Ferret from the forests of California 5. Description of the American black-footed ferret. Economic value to humans: Negative

American ferret, also known as black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)- a small predatory mammal from the mustelid family (Mustelidae). In the last century, the American ferret almost disappeared from the wild in North America, but thanks to the hard work of research centers for artificial breeding, the population of these animals is gradually reviving.

Description

The black-footed ferret has a long body and yellowish-brown fur. On the back, the coat color is dark. The end of the tail and legs are black. There is a black mask around the eyes. The ferret has large, rounded ears; the muzzle, forehead and neck are white, while the nose is black. The neck is elongated; legs are short and thick. The fingers have pointed, slightly arched claws. The weight of females varies between 645 - 850 grams, and males - 915 - 1.125 grams. The body length of black-footed ferrets is 380 - 600 mm. Females are usually 10% smaller than males.

area

Historically, the range of the American ferret included areas of North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico. It is the only ferret species native to North America. Today, they can be found in three places: northeastern Montana, western South Dakota, and southeastern Wyoming. All three sites are sites where the black-footed ferret has been re-populated after it was eradicated. This subspecies can also be found in seven zoos and animal breeding centers.

Habitat

Black-footed ferrets can be found in the steppes and hills of North America. They live in abandoned prairie dog burrows and use these complex underground tunnels for hiding and hunting. Each ferret, as a rule, requires about 40-48 hectares of space in which animals forage. To survive, a female with cubs needs from 55 hectares of territory. The ranges of males may overlap with the territories of several females.

reproduction

Females reach sexual maturity at one year of age. Breeding usually occurs in March and April. When a male and a female meet each other during estrus, he sniffs her genitals, but does not take active action for several hours, which is different from the aggressive manner of the European ferret. When mating, the male grabs the female by the back of her head. The duration of copulation is 1.5-3 hours. The gestation period ranges from 35 to 45 days. 1-6 cubs are born in a litter. The young remain in the burrow for approximately 42 days. During the summer months, the females stay with the young and separate in the fall when the young ferrets reach their independence. During the mating season, females actively harass males.

Lifespan

In captivity, the average lifespan of an American ferret is 12 years.

Nutrition

Black-footed ferrets feed primarily on prairie dogs. However, they occasionally eat mice, ground squirrels, and other small animals. Typically, a ferret consumes 50-70 grams of meat per day. It has been observed that American ferrets do not store killed prey in caches.

Behavior

This species prefers a nocturnal lifestyle, activity begins with the onset of dusk. During the winter, ferrets become less active and sometimes stay in their burrows for up to a week. Black-footed ferrets are subterranean animals that use prairie dog burrows for locomotion and shelter. They are solitary animals except during the breeding season. Males take absolutely no part in raising offspring. Black-footed ferrets are territorial animals and actively defend their territory against other same-sex competitors. Ferrets are considered alert, agile, and curious mammals, and are known to have a keen sense of smell, sight, and hearing. They rely on olfactory communication (urination, defecation) to maintain their dominance and find their way during their nocturnal journey. American ferrets are noisy mammals that chirp and hiss in the wild when they are afraid of something or startle someone.

Economic value to humans: Positive

Black-footed ferrets help control prairie dog populations, which are sometimes viewed as pests due to their burrowing habits and can carry zoonotic infections such as bubonic plague.

Economic value to humans: Negative

American ferrets are often considered pests by ranchers. Tunnel systems used by ferrets and prairie dogs cause injury to animals.

conservation status

The species is considered the rarest mammal in North America. The ferret population has suffered greatly due to the extermination of prairie dogs. Pastoralists were engaged in baiting prairie dogs in connection with the destruction of pastures (tunneling and gathering). In 1985, the rodent population numbered 31 individuals, and by 1987 - 18. It was decided to place the remaining ferrets in zoos and start breeding them in captivity through artificial insemination. This is one of the first examples of assisted reproduction to help save endangered species in .

As of 2013, about 1,200 ferrets live in the wild. Today, the population is growing, but is still under threat and, according to the International Red Book, is listed as an endangered species.

We all know about such an animal as ferret, and we have been starting it for a long time instead of a cat or a dog, but what is american ferret? Where does it live and is it different from other types of ferrets? Let's understand together, starting with the characteristics.

Description of the American Ferret

american ferret, originally from the United States, is already listed in the Red Book, because the predator is endangered, and the Americans protect and protect these creatures with their last strength. body length of the American ferret 31-41 cm, s body weight from 650 gr. up to 1 kg. Tail it is quite fluffy, growing in length 11-15 cm. ferret fur fluffy, hairline is white, but the tips are dark, and for us it gives the impression of a yellow-brown color, which looks very beautiful. american ferret also known as black-footed, and all because his limbs and the tip of his tail are absolutely black, like coal, and, of course, a black mask on his muzzle, as without it. ferret life span 5-6 years old, in captivity 12.

The predator is active at night, it is active and very vigilant. Ferret has an excellent sense of smell, sight and hearing, thus, finding food, and the way home at night (they mark the territory from other ferrets, preventing competition, and to find a house by smell). They are solitary animals, excluding the breeding season, but even here the male ferret, having done his business, leaves the female, taking no part in raising the babies.

Already in 1980, the remaining number of ferrets were caught from their habitats in order to artificially grow them and not lose them, but some US states release them into the wild in order to revive the population.

WHAT DOES FEET AND WHERE THE AMERICAN FERREET OFFENDS

What does the American ferret eat?

black-footed ferrets mostly eat prairie dogs, but they also eat ground squirrels, mice and other small rodents. However, onion dogs are the main source of food on which the life of the ferret depends. To feed an adult ferret, he needs 250 of these animals a year, and this is not a little! Not surprisingly, the US authorities have taken care of ferrets, helping them to survive. And on the day American ferret it takes 50-70 grams - and this is not much, but just in order to survive and not die of hunger, of course, a healthy predator needs to eat more.

Habitat of the American Ferret

american ferret representative of America (USA), there they inhabit in the center, south and east near the Rocky Mountains. Same way habitat– Mexico (north), Canada (south). By the way, these are the only ferrets whose homeland is North America! But today they can be found in 3 more places: southeastern Wyoming, northwestern Montana, western South Dakota. All these places where the population of these ferrets has been completely restored. They can be found in zoos and breeding sites.

american ferret prefers to live in nature in the steppes and meadows, choosing abandoned burrows, or swarms of their own. Each ferret needs 40-48 hectares of space to search for food, and a female with cubs 55! But males allow several females to cross their territory.

VIDEO: ABOUT FERTILES

IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL LEARN A LOT OF INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT FERRETS

Black-footed ferret, Black-footed Ferret: Mustela nigripes Audubon & Bachman, 1851. Other names: American black-footed ferret

Range: The original range of the black-footed weasel occupied the eastern and southern regions of the Rocky Mountains, the territory of the Great Plains from Albert and Saskatchewan, to Texas and Arizona (USA).

The American black-footed ferret has a long neck and a slender, sinewy body, with very short legs.

Color: The smooth fur of the black-footed ferret has a yellowish color; there are black spots on its muzzle, the tip of the tail and its legs are also black.

The American [black-footed] ferret is 46 - 60 cm long, including 13 - 15 cm bushy tail. Weight: It weighs 0.7 - 1.1 kg, with males weighing slightly more than females.

Lifespan: Ferrets typically live for about 3 - 4 years in the wild (the oldest lived at least 8 years) and 8 - 9 years in captivity (the oldest individual was at least 11 years old).

Voice: The American black-footed ferret is a very vocal animal. He screams loudly when disturbed, frightened or excited. In such a situation, he lets out several loud cries, interrupted by low hissing notes. Male black-footed ferrets "chuckle" when contacting a female during the rutting season, and the cubs make very quiet squeaky sounds.

Habitat: The American black-footed ferret is commonly found in prairie, low to medium height grassland, forming an association with prairie dogs.

Like other weasels and ferrets, the black-footed ferret easily moves around the territory in search of its prey, climbing through treeless spaces even high into the mountains. Individual individuals were found at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level, and another animal was found drowned in Lake Morena, Colorado [USA], located at an altitude of 3125 m.

The North American Prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems on earth - perhaps even more endangered than the South American rainforest or the old forests of the American Northwest. The prairie plains of North America began to form about 20 million years ago, but in some areas, up to 99 percent of the prairie has been destroyed in just the past 125 to 150 years.

The area known as the Great Plains was once the largest field on earth and covered most of the continental US along with parts of southern Canada and northern Mexico. The prairie stretched from the Rocky Mountains in an eastward direction for over 800 miles, and extended over 3,000 miles from north to south. The plains were created from sedimentary rocks washed out of the Rocky Mountains over millions of years, which were formed from silt, sand and clay. The Rocky Mountains also blocked the flow of moist air from the Pacific Ocean, creating a drier climate on the continent that favored the development of grasses over trees.

Enemies: Habitat loss is the main reason why black-footed ferrets have been on the brink of near extinction and why it remains a major threat to the species today. Conversion of fields and grasslands to agricultural use and a widespread prairie dog eradication program have reduced the black-footed ferret's habitat to less than 2 percent of what it used to be. Remaining habitats are now fragmented, associated with prairie dog colonies, separated by large expanses of cropland and human structures. Diseases, including plague (affecting both black-footed ferrets and their prey, prairie dogs), as well as poisoning and shooting, also remain potential threats.

The American Black-footed Ferret is commonly found in prairie dog colonies, which make up the absolute majority of their diet. In nature, prairie dogs make up 90% of the black-footed ferret's diet.

The black-footed ferret also eats gophers, other small rodents, American rabbits and birds.

A ferret typically eats over 100 prairie dogs in one year, and on this basis, scientists have calculated that over 250 prairie dogs are needed to support one family of black-footed ferrets for one year.

It has been estimated that about 40 - 60 ha of prairie dog colonies are needed to support a single black ferret. The black-footed ferret usually surveys an area of ​​up to 100 ha during a 3 to 8 day period in winter.

The black-footed ferret is a secretive animal, leading primarily a nocturnal lifestyle. He has well-developed external sense organs: acute hearing, sensitive sense of smell and good vision.

The American black-footed ferret is extremely dependent on the prairie dog. Due to feeding mainly on prairie dogs, the black-footed ferret spends most of its life in its colonies. It spends up to 99% of its time in prairie dog burrows, usually spending only a few minutes on the ground each day. In burrows he sleeps, gets his food, avoids predators and bad weather, and here he brings out his young. For rest and sleep, the black-footed ferret occupies an underground hole made by a prairie dog.

Its long, slender body allows it to easily enter burrows to find prey while prairie dogs are sleeping. This reduces the risk of damage to the ferret, as it attacks prey of the same size as itself.

Males are more active than females. The black-footed ferret does not sleep in winter, but the amount of time of activity decreases significantly, as does the area of ​​the surveyed territory. In winter, in cold snowy weather, the black-footed ferret can remain inactive for long periods, up to 6 nights and days, remaining in a burrow in which it subsists on previously stored food.

When the black-footed ferret travels across the surface of the earth, it moves in a series of leaps or a slow gallop. He can normally move at a speed of 8 - 11 km / h. Biologists tracked a black-footed ferret that traveled 10 km in one night, during which time it examined more than 100 prairie dog holes. The distance covered by males is almost twice that of females.

Social Structure: The black-footed ferret leads a solitary life outside of the mating season, with males apparently not helping to raise and feed the young.

The black-footed ferret uses scent marks to communicate with its compatriots, using the secretion of the anal glands for this purpose. It marks its territory by applying the odorous secretion of the gland to rocks, soil and vegetation.

The population of black-footed ferrets consists of approximately 67% of young animals, and 33% are adults.

A study of the wild population has shown that the average ferret density in favorable habitats is approximately 1 animal per 50 ha of prairie dog colonies. The average distance between two prairie dog towns occupied by the black-footed ferret was 5.4 km. Adult ferrets occupy an area with a diameter of approximately 1 - 2 km.

Reproduction: The young emerge from the burrow in July. In late summer, females increasingly leave their offspring alone in the burrow during the day, and gather them together at night to hunt together. Young ferrets begin to hunt on their own only from September or October, when they leave their mother and become independent and solitary.

Young males settle over greater distances, generally up to 10 - 15 km, while young females often remain close to the mother's territory.

Season/Breeding Period: Mating usually takes place in March and April.

Puberty: Both males and females become sexually mature in their first year of life. The peak reproductive period for males and females is around three to four years of age.

Pregnancy: 41 - 45 days (about 7 weeks)

Offspring: the female brings an average of 3 - 4 young, sometimes in a litter with artificial maintenance, there are up to 9-10 puppies. In nature, litter size in South Dakota averaged 3.5 (varied: 1 - 5); in Wyoming averaged 3.3 babies.

The black-footed ferret is a naturally effective prairie dog population regulator.

The black-footed ferret is listed in the Sites Convention Appendix as a species endangered and in Appendix II of the International Trade Agreement (a list of species prohibited from commercial trade).

Antipathy towards prairie dogs is pronounced among some populations, including ranchers and many agricultural workers. Therefore, from the 1920s to the 1960s, the US government sponsored intensive programs to eradicate the prairie dog from the Great Plains states by using poison and plowing prairie dog settlements (to prevent damage to agriculture and cattle ranching). ). For example, the area occupied by prairie dog cities in Kansas was reduced by 98.6%, the black-footed ferret was apparently an unintentional victim of the prairie dog eradication campaign. Even in the 1990s, federal agencies authorized and subsidized the annual eradication of 80,000 hectares of prairie dog colonies.

Thus, the black-footed ferret experienced a dramatic decline in numbers during the first half of the 20th century. She hasn't dated since 1937. In the late 1970s, he was thought to have disappeared from both countries. However, in 1981, a black-footed ferret colony was found in Wyoming, USA.

The first group of captured ferrets all died because a number of them were infected in nature with the causative agent of rabies. This led to the discovery that canine rabies was responsible for the rapid decline in the ferret population in Meeteetse. At this point, all 18 remaining ferrets were captured, vaccinated, quarantined, and sent to a breeding center. As a result of the black-footed ferret breeding program, by 1991 the captive population increased to 311 animals and 49 animals were released back into the wild. They now live in seven sites where the species has been reintroduced, including sites in Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, South Dakota and along the Colorado-Utah border, as well as in Chihuahua, Mexico.

In 1998, the number of offspring of the black-footed ferret, bred in six zoos and one government breeding center for this species, gave results that surpassed all previous ones with a total of 425 born of which 321 survived to the age of the end of mother's milk feeding.

Status and Trends: 1960s - 1994: endangered species; 1996 - 2004: extinct in nature (IUCN 2004). Currently, the black-footed ferret is found in Canada and the United States.

Population Estimates: 1920s: There may have been approximately 800,000 individuals. 1984 - 128 individuals, in 1996 and it now manages 240 (90 males and females), 2005 - about 500 individuals. There are currently approximately 1,000 black-footed ferrets in captivity.

The American, or otherwise it is called the black-footed ferret, belongs to the predatory representatives of the weasel family. One of the features in which he differs from his other ferret relatives is his short body length and low weight. That is, with a weight of one kilogram, or even less, this individual rarely exceeds 45 cm in length.

Appearance description

The coat color is usually yellow-brown and darker on the back, while the tip of the tail and paws are black. An interesting fact is that by 1937 of the last century, this subspecies of ferrets was almost completely destroyed in Canada. But, starting in 1980, its numbers began to be gradually restored through artificial breeding. After that, bred in specially created conditions, individuals were gradually returned to their former habitat. Despite the fact that today the number of trochees has increased significantly, since 1967 it has continued to be listed in the Red Book of North America as an endangered species.

Habitat

The homeland of the American ferret is North America, where they live on the great plains. The ferret is awake and hunts only in the dark. But, the lack of light does not prevent him from getting his own food, because the ferrets have well-developed organs of hearing and smell. And the miniature size helps to easily penetrate even the narrowest holes to catch small rodents. But ferrets sleep in a “dead” sleep in order to recover from the excitement and stress that the animal usually experiences during the hunt. This is where the expression “sleep like a ferret” came from. In addition, an interesting feature of American ferrets is that after penetrating into the hole to their prey and catching it, the first ones leave this hole behind them for permanent or temporary residence.

Females are less active than males. And in winter, their activity is completely reduced, compared with the summer period. They begin to hunt less due to the difficulty of moving through the snow cover, and more often prefer to remain in burrows, feeding exclusively on their reserves.

Ferrets are loners. They lead an isolated way of life, they practically do not contact their relatives, except, probably, only for the “marriage” period.

What do they eat

Typically, on average, a ferret consumes 50 to 70 grams of meat per day. At the same time, most often the diet of American ferrets is made up of rodents, less often - small birds and insects. But their main delicacy is ground squirrels, or as they are called in those parts - steppe dogs. To get enough, one ferret needs to eat about 250 ground squirrels a year. The very same typical colony of prairie dogs lives on an area equal to about 50 hectares of steppe terrain.

In the middle of the last century, mass poisoning and extermination of dogs began in the United States in connection with the development of land by local farmers. Which was the main reason for the active extinction of ferrets. After all, the latter were actually left without food.

Conditions of life and reproduction

In early spring, individuals of this species, as a rule, begin the breeding season. After that, after about 1.5 months, cubs are born, the number of which rarely exceeds 5 pieces. This feature is unique to American ferrets, in contrast to their forest and steppe relatives, whose litter can exceed 8 puppies.

In the wild, animals do not live long - up to about 4 years. What can not be said about their relatives raised in captivity - their life expectancy can reach as much as 9 years. Whereas they reach puberty by the age of one year.

Appearance

The American ferret, like most of the weasel family, has an elongated body on thin, short legs, and an elongated muzzle. And a 15 cm fluffy tail. They have an intricate color: yellowish-brown at the ends, closer to the roots it becomes white, and the paws and the tip of the tail are black. Also, black fur frames the eyes, resembling “glasses”, which act as an additional disguise. Males are larger than females. Like skunks, ferrets are capable of emitting a foul odor to protect themselves, though it is not as strong as a skunk's.

Measures for protection and reproduction

Helping the black-footed ferret not to disappear from the face of the earth Federal and state agencies of the USA together with private farmers. They carry out all possible actions for their breeding and introduction into the wild.

This set of activities began to be carried out in the 80s of the last century, with the advent of the threat of the complete disappearance of American ferrets in nature. It was then that zoologists decided to increase their population by breeding in captivity and further accustoming them to life in natural conditions, and only after that - returning them back to the wild. This experiment paid off, and by 2007 the number of individuals exceeded 600 units, while only 18 units of animals of different sexes were taken for their breeding in the conditions of the scientific and zoological center. As of 2013, approximately 1,200 individuals are known to have lived in the wild. But still, this species is still listed in the Red Book. Therefore, to this day, work is underway to further increase the number of ferrets, until such time as they can independently exist and survive in the wild.

For the people themselves, in this case farmers, ferrets are beneficial by eating harmful prairie dogs, thereby helping to control their population. The latter are especially dangerous for livestock because they are carriers of various infections, one of which is bubonic plague. So is the harm - a large number of holes and tunnel systems belonging to ferrets and dogs often cause injuries to livestock, which now and then gets into them.