Expert’s answer:
Yes, the black-footed ferret was found by a dog. In 1981, a dog named Shep discovered a black-footed ferret on a Wyoming ranch, leading to the rediscovery of the species. This discovery was significant because the black-footed ferret was previously thought to be extinct. The finding of the black-footed ferret by the dog Shep prompted a captive breeding and release program by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore the species to the wild.
Videos
📹 How the black-footed ferret is making a comeback from the brink of extinction
When President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law 50 years ago, one of the first on the endangered list was the…
Source (Youtube): PBS NewsHour·👀 20206·Created: 1 month ago
📹 Black-Footed Ferret’s Diet: Prairie Dog
A healthy prairie dog colony is vital to the survival of the black-footed ferret. In the Conata Basin, prairie dogs make up more than…
Source (Youtube): The Nature Conservancy·👀 14423·Created: 12 years ago
Images
Books
 | Proceedings of the Symposium on the Management of Prairie … |
| Author: – Year: – Description: This is a collection of papers on the management of the prairie dog ecosystem for the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret. Ferrets are habitat specialists and dependent on prairie dog colonies for survival. | |
 | Black-footed Ferret Recovery Plan |
| Author: S. C. Forrest Year: 1988 | |
 | Bringing Back the Black-Footed Ferret |
| Author: Rachel Stuckey Year: 2019 Description: Its population had been devastated by a disease that also reduced its main food source-prairie dogs. This book tells the fascinating story of the black-footed ferret’s rediscovery in 1981 by a dog in Wyoming. | |
 | Must They Die?: The Strange Case of the Prairie Dog and the … |
| Author: Faith McNulty Year: 1971 | |
 | Handbook of Methods for Locating Black-footed Ferrets |
| Author: – Year: | |
 | Recovery of the Black-footed Ferret: Progress and Continuing … |
| Author: – Year: |
Quora
What are some species found which were thought extinct, like the mammoth?
🧑 Ty Joseph·Created: 02.03.2016·Updated: –
One species which is an interesting and remarkable animal that was thought to have gone extinct was the Black-Footed Ferret, as pictured below: The animal was thought to have gone extinct in the early to mid 70’s, largely from the mass hunting and intentional poisoning of Prairie Dog towns, which the Black Footed Ferret was extremely dependant u…
☝ Voted: 12·💬 14·👀 1361·🔄 0
China has pandas and Australia has kangaroos. What does your country have?
🧑 Amy Christa Ernano·Created: 23.10.2022·Updated: 24.10.2022
U.S. here.The black-footed ferret. Also known as the American polecat, these little mustelids almost disappeared completely; the species was actually declared extinct in 1979. The main reason for the ferret’s decline was the decimation of prairie dogs by humans — prairie dogs are the ferret’s primary prey, and since humans literally killed 99.5% of…
☝ Voted: 508·💬 590·👀 5255·🔄 7
Is a black-footed ferret a keystone species?
🧑 Amy Christa Ernano·Created: 20.09.2019·Updated: –
No. A keystone species is one whose ecosystem is reliant on it, and whose absence would drastically change said ecosystem. The ferret doesn’t fit that description.However, the black-footed ferret very nearly became extinct because its main prey, the prairie dog, is a keystone species.Many species rely on the prairie dog for different reasons. They’…
☝ Voted: 17·💬 1·👀 818·🔄 0
In light of the recent growth of sightings of Tasmanian Tigers and the possibility of a species coming back from what we thought was extinction, has this happened with any other species in the last 500 years?
🧑 Amy Christa Ernano·Created: 01.10.2020·Updated: 29.03.2021
The black-footed ferret, a member of the weasel family native to western North America, was declared extinct in 1979. The ferrets’ main prey were prairie dogs, and the all-out war waged by humans against prairie dogs in the 20th century decimated their populations, which in turn had a catastrophic effect on the ferrets.In 1981, though, a woman in W…
☝ Voted: 95·💬 14·👀 1310·🔄 0
Is a fitchew a polecat, and is a polecat a ferret, a skunk, or something else?
🧑 Jelle Zijlstra·Created: 04.01.2019·Updated: –
This seems to be a case where English names are confusing matters more than necessary.The term polecat originally applied to a small weasel-like animal of Europe, Mustela putorius.European polecat, from File:Polecat in denmark.jpg, by Malene.Closely related is the ferret (Mustela furo), a domesticated animal that is derived from the polecat or perh…
☝ Voted: 53·💬 4·👀 17782·🔄 2
🎯 r/todayilearned·08-01-2020
TIL In 1979 the Black-footed ferret was declared extinct. In 1981 the species was rediscovered when a dog in Meetee*tse, Wyoming brought a dead ferret home. A small population was found and today the Black-footed ferret is making a comeback.
Votes: 21227·Comments: 304
🎯 r/todayilearned·07-05-2022
TIL that in 1979 Black-footed ferrets were thought to be extinct until in 1981, A Wyoming ranch dog brought home a black-footed ferret. Researchers discovered the last 120 ferrets in Meetee*tse,Wyoming.
Votes: 1038·Comments: 28
🎯 r/Awwducational·12-08-2020
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) was declared extinct in 1979 due to decline in prairie dog populations and the Sylvatic plague. However, a remnant population was found on a farm in Wyoming. All wild populations today are descended from 18 individuals captured and bred in captivity.
Votes: 9909·Comments: 83
🎯 r/Awwducational·26-02-2019
A single adult Black Footed Ferret can eat around 100 prairie dogs a year. Since 1986, their population has grown from 18 individuals to a few hundred.
Votes: 6616·Comments: 81
🎯 r/Calgary·24-11-2022
King the dog has been found, but he is in very bad shape. He was dumped in a pit and found by a woman walking her dog.
Votes: 4471·Comments: 987
🌎 The Nature Conservancy
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/black-footed-ferret/
Black-footed Ferret
Annotation: Black-footed ferrets are a member of the weasel family and are incredible hunters. They were feared extinct in the 1970s due to widespread prairie dog declines. However, conservationists re-established their numbers in captivity, with an approximated 300 now living in the wild at dozens of sites across the US. These efforts contribute to preserving other important but less well-known (and often less charismatic) species in the North American prairie ecosystem.
Author: NATURE.ORG·Size: 3534 chr
🌎 Defenders of Wildlife
https://defenders.org/wildlife/black-footed-ferret
Black-Footed Ferret
Annotation: The black-footed ferret was thought extinct until it was discovered on a Wyoming ranch by a dog named Shep. The species is the focus of major conservation efforts on the ground due to its endangered status. Threats include loss of habitat, loss of prairie dogs, plague, and habitat loss. Defenders of Wildlife works with governments, non-profits, and private landowners to maintain and expand recovery sites for the species. As of 2018, Black-footed Ferrets have been reintroduced in multiple locations within their former range in several U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico.
Author: DEFENDERS.ORG·Size: 5715 chr
🌎 Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-footed_ferret
Black-footed ferret
Annotation: The black-footed ferret is a mustelid native to central North America. It is largely nocturnal and solitary, except when breeding or raising litters. It declined throughout the 20th century, primarily due to decreases in prairie dog populations and sylvatic plague. It was first listed as endangered in 1982, then upgraded back to endangered in the IUCN Red List in 2008. The species has a long, slender body with black outlines on its paws, ears, parts of its face and its tail. Its closest relative is the Asian steppe polecat.
Author: CONTRIBUTORS TO WIKIMEDIA PROJECTS·Published: 26-05-2003·Updated: 10-01-2024·Size: 41693 chr
🌎 World Wildlife Fund
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/black-footed-ferret-facts-the-masked-bandits-of-the-northern-great-plains
Black-Footed Ferret Facts: The Masked Bandits of the Northern Great Plains
Annotation: The black-footed ferret is an endangered animal that relies on prairie dogs for food and shelter. Due to habitat loss and disease, their populations declined in the 20th century. Captive breeding efforts and reintroductions have given them a second chance for survival. However, recovery will not be complete until more ferrets exist in more places. WWF is helping to restore and protect ferrets and their prairie dog habitat in seven locations in the Northern Great Plains.
Author: WORLDWILDLIFE.ORG·Size: 1037 chr
🌎 Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/black-footed-ferrets-top-milestones-species-once-presumed-extinct
Black-Footed Ferrets: Top Milestones for a Species Once Presumed Extinct
Annotation: Black-footed ferrets were thought extinct in 1979, but were discovered on the Wyoming prairie in 1981. The species began its comeback with the release of 49 ferrets in 1991 and established colonies in several locations in the American West. Over 10,500 ferret kits have been born in human care, including more than 1,000 at SCBI. Scientists were able to clone a female named Willa, one of the original 18 ferrets discovered who does not have any living descendants. Conservation innovations, like cloning, and continued breeding and reintroduction efforts are helping ensure the species continues to roam the North American prairie. In honor of the 40th anniversary, here are five momentous conservation milestones.
Author: SI.EDU·Size: 5271 chr
🌎 FWS.gov
https://www.fws.gov/species/black-footed-ferret-mustela-nigripes
Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes)
Annotation: The black-footed ferret is a medium-sized carnivore in the mustelid family. It was first described in 1851 and is the only ferret species native to the Americas. The ferrets were presumed extinct throughout their range due to landscape alterations from agricultural expansion an
d prairie dog eradication. However, a small population of ferrets was discovered in Mellette County, South Dakota, in 1964, and in 1979, what was thought to be the last ferret died in captivity. The National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center was established in 2001 near Fort Collins, Colorado, and the other captive breeding facilities are located in Virginia, Kentucky, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The four primary stressors to wild and captive populations are disease, drought, declining genetic fitness, and non-native sylvatic plague.
Author: FWS.GOV·Size: 9955 chr
🌎 BLACKFOOTEDFERRET.ORG
https://www.blackfootedferret.org/conservation-history.html
Conservation History
Annotation: Black-footed ferrets were first discovered by Native Americans and used for medicinal purposes and ceremonial adornments. They were occasionally listed in fur company records in the early to mid-1800s but were considered extinct by the late 1950s. In 1964, a small population of ferrets was found in South Dakota, but captive breeding efforts were unsuccessful. In 1981, the Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program was born after a dead ferret was found near Meetee*tse, Wyoming. Research provided new information on the life history and behavior of this secretive mammal. The population peaked at 129 ferrets in 1984 but declined to 24 in 1985 and 1987 due to canine distemper virus and sylvatic plague. Federal and state agencies have been actively reintroducing ferrets back into the wild since 1991. However, there are still obstacles to overcome, such as disease and habitat loss. Education resources are available for more information.
Author: BLACKFOOTEDFERRET.ORG·Size: 4322 chr
🌎 NHPBS.ORG
https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/blackfootedferret.htm
Black-footed Ferret – Mustela nigripes
Annotation: The black-footed ferret is a member of the mustelidae family with yellowish-brown fur and a blackish wash of fur on its back. It has a black-tipped tail and black feet with long claws, and is the only ferret native to North America. It is found in Montana, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, Mexico. It often makes its homes in abandoned prairie dog burrows and eats prairie dogs, mice, gophers, and ground squirrels. It mates in March and April and has a litter of 3-5 young in a burrow in the ground 41 days after mating. The young are born blind and helpless and are covered with a fine white fur. They develop markings when they are about three weeks old and open their eyes at about a month old. The ferrets are mostly nocturnal and spend most of their time underground. They are on the U.S. Endangered Species List due to destruction of habitat, predation, and disease. The last known colony in South Dakota disappeared in 1976, and since 1991, ferrets descended from that original group have been released in the wild in several states.
Author: NHPBS.ORG·Size: 3334 chr
🌎 ZOOAMERICA.COM
https://www.zooamerica.com/animals/black-footed-ferret/
Black-footed Ferret
Annotation: The Black-footed Ferret is one of the most endangered mammals in North America, dependent on prairie dogs for survival and shelter. The population declined due to deliberate poisoning and habitat loss. The last 120 remaining ferrets were discovered in Meetee*tse, Wyoming in 1981, and all 18 were brought into captivity to begin a breeding program. Today, approximately half of all black-footed ferrets born in captivity are released into the wild, and breeding programs are designed to guarantee their future success and genetic diversity. ZooAmerica is a display facility for ferrets that are retired from breeding or not suitable for release to the wild. The ferrets are the only native species of ferrets native to North America and are not the domestic ferrets found in pet stores. The best way to help these animals is to increase education about their past and future.
Author: ZOOAMERICA.COM·Size: 3166 chr
🌎 National Wildlife Federation
https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2007/Black-footed-Ferret-Recovery
A Rare Species Gets a Second Chance
Annotation: The black-footed ferret, once extinct in North America, was rediscovered in the Great Plains region 25 years ago. A captive-breeding program led to the successful recovery of about 500 ferrets in the wild and 350 in captivity. The ferrets feed almost exclusively on prairie dogs and need large prairie dog towns to thrive. Despite decades of government eradication programs and habitat loss, the rodents today occupy just a small fraction of their former range. The U.S. Forest Service poisoned the animals on 3,000 acres in the Conata Basin in South Dakotas Buffalo Gap National Grassland. The conservation center at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center near Fort Collins, Colorado, coordinates the recovery program and aims to downlist the species. However, several obstacles remain, including program funding and a shortage of suitable habitat for reintroduction. Ferrets do well when released in good habitat, but without protections, they are not safe on federal land. Ranchers are providing habitat for ferrets through a wildfire prevention method, and the National Wildlife Federation is optimistic about the potential for the ferrets to be reintroduced into the wild.
Author: NWF.ORG·Size: 6515 chr
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