Front and back feet. Illustration by Vivian Drewien. It is illegal to kill a black-footed ferret, an endangered species that feeds almost exclusively on prairie dogs. It is estimated that one female ferret and her young require about 200 prairie dogs for food per year. It has a black mask, black feet and legs, and a black-tipped tail.
Sides are a pale yellow buff that is lighter toward the underside of the body.
The forehead, muzzle and throat are almost white, whereas the top of the head and middle of the back are brown. Black-footed ferrets seldom are observed because they occur in low densities and primarily are active at night. Notify the Colorado Division of Wildlife or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when black-footed ferrets are present. Ferret Surveys A black-footed ferret survey, following U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines, is required in most areas before aluminum phosphide tablets and gas cartridges can be used for prairie dog control. Two percent zinc phosphide also may be relabeled with the ferret survey requirement in the future.