Defenders' Experts
Black-footed Ferret
Black-footed ferrets are small predators that live in large prairie dog colonies. They once numbered in the tens of thousands, but were brought to the brink of extinction by the 1980s. Although still endangered, they are starting to make a comeback, and Defenders is helping to make this a remarkable wildlife success story.
Ferrets and prairie dogs struck by plague!
On May 13, 2008, Defenders' staff and others discovered sylvatic plague in Conata Basin, South Dakota. Sylvatic plague is an exotic disease to which several species of wildlife have no immunity. This new outbreak threatens our nation's largest remaining complex of prairie dog colonies and the most successful black-footed ferret site. Defenders is helping take action to stop this outbreak.
Management and Policy
Defenders of Wildlife is:
- working to end the destruction of black-footed ferret habitat on our public lands;
- helping wildlife-friendly ranchers in Kansas reintroduce black-footed ferrets.
In the Field
Defenders of Wildlife is:
- working with Indian tribes to reintroduce black-footed ferrets on tribal lands;
- working to reintroduce black-footed ferrets on public lands.
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