What is the behavior of the black footed ferret?

Answer 1

The black-footed ferret is secretive and nocturnal, few people have ever seen them in the wild. Most of its time is underground in prairie dog burrows, and typically spends only a few minutes above ground each day to hunt or find new burrows or mates. In burrows it sleeps, stores its food, avoids predators and harsh weather, and takes care of it's young.

They are nocturnal hunters that require a plentiful supply of prairie dogs for prey. Though they will also eat other small mammals, birds, and insects, a single family of four Black-footed Ferrets eats about 250 prairie dogs each year and cannot survive without access to large colonies of them. Typically a prairie dog colony 125 acres (50 ha) in size will provide a sufficiently stable prey population for one adult ferret. The ferrets are entirely dependent on the prairie dogs for their survival, and even shelter in prairie dog burrows during the day. Ferret mating seasons last from March to April. Gestation of the kits commonly lasts 41-43 days. The number of kits born ranges from 1 to 7, but most commonly only 3-4 are born. Black-footed ferrets lead solitary lives except during the breeding season or when females are caring for young. Breeding activity occurs in March and April, and after a gestation period of 41 to 43 days, kits are born, the average litter size is from 3-4. They are born in the spring, underground in prairie dog burrows. The female and not the male, cares for the young. At about 3 months of age, kits are almost grown and will venture above ground. Even after they stop nursing, they depend on their mother for meals. By late summer, the female leaves her kits in separate burrows during the day and gathers them together at night to hunt. The young will begin to hunt alone, and by September are usually independent and solitary. Both male and female ferrets become sexually mature at one year of age,

Answer 2

The black-footed ferret is secretive and primarily nocturnal. Most of its time is underground in prairie dog burrows, and typically spends only a few minutes above ground each day to hunt or find new burrows or mates. In burrows it sleeps, keeps its food, avoids predators and harsh weather, and gives birth to its young.

Answer 3

The black-footed ferret is secretive and nocturnal, few people have ever seen them in the wild. Most of its time is underground in prairie dog burrows, and typically spends only a few minutes above ground each day to hunt or find new burrows or mates. In burrows it sleeps, stores its food, avoids predators and harsh weather, and takes care of it's young.

Answer 4

Black-footed ferrets are carnivores (meat-eaters) and their main food source is the prairie dog. Prairie dogs are rodents and live in aggregations called towns or colonies. A prairie dog is as large as or larger than a black-footed ferret. The ferret attacks the prairie dog while it is sleeping below ground at night with quick bite to the neck to suffocate it. Black-footed ferrets have sharp teeth that can easily shear through the prairie dog bones and eats all parts of the prairie dog.

Black footed ferrets also eat small rodents such as mice, eggs and small reptiles.

Answer 5

Black footed ferrets are not used for anything. They are a protected endangered species. Domestic ferrets are used in various industries - such as an animal model in the medical field, they are raised in fur farms for their fur, and used for rabbit and rodent extermination.

Answer 6

Black-footed ferrets are carnivores (meat-eaters) and their main food source is the prairie dog. Prairie dogs are rodents and live in aggregations called towns or colonies. A prairie dog is as large as or larger than a black-footed ferret. The ferret attacks the prairie dog while it is sleeping below ground at night with quick bite to the neck to suffocate it. Black-footed ferrets have sharp teeth that can easily shear through the prairie dog bones and eats all parts of the prairie dog. Black footed ferrets also eat birds and small rodents such as mice, eggs and small reptiles.

Answer 7

Black footed ferrets are nocturnal to avoid predation.