RETURN OF THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET

Updated on November 29, 2023

The black-footed ferret, thought to be extinct, was rediscovered in the 1980s. Today they have been given a second chance at survival thanks to conservation efforts. The Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom crew traveled to Colorado and Wyoming to learn the tale of the black-footed ferret and its amazing comeback story.

The remarkable return of the black-footed ferret

It wasn’t a typical day at the ranch in 1981 for John and Lucille Hogg in Meeteetse, Wyoming. The family dog was wandering the ranch and came back with a gift for his owners — a ferret. Despite having lived in the area all his life, John Hogg had never seen a ferret quite like this one. He and his son Allen brought the ferret carcass to a local taxidermist who identified it as a black-footed ferret. They then looped in wildlife authorities who found a small population of ferrets from a land survey.

At the time, only 18 black-footed ferrets remained in the wild. Their primary decline was due to a loss of habitat from the disease and death of prairie dogs, the black-footed ferret’s main food source. Their population also became fragmented due to human westward expansion. This spread-out population made it difficult for both the black-footed ferret and prairie dog to recover from disease such as the sylvatic plague. But after being rediscovered, wildlife organizations quickly jumped in to save this endangered species.

Black-footed ferret breeding and reintroduction programs

To learn more about the black-footed ferret and its conservation story, the Wild Kingdom crew visited Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This Association of Zoos and Aquarium accredited organization is one of five zoos partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a breeding and reintroduction program. The zoos are working toward recovering the native black-footed ferret population.

Curious what even makes a black-footed ferret different than the ones people often keep as pets? Experts at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo explain.

The trip to the zoo coincided with Black-Footed Ferret Rediscovery Day, celebrating 41 years since the remarkable day in Wyoming. At the zoo the crew learned about the teams work with the black-footed ferret program including meticulously controlled conditions to prepare for the animal’s annual breeding. The black-footed ferrets that participate in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) live in a quiet, bio-safe area out of guests’ view, but visitors at the zoo can see a black-footed ferret in The Loft, which is home to black-footed ferret ambassador, Rouge. Rouge is a special part of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, helping to educate visitors on the importance of conservation.

The National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center

 Next up was the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in Fort Collins. There, the Wild Kingdom crew teamed up with our friend Jeff Ewelt, executive director of ZooMontana. Staff from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also joined.

The National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center is known for its work on recovery efforts, including dusting (vaccinating prairie dogs and ferrets), reproduction, captive breeding, husbandry, plague ecology, telemetry, artificial insemination, genetic diversity and cloning. In fact, the first-ever endangered species cloning occurred in 2020 when Elizabeth Ann, a black-footed ferret clone, was born. This was a huge step toward an increase in genetic diversity and disease resistance for the black-footed ferret — both issues that continue to impact them due their small population.

At the center, the team also visited the preconditioning pens and participated in the feeding of the black-footed ferrets. They also learned more about the black-footed ferret breeding process and how the pens play an important role in preparing the kits (black-footed ferret babies) for their release into the wild.

‘Spotlighting’ the black-footed ferret

From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., the Wild Kingdom crew took part in a black-footed ferret overnight survey also known as “spotlighting” at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, Colorado. Multiple surveys take place in the fall, with the intent to capture, tag, chip and vaccinate as many ferrets as possible in one evening. This allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep tabs on the black-footed ferret population. It also ensures continual plague management to assist the population. The team witnessed a successful ferret spotlight (capture), and Wild Kingdom Host Peter Gros along with Ewelt viewed a chipping.

Black-footed ferret release

After a successful black-footed ferret spotlight, the crew traveled with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service back to where the ferret was rediscovered — Meeteese, Wyoming — for the 2022 black-footed ferret release. There, they met with Wyoming Game and Fish and other partners to release the preconditioned black-footed ferrets back to Pitchfork Ranch, cared for by Dr. Lenox Baker.

The following day, the team spent some time on the ranch now belonging to Kris and Allen Hogg, John and Lucille’s son and daughter-in-law. It was the Hogg family dog, Shep, that rediscovered the black-footed ferret all those years ago. The crew spent time with the Hoggs reminiscing about this essential find and heard firsthand about their family’s contributions to conservation.

Through great partners, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center, and people such as Dr. Lenox Baker and the Hogg family, research, awareness, reintroduction and even recovery of the black-footed ferret is possible. However, there are still obstacles to overcome including disease and habitat loss.

Black-footed ferret fun facts

• Black-footed ferrets are North America’s only native ferret species.
• They live alone except during the breeding season or when females are caring for their young.
• Baby black-footed ferrets are called kits.
• They’re primarily nocturnal and spend most of their time underground hunting in prairie dog burrows.
• Young black-footed ferrets are known to be playful and even do a “ferret dance” with their mouths wide open, hopping, leaping and bucking around!
• They’re a flagship species for the North American prairie, helping over 130 plants and animals in the ecosystem.
• More than 8,500 black-footed ferrets have been born in the captive breeding program.

For more inspiring stories of animal conservation, check out Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, airing on NBC’s “The More You Know” programming block beginning Oct. 7, 2023.

Can’t wait? Read the story of the California condor, another animal brought back from the brink of extinction in the 1980s.