Thanks to conservation efforts, the black-footed ferret population has been increasing since the 1980s. Today, there are an estimated 300 black-footed ferrets in the wild, and they are considered a threatened species rather than an extinct one.
When and why did black footed ferrets become extincted?
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) was never extinct, but it came close. In the 1970s, the population of black-footed ferrets was estimated to be as low as 18 individuals. The primary reason for this decline was the loss of their habitat due to human activities such as agriculture, urban development, and the introduction of non-native species. Additionally, the black-footed ferret relies heavily on prairie dogs as a primary food source, and the decline of prairie dog populations due to poisoning and habitat destruction further exacerbated the ferret's decline.