Sadly the Black Footed Ferret is considered one of the most endangered animals in North America, it may even be the most critically endangered. This beautiful ferret should not be confused with the domestic ferret, which is kept as a pet.

Black Footed Ferrets are nocturnal, and have eyes that reflect green in the dark. It is this trait that helped biologists find and count them. Black Footed Ferrets are known to be solitary hunters, and possess ranges of about one hundred acres each. The territory of the male ferret tends to overlap with the several females with which he will mate; however the female will raise her litter alone. Both male and female ferrets mark their territories by a scent similar to that of a skunk. In order to protect themselves and their litters from their natural predators, Black Footed Ferrets live underground as much as possible. They are always finding places to hide, and tend to dig their trenches during the winter. They are very resourceful when it comes to carrying the dirt out of their holes: by holding the dirt on their chests and backing out, they leaving a pile of dirt at the opening. It is thought that this winter burrowing is in search of hibernating prairie dogs, which serve to be a main staple in the Ferretâs diet. Additionally, Black Footed Ferrets like to den in the tunnels and dens of prairie dogs. They have also been noted to travel up to a mile in one night in search for food and shelter. It is this ferret's desire for prairie dog meat that contributed to their decline.

The Black Footed Ferret is a small animal that weighs up to two and a half pounds, and is about 18 to 22 inches long. It is distinguished by its black legs, feet, and mask around its eyes. This mask is what led to their nickname the "masked bandits."

The Black Footed Ferret has been close to extinction; mainly due to the government-sponsored poisoning of prairie dog towns in order to develop farms, roads, and towns. The Black Footed Ferret also came upon their own personal plague. . . canine distemper. This disease, to which the Black Footed Ferret has no immunity, was also responsible for a large decline in numbers. They are, however, slowly being reintroduced into the Shirley Basin of Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, and Arizona. Fortunately through careful captive breeding the Black Footed Ferret is slowly being reintroduced once again in prairie dog towns. It is this success that allows officials to strive to have at least 30 breeding adults in every population. Biologists are not optimistic, however, because the ferret's main food and shelter supply relies so heavily upon the prairie dog; and they are also on the decline.

The Black Footed Ferret has no immunities to canine distemper, and for this reason captive individuals should be vaccinated. Canine distemper has contributed to their decline in the wild, by wiping out large numbers of wild populations.

Captive breeding programs are crucial in helping to re-establish Black Footed Ferret populations. The Black Footed Ferret reaches sexual maturity at about one year. After a gestation period of 42 to 45 days, Black-footed Ferret litters are typically born in May or June, and produce a litter of three or four kits. Newborn ferrets tend to resemble mice when they are born, and their eyes are still shut. It isn't until they are six weeks old that the mother starts taking them out of their den. They move on quickly after that, and are known to leave home before the winter. The Black-footed Ferret tends to live at least 12 years in captivity.