Black-footed Ferret Background and Recovery

General Overview

Black-footed ferrets are small predators that live on large prairie dog colonies. They sleep in prairie dog burrows during the day and hunt prairie dogs at night. The black-footed ferret is the only ferret species native to North America. Its closest relatives are the European polecat and the Siberian, or steppe polecat.

Black-footed ferrets co-evolved with prairie dogs as their prey over thousands of years. The first occurrence of black-footed ferrets is uncertain, but scientists speculate that the species has probably been present in North America for at least 100,000 years.

Black-footed ferrets once numbered in the tens of thousands and occurred in large prairie dog colonies throughout the Great Plains and intermountain valleys in 12 states and 2 Canadian provinces, and possibly portions of northern Mexico. The range of the black-footed ferret overlapped the ranges of three prairie dog species in these areas: the black-tailed, white-tailed and Gunnison’s prairie dogs.

Due to widespread loss of all three of these species of prairie dogs, ferret habitat is now just a fraction of what it once was. Prairie dogs are routinely poisoned on both private and public lands, often at taxpayer expense, and shot for target practice. Many people believe erroneously that livestock are commonly injured by accidentally stepping into prairie dog holes. Many ranchers dislike prairie dogs because they eat grass that could otherwise feed livestock.

The widespread destruction of their habitat (prairie dog colonies) and the arrival of exotic diseases in the 1900s brought black-footed ferrets to the brink of extinction. By the 1960s, the only known population was a small colony in southwestern South Dakota. That colony disappeared in 974 for unknown reasons. The species was declared extinct.

Then, in 1981, black-footed ferrets were rediscovered on prairie dog colonies near Meeteetse, Wyoming and this discovery offered a ray of hope for the species. But four years later disease struck and nearly killed all of the Meeteetse ferret population. The last 18 ferrets were taken into captivity between 1985 and 1987 in an effort to save the species.

A successful captive-breeding program was initiated in 1987 and continues to this day. Since 1991, federal, state and tribal agencies, in cooperation with private landowners, conservation groups and the North American zoo community have been actively reintroducing these captive-bred ferrets into the wild. Beginning in Shirley Basin, Wyoming, reintroduction efforts have since expanded to sites in Montana, South Dakota, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Chihuahua, and Mexico.

The recovery plan for the black-footed ferret calls for the establishment of 10 or more separate, self-sustaining wild populations. By 2010 biologists hope to have 1,500 ferrets established in the wild, with no fewer than 30 breeding adults in each population. If these objectives are met, the ferret could be downlisted from endangered to threatened status. But to be truly successful, ferrets will need several reintroduction sites, each with more than 10,000 acres of prairie dog colonies, and such areas are few. Until more large prairie dog colonies are restored, the ferret cannot be fully recovered.

Thanks to the protection of the Endangered Species Act, America’s investment of over $30 million since 1981 and the hard work of many federal, tribal and state biologists, zoos and private landowners there are now (as of May 2008) at least 750 ferrets living in the wild in 15 locations across the West.  Three of these sites have surpassed the required minimum of 30 breeding adults.  By nearly all measurements, the animal’s reintroduction to the wild has been a stunning accomplishment. Our challenge now is to restore more large colonies of prairie dogs so that we can finish the job of restoring one of the most endangered mammals on the continent.

Learn more about the history of the black-footed ferret.

Fact Sheet

Black-footed ferret fact sheet.

Historic and current range map

Last Known Wild Populations

1. Mellette County, South Dakota (last known wild population in 1970s, now extirpated)
2. Meeteetse, Wyoming (rediscovered wild population in 1981, now extirpated)
   
   

   Retroduction Sites (with year first reintroduced and current status)

3. Shirley Basin, Wyoming (1991; more than 30 breeding adults)
4. Conata Basin/Badlands, South Dakota (1994; more than 30 breeding adults)
5. UL Bend Refuge, Montana (1996; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
6. Aubrey Valley, Arizona (1996; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
7. Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana (1996; former reintroduction site, no known ferrets today)
8. Coyote Basin, Utah (2000; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
9. Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota (2000; more than 30 breeding adults)
10. Wolf Creek, Colorado (2000; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
11. 40-Complex, Montana (2000; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
12. Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico (2000; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
13. Rosebud Sioux Reservation, South Dakota (2000; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
14. Lower Brule Reservation, South Dakota (2006; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
15. Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota (2007; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
16. Logan County, Kansas (2007; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
17. Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Montana (2008; fewer than 30 breeding adults)
18. Espee Ranch, Arizona (2008; fewer than 30 breeding adults)

Zoos and Foundations with Black-Footed Ferret Captive Breeding Programs

Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Washington, DC
Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Louisville Zoological Garden - Louisville, Kentucky
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo - Omaha, Nebraska (former program)
Phoenix Zoo - Phoenix, Arizona
Toronto Zoo - Ontario, Canada
Turner Endangered Species Program – Vermejo Ranch, New Mexico

Ending the destruction of black-footed ferret habitat on public lands

A healthy population of black-footed ferrets requires a complex of very large prairie dog colonies – at least 10,000 acres of prairie dog colonies and most likely more than 20,000 acres. And the colonies need to be close together, not scattered by distances too far for ferrets to travel between safely.

Once commonplace across the west, very few prairie dog colonies of this size and density remain today. Luckily, the west still contains millions of acres of land suitable for prairie dogs; humans just need to let prairie dogs survive in a few areas without the ongoing threats of poisons or bullets. Our public lands are a great place to restore black-footed ferrets and the large prairie dog colonies on which they depend.

Unfortunately, prairie dogs are safe from poisons and bullets in very few places, even on our public lands. In fact, federal agencies are still destroying prairie dog colonies, including some of the last good quality black-footed ferret habitat on public lands. Defenders of Wildlife is working to change this, including in the following designated black-footed ferret reintroduction sites:

Conata Basin, South Dakota

Conata Basin is a 73,000 acre area within the 580,000 acre Buffalo Gap National Grassland in southwestern South Dakota. In early 2008, approximately 30,000 acres of this area were occupied by prairie dog colonies, making this the largest prairie dog complex and therefore the best black-footed ferret habitat on public land in the entire Great Plains. About 300 ferrets – one third of the world’s ferret population – call this area home.

Black-footed ferret recovery in Conata Basin was made possible by previous actions of the U.S. Forest Service (manager of the National Grasslands). Over the past several decades, the agency has consolidated land ownership here from the original checkerboard pattern of public and private intermingled land. Black-footed ferrets were reintroduced beginning in 1996. Then, in 1998, the agency closed the area to all recreational prairie dog shooting. The prairie dog population grew, and the results have been impressive: Conata Basin is now home to South Dakota’s largest burrowing owl population, a newly reintroduced swift fox population and the world’s most important and successful black-footed ferret reintroduction site, with approximately 300 ferrets.

But now Conata Basin is under attack. Because of pressure from Bush Administration officials, the U.S. Forest Service is planning to destroy up to 2/3 of the prairie dogs in Conata Basin. This would significantly reduce the number of ferrets that could survive here and would also impact the entire ferret recovery effort because some of the wild-born ferrets are trapped from Conata Basin are used to populate other sites. These wild-born ferrets are far more successful than are captive-born ferrets.

Why would anyone want to destroy this great American wildlife success story? The Forest Service claims they need to “protect” the land from too many prairie dogs because supposedly prairie dogs destroy the vegetation and soil. Science actually shows the opposite: prairie dogs enrich the soil over the long term and increase the diversity of vegetation.

But the bottom line is that prairie dogs eat grass, and the very few ranchers (fewer than 12) who graze their livestock here want all of the public grass saved for their private livestock, especially in drought years. And those ranchers have influence with South Dakota politicians. These ranchers pay a combined total of less than $5,000 annually to graze a small number of livestock in Conata Basin. Meanwhile, they receive free poisoining of prairie dogs on their adjacent private lands (from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks) and free poisoning of prairie dogs on the National Grassland within one half mile of their private property. Now, they want it all.

May 2008 Update: sylvatic plague has struck Conata Basin, threatening the prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets. So far an estimated 4,000 acres of prairie dogs and possibly 30 ferrets have perished. Defenders of Wildlife is helping stop the spread of this exotic disease by purchasing dust for the U.S. Forest Service to use in an attempt to kill the fleas that spread plague.  Dusting efforts are now underway.

Americans have invested over $30 million in black-footed ferret recoveryacross the west; more is being spent now to save Conata Basin’s ferrets and prairie dogs from sylvatic plague. We must protect this investment and not allow more willful destruction even on top of the recent losses to plague.

Smithwick, South Dakota

Smithwick is a 25,000 acre area within the 580,000 acre Buffalo Gap National Grassland in southwestern South Dakota. It has been identified as a future black-footed ferret reintroduction site; unlike Conata Basin (also on the Buffalo Gap), Smithwick does not yet have any ferrets. Before ferrets can be reintroduced, more acres of prairie dog colonies are needed. This could occur if the Forest Service would close the area to recreational prairie dog shooting and begin translocations of prairie dogs to create new colonies. Unfortunately, the Forest Service refuses to do either and in fact is now working to increase poisoning!

Thunder Basin, Wyoming

The U.S. Forest Service is undergoing a process to amend the Thunder Basin National Grassland plan to allow dramatically increased prairie dog poisoning, including within a proposed future black-footed ferret reintroduction area. Defenders of Wildlife is working to prevent this rollback of wildlife protection. See our most recent comments here.

Horse Creek, North Dakota

Horse Creek is a 29,000 acre area within the one million acre Little Missouri National Grassland, located in western North Dakota. It has been identified as a future black-footed ferret reintroduction site. Before ferrets can be reintroduced, more acres of prairie dog colonies are needed. This could occur if the Forest Service would close the area to recreational prairie dog shooting and begin translocations of prairie dogs to create new colonies. Unfortunately, the Forest Service refuses to do either and is now planning to poison some of the prairie dogs.

Defenders is working to protect this area from shootingand poisoning  so that one day ferrets may be reintroduced. Read our most recent comments on the Little Missouri National Grassland’s prairie dog plan.

Helping wildlife-friendly ranchers in Kansas protect prairie dog colonies and newly-reintroduced black-footed ferrets from county commissioners bent on their destruction

Thanks to a handful of wildlife-friendly ranchers, Kansas is the latest state to join the effort to save the black-footed ferret.

On December 18, 2007 fourteen black-footed ferret kits were released onto private land in Logan County, Kansas owned by Larry and Bette Haverfield, Gordon and Martha Barnhardt and Maxine Blank. Black-footed ferrets have not been seen in Kansas for fifty years.

Over 16,000 supporters of Defenders of Wildlife participated by writing to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in November 2007 in support of restoring the black-footed ferret to Kansas. We are thrilled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed and made this plan a reality.

View a slideshow of the November 2007 reintroduction.

The 10,000-acre Haverfield/Barnhardt/Blank ranches contain more than 6,000 acres of prairie dog colonies – the only prairie dog complex of this size in Kansas – making it the top site for black-footed ferrets in Kansas. Ferrets rely on prairie dogs as their main food source and on empty prairie dog burrows for shelter.

This prairie dog complex also draws an abundance of rare species, including ferruginous hawks, bald and golden eagles, swift fox, and burrowing owls to the area.

But this wildlife success story did not come easily. Prairie dogs are controversial in western Kansas; because of the prairie dogs, these wildlife-friendly landowners have been at the forefront of an ongoing conservation battle. They have resisted the efforts of the Logan County Commissioners and the Kansas Farm Bureau, each determined to force these and other landowners to poison their lands to exterminate prairie dogs.

A century-old Kansas statute allows county commissions to trespass onto private land to poison native wildlife such as prairie dogs, and charge the landowners for the costs.

Since 2006 the Logan County commissioners have been attempting to spread poison across these ranches against the will of the landowners. In late 2006 the county sheriff delivered a written notice from the county commissioners to the landowners, warning them that poisoning will begin any day, accompanied by armed guards if necessary. Defenders of Wildlife brought a New York Times reporter to the ranch to spread the word of what was about to happen. The county delayed, but not for long.

Weeks later when the county poisoning crew did arrive and began poisoning, Larry Haverfield interfered by moving his cattle into the areas to be poisoned (it is illegal to apply the poison near cattle). After trying unsuccessfully to force the Haverfields to remove their cattle, the commissioners passed a resolution prohibiting the movement of livestock into areas to be poisoned, with a penalty for violating of $100 per day. The commissioners also took the landowners to federal district court. While the landowners were traveling across Kansas for the hearing, county employees trespassed and began poisoning! The court stopped the poisoning temporarily.

The Haverfields have been working to address the concerns of those neighbors who do not want prairie dogs on their land. In 2006, with the help of Audubon of Kansas, they installed a simple one strand electric fence 90 feet in from the property boundary fence around the entire 10,000 acre ranch. By keeping cattle out of this 90-foot buffer zone, the vegetation grows taller which in turn discourages prairie dogs from moving through or recolonizing the buffer zone (prairie dogs do not like tall vegetation because they cannot see predators approaching; the 90 foot distance is based in recent research).

In March 2008the landowners and their attorney Randall Rathbun won a partial victory. A Kansas judge ruled that the county may not trespass more than 90 feet onto the ranch property to poison prairie dogs.  Since 90 feet is the distance that the landowners have already established a tall-grass buffer around the entire perimeter of their property, this means that the vast majority of the prairie dogs – and therefore the ferrets – are safe!

"Prairie dogs are essential for healthy grasslands," says 73-year-old rancher Larry Haverfield, "and they make this area prime for all the eagles, hawks, swift foxes, and burrowing owls who already live here. It makes no sense for the county to spread poison on my land, because killing prairie dogs can be fatal to all of the wildlife that lives here."

"If you want to save black-footed ferrets, you've got to have prairie dogs," he adds.

A second batch of 19 ferrets were released on October 15, 2008. This time, 20 people were on hand to witness the event.

The 90 foot no-grazing buffer zones cost the Haverfields in lost income. To help with their innovative buffer zone experiment and to help set a precedent, Defenders of Wildlife contracted with the Haverfields in 2008 to pay the average grazing rate for two years for this land.

Still, these wildlife heroes are paying an expensive and ongoing price for their efforts; since 2006 the county has trespassed numerous times to poison portions of these ranches. Each time, the landowners have been forced to pay the costs of the poisoning, as well as attorney fees to attempt to stop the county commission. The county is limited for now to the 90-foot buffer zones where few prairie dogs remain, but poisoning even in this limited area costs the landowners thousands of dollars each time the county poisons (which they do as often as possible). In February 2009 the county commission began legal efforts to overturn the judge’s ruling so that they may poison it all.

To be truly safe, the century old state law allowing counties to trespass and poison prairie dogs must be revised. In December 2008, Defenders of Wildlife sent an alert to our members in Kansas and elsewhere to ask Kansas Governor Sebelius to do what she can to help these landowners. Almost 33,000 members responded. Still, the state has taken no action to help these landowners any step of the way.

Audubon of Kansas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kansas State University, Defenders of Wildlife, Prairie Wildlife Research and others are working with the ranchers to help ferret recovery succeed, address the neighbors' concerns over prairie dogs, and conserve wildlife.

For years, the government has been encouraging private landowners to take the lead for wildlife conservation on their lands. These ranchers have chosen to engage in cooperative conservation on their properties, with the hopes of recovering the endangered black-footed ferret. They should be rewarded, not punished for their good stewardship of the land.


Wildlife friendly ranchers Larry (pictured) and Bette Haverfield worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reintroduce black-footed ferrets to their Kansas ranch. Photo by Jonathan Proctor.

Read the final environmental assessment for ferret reintroduction in Kansas.
Read the Spring 2008 Defenders Magazine article on this issue

Frequently asked questions

A good list of frequently asked questions can be found at http://blackfootedferret.org/faq.htm

Timeline

A detailed timeline from the first sighting by John James Audubon in 1851 through 2005 is available at: http://blackfootedferret.org/timeline.html

2006: September 26 marks the 25th anniversary since the black-footed ferret – thought extinct – was rediscovered in Meteetsee, Wyoming. The wild population is estimated at 600-700 individuals in 10 reintroduction sites across the western U.S. and one in Mexico. An 11th reintroduction site begins on the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

2007: The 12th and 13th reintroduction efforts begin at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota and on private ranchlands in Kansas.

2008: The 14th and 15th reintroduction efforts begin at Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana and the Espee Ranch in Arizona.

Black-footed ferret Poster