Black-Footed Ferrets are considered to be one of the rarest mammals in North America, but the folks at Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are working hard to change that.

According to a post from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Southeast Region, 30 Black-Footed Ferrets were released onto the Southern Plains to build a colony and grow in population.

103.7 The River logo
Get our free mobile app

What is A Black-Footed Ferret?

The Black-Footed Ferret is the only ferret native to North America and is currently listed as an endangered species. Typically Black-Footed Ferrets are 18-24 inches long and can weigh up to 2.5 pounds. They are characterized as having a black face mask, black feet, and a black-tipped tail.

Black-Footed Ferrets are considered part of the mustelids family, and while they may appear similar to domesticated ferrets, they are not the same.

Domestic ferrets are reported to have originated in Europe and have been domesticated for thousands of years.

Why Is it Important to Save the Black-Footed Ferret?

According to the National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center in Larimer County, there are over 130 unique plants and animals that depend on the Black-Footed Ferret being in their ecosystem.

CPW's Efforts to Increase the Black-Footed Ferret Population

CPW initiated a program to breed and reintroduce Black-Footed Ferrets back into the wild.


This is the 8th release site on Colorado's eastern plains. To date, there are believed to be approximately 370 ferrets living in the wild at these release sites.

There's A Legal Limit to Owning These 16 Colorado Animals

These Colorado animals may be common, but it's illegal to collect more than 4 in a year and you can't own more than 12 in all:

Beware of the 12 Most Dangerous Animals in Colorado

Keep an eye out for the following 12 dangerous animals in Colorado. While these creatures usually go out of their way to avoid you, if you encounter one you will want to give it plenty of space. Scroll on to see each one and find out why they make the cut of the most dangerous animals in Colorado.

39 Colorado Animals You May Run Into

A large variety of wildlife is just one of the many perks of living in Colorado. Check out this list and count how many of these animals you've seen in person.

More From 103.7 The River