Black-footed Ferret: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Weasels and Badgers · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. Black-footed ferrets were declared extinct in 1979, but a wild population turned up in 1981 in Meeteetse, Wyoming.
2. In February 2021, scientists unveiled Elizabeth Ann, the first cloned black-footed ferret.
3. Black-footed ferrets hunt at night, mostly sleeping prairie dogs in their burrows.
4. Prairie dogs make up as much as 90 % of a black-footed ferret's diet.
5. To find prey, a black-footed ferret may travel up to 18 km, moving between prairie dog colonies.

The quiz

1. When were black-footed ferrets declared extinct?

• 1979 (correct)
• 1949
• 1981
• 2021

They were declared extinct in 1979 before a wild population turned up in 1981.

2. What was the name of the first cloned black-footed ferret?

• Meeteetse
• Prairie Rose
• Elizabeth Ann (correct)
• Wyoming Jane

Scientists unveiled Elizabeth Ann in February 2021.

3. When do black-footed ferrets hunt, and what do they mostly hunt?

• By day, fish
• At night, birds
• By day, rabbits
• At night, sleeping prairie dogs (correct)

They hunt at night, mostly sleeping prairie dogs in their burrows.

4. Up to how much of a black-footed ferret's diet is prairie dogs?

• Up to 9 %
• Up to 90 % (correct)
• Up to 30 %
• Up to 50 %

Prairie dogs make up as much as 90 % of its diet.

5. How far may a black-footed ferret travel to find prey?

• Up to 1.6 km
• Up to 5 km
• Up to 18 km (correct)
• Up to 80 km

It may travel up to 18 km to look for prey.

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