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Article: Prairie bandits: on the trail of the black-footed ferret.
- Article from:
- E Magazine
- Article date:
- July 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Earth Action Network, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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While domestic ferrets are common pets, black-footed ferrets, (Mustela nigripes) are one of North America's most endangered mammals. Sometimes called "prairie bandits," nocturnal ferrets spend 70 to 80 percent of their time underground. Federal wildlife biologist Randy Matchett, who has been working with ferrets since 1991, says, "Black-footed ferrets have an incredibly fine-tuned niche with prairie dogs. Such specialization is risky should your prey and habitat be greatly reduced."
As semi-nomadic predators, black-footed ferrets wander among numerous burrows on prairie dog towns, and are found at night by the green glow reflected from their eyes by a spotlight. ...