#SpeciesSpotlight: Black-Footed Ferret Black-footed ferrets, the only ferret species native to the Americas, were thought extinct until a Wyoming dog named Shep found one in 1981. That kicked off an intensive search — and soon a captive-breeding program to recover them under the Endangered Species Act. This 2-foot-long, black-masked member of the weasel family once occurred in central grasslands and basins from southern Canada to Texas but they were almost wiped out early in the 20th century. Now, thanks to the successful captive-breeding program and protections under the Act, there are some 300 black-footed ferrets living free. 📹 courtesy the National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center/USFWS [Video decription: Several black-footed ferrets scurrying around in grass at the National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center.] #blackfootedferret #endangeredspecies #stopextinction #wildlifeconservation #wildlife