black-footed ferret

Looks at the black-footed ferret, an endangered species that was brought back from the brink of extinction by an intensive breeding program in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Describes the lifestyle and habitat of the prairie dog and black-footed ferret, how the destruction of the grasslands threatens their survival, and what can be done to save the animals.

Explains the reasons why black-footed ferrets came close to extinction, describes the efforts of scientists to capture some of the few remaining wild ferrets and breed them in captivity, and discusses the challenges of reintroducing the ferrets to their natural habitats.