100 to 148 acres of prairie dog colonies are necessary for only one ferret. They also eat mice, birds, squirrels and insects. It is a nocturnal species that live underground 90% of the time. They eat, sleep, and raise young here. There reproduction consists of Kits that are born blind and stay underground for two months. After two months the female brings them above the surface and teaches the Kits to hunt and separates them in different borrows (Basic Facts About Black-Footed Ferrets). The first to know about the existence of this species were the Native Americans. Remains have been found in camps of prehistoric Indians. Tribes used the ferrets for skins, furs, and adornments. It wasn't until 1851 when the species was actually described by John James Audubon and Reverend John Bachmann found near the Platte River. The species was so elusive when Audubon and Bachmann described it, it was debated if the species actually existed (History of the Black-footed Ferret). .
When settlers traveled across the North American prairie, settlers started plowing the landscape for agriculture and eradicated the prairie dog. When this happened, it dramatically reduced the Black-Footed Ferret populations (History of the Black-footed Ferret). Populations from the tens of thousands were reduced to only a few by the 1900s. A small population of these ferrets were found in Mellette County, South Dakota in 1964. Biologist captured nine of these ferrets in hopes of bringing the population back. Sadly, in 1974 the wild population died out. Breeding efforts were not successful and the last ferret died in 1979. It was official that the species was extinct (History of the Black-footed Ferret). It wasn't until 1981 when a ranch dog brought a dead ferret back to a ranch in Meeteetse, Wyoming. The owners brought it to a taxidermist and called local authorities to investigate. It was when they surveyed the land and discovered a small colony.