - The Louisville Zoo is a member of the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), an organization
that represents and accredits professionally managed zoos
and aquariums in North America. For more information on AZA,
visit
www.aza.org.
Ecosystem:
A system formed by the interaction of a community of
organisms with their environment.
Endangered
Species: A species at risk of extinction because of
human activity, changes in climate, changes in predator-prey
ratios, etc., especially when officially designated as such
by a governmental agency such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
Kit: Short for kitten; this
refers to a young fur bearing animal.
Preconditioning Pen: Operated by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a preconditioning pen is
an enclosed prairie dog habitat, where the Black-footed
ferrets are “trained” to live in the wild. Here observers
verify that the animals are able to hunt and support
themselves.
Single prey species: A species
that relies on a specific animal for their existence, either
for food or shelter.
Species
Survival Plan (SSP): The Species Survival Plan or SSP is
the AZA’s cooperative breeding and conservation program. It
is the cornerstone of efforts to assist endangered species.
Institutions that agree to participate in SSP programs agree
to manage their animals in the best interest of the species.
Each SSP manages the breeding of a species in order to
maintain a healthy, self-sustaining captive population that
is both genetically diverse and demographically stable. In
addition, SSPs involve research, public education and field
projects. Click
here to see which animals are currently on a SSP list at
the Louisville Zoo.
What are
Black-Footed Ferrets (BFF)?
Black-footed ferrets (BFF), one of North
America’s most endangered mammals, are solitary, nocturnal
members of the mustelid family, which includes weasels and
otters. BFFs once inhabited the prairies of the Great
Plains, ranging from southern Canada to Northern Mexico.
BFFs rely on prairie dogs for their food and seek shelter in
prairie dog burrows.
Other ferrets
that are members of the mustelid family are the European and
Siberian polecats, both related to the Black-footed ferrets
but having very different habitats than their North American
cousins. This animal once ranged the plains states from
Canada to Mexico in numbers estimated between 500,000 to 1
million.
BFFs are nocturnal and have long, muscular
bodies with short legs. Their average length is 18 to 24
inches, with their tails ranging from 5-6 inches. BFFs mate
in early spring and will have a gestation period of 41-43
days. BFFs give birth, on average, to 1-4 kits (babies)
that will emerge from the burrow in mid to late summer, then
separate from mom in fall.
What is the difference between
Black-footed ferrets and the ferrets people have as pets?
Black-footed ferrets and domestic ferrets,
descendants of the European ferret, are both members of the
mustelid family. BFFs are the only ferret native to North
America. BFFs are wild, endangered animals, while domestic
ferrets have been bred to be pets over a few thousand years.
The Louisville Zoo discourages ferrets as pets because they
need to be handled carefully—they can bite when they get
active and have a very strong body odor. They like to dig up
plants, can get out through small openings, and require
veterinarian care.
Fun facts about Black-footed ferrets:
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BFFs spend about 90 percent of their
lives underground, and hunt primarily at night. BFFs
will poke their heads out of burrows in search of food
and predators. They are solitary animals and rarely
seen.
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BFFs have a keen sense of smell,
sight, and hearing. They have long whiskers and guard
hairs to help guide them in the dark prairie dogs
burrows.
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BFFs communicate through various types
of vocalizations, including barking, chortling,
chattering or hissing.
Why are Black-footed ferrets one of the
most endangered mammals in North America?
The fate of Black-footed ferrets is linked
to the prairie dog ecosystem. Since the 1850s, prairie
habitat has been reduced by 98 percent. Besides destruction
of habitat, poisoning of prairie dogs and diseases such as
plague and canine distemper decimated the Black-footed
ferret population. The BFF was officially listed as an
endangered species in 1967. The small population of ferrets
dwindled until they were considered extinct in 1974. Then in
September 1981, the species was “rediscovered” by a ranch
dog named Shep near Meeteetse, Wyoming in an area where
prairie dogs had never been poisoned extensively. By October
1985 their numbers plummeted to 29. Six ferrets were
captured, two of which had canine distemper when caught, and
all six subsequently died. Six additional ferrets were then
captured, and these proved to be disease free. They did not
breed during their first year in captivity, but in February
1987, 11 more ferrets were caught, with one final male
ferret trapped in March 1987. These 18 animals represented
the entire populations of BFFs in existence. After their
capture, organizations and Zoos, including the Louisville
Zoo, became involved in a captive breeding program of BFFs.
Why is it important to save the
Black-footed ferrets?
The BFF is the only ferret species native
to North America. They are part of a healthy prairie
habitat, and need these habitats to survive. BFFs, along
with other species such as burrowing owls, mountain plovers,
golden eagles, swift foxes, and ferruginous hawks are
strongly linked to this habitat for their survival. When an
element is removed the whole ecosystem is affected. If you
take the time to learn about these animals, become concerned
with their fate, then you might join the fight to save the
BFF.
How is the Louisville Zoo involved in
saving Black-footed ferrets?
In 1991 the Louisville Zoo became one of
six Black-footed ferret breeding facilities. In 1992 the
first black-footed ferret litter was born in Louisville.
Over the next few years, the Louisville Zoo managed to
produce an increasing number of kits for the black-footed
ferret recovery program at a time when some of the other
captive breeding sites experienced low productivity. As a
result, the Louisville Zoo played an important role at a
crucial time in the black-footed ferret recovery effort, and
continues to supply ferrets for this important conservation
project. The Louisville Zoo has partnered with many
organizations in efforts to save these animals, including
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Black-footed
ferret Recovery Implementation Team, Defenders of Wildlife,
National Wildlife Federation, and many more.
How many kits has the Louisville Zoo
produced since 1991 and released into the wild?
The Louisville Zoo has played a big part
in the recovery effort and since the program began in 1991,
the Louisville Zoo has produced 798 kits, of which 530
survived and 463 were released. Currently the Louisville
Zoo is housing 12 males and 16 females.
How many Black-footed ferrets are in the
wild now?
In 1987 there were only 18 BFFs left.
Since then, many dedicated organizations, including
Louisville Zoo, were successful in breeding BFFs and
producing kits. Today approximately 330 BFFs reside in zoos
and breeding centers throughout North America and another
1,000 ferrets survive in the wild. The two largest
populations of BFFs are in the Conata Basin of South Dakota
on protected United States Forrest Service land, and in
Shirley Basin in Wyoming.
What is the process of releasing
Black-footed ferrets back into the wild?
Currently, BFFs released into the wild are
captive-bred at one of six facilities across North America.
Before BFFs are released back into the wild, they are
preconditioned to what it will be like to live in the wild.
BFFs are placed into a preconditioning pen where they are
“trained” to live in the wild. Biologists are then able to
verify that the BFFs are able to navigate prairie dogs
burrow systems and to hunt prairie dogs.
Where can I see a Black-footed ferret at
the Louisville Zoo?
At the MetaZoo Education Center you can
see BFFs that have been “retired” from the breeding program.
The Zoo’s Black-footed ferret Conservation Center is off
exhibit.
What can I do to help save Black-footed
ferrets?
You can support the Louisville Zoo’s work
with BFFs by contributing to the Zoo’s Conservation Fund.
Make sure to specify on your donation that you want your
contribution to go to help save BBFs. For more information,
call (502) 459- 2181, or visit
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/support/.
For more information:
Photo courtesy of Wyoming Game & Fish Dept. LuRay Parker, photographer photo by John Nation / Louisville Magazine photo by John Nation / Louisville Magazine photo by John Nation / Louisville Magazine photo by John Nation / Louisville Magazine
Photo courtesy of Wyoming Game & Fish Dept. LuRay Parker, photographer
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