Wind Cave National Park - Black-footed Ferret (U.S. National Park Service)

NPS Photo

Black-footed Ferret - Mustela nigripes

Class	Mammalia
Order	Carnivora
Family	Mustelidae, weasel family (long slender bodies, short legs) include skunks, mink, otter, weasel, martens, badger, wolverine.
Genus	Mustela
Species	nigripes
Name/ History	Came close to extinction in the 1970s because of the poisoning of prairie dog towns. They are in a captive-breeding program and were reintroduced to Badlands National Park in 1994. Reintroduced to Wind Cave National Park on July 4, 2007.
Size Weight (lbs)	Male 2	Female 1-1/2	Young
Height (in)	15-18
Tail (in)	5-6
Mate	Spring
Gestation	41 days
Birth	June
# young	3-5
Age	Unknown
Habitat/ Range	Prairies/prairie dog range. In the past, southern Canada to Texas.
Food	Prairie dogs (90% of diet)
Enemies	Man, badgers, coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnakes, eagles, owls, hawks
Disease	Canine distemper, tularemia
Communication	Chattering when excited.
Behavior/ Characteristics	Mostly nocturnal.