Threats to the ferret
 Black-footed ferrets face
threats in the wild from predators and disease. Coyotes, great-horned owls,
golden eagles, prairie falcons, badgers, bobcats and foxes all prey on ferrets.
Several diseases affect black-footed ferrets, the most serious being canine
distemper and sylvatic plague.
Canine distemper is thought to always
be fatal to ferrets and is spread by other animals that frequent prairie dog
towns, such as coyotes and badgers. Sylvatic plague, spread by fleas, is akin
to the bubonic plague that devastated humans in Europe in the Middle Ages. Both
ferrets and prairie dogs are highly susceptible to plague, and entire dog towns
can be eliminated quickly. Ferrets are also susceptible to other diseases,
including rabies, tularemia and human influenza, but these are not considered
serious threats. |
 Loss of habitat is the primary reason
black-footed ferrets remain near the brink of extinction. Conversion of
grasslands to agricultural uses, widespread prairie dog eradication programs
and plague have reduced ferret habitat to less than 2 percent of what once
existed. Remaining habitat is now fragmented, with prairie dog towns separated
by great expanses of cropland and human development. Many other sensitive
species such as burrowing owls, mountain plovers, golden eagles, swift fox, and
ferruginous hawks are strongly linked to this habitat for their survival. Many
of these species are following the ferret's fate, and may soon require further
conservation efforts to ensure their survival. |
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