Biology of the endangered black-footed ferret and the role of captive propagation in its conservation

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Abstract
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), one of the rarest mammals in the world, is apparently an obligate dependent on prairie dogs. Ferret numbers were probably reduced by habitat fragmentation. The last known wild colony, west of Meeteetse, Wyoming, was decimated by canine distemper in 1985. The few remaining ferrets exist in captivity. In this paper, we review aspects of the reproductive physiology and life history of the black-footed ferret with focus towards captive propagation and subsequent reintroduction of the species into natural habitat. We discuss the black-footed ferret in the context of small population biology and relate the value of captive propagation as a conservation tactic.

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