This little-known species lives in the tunnels of the black-tailed prairie dog and feeds on them as well as other small mammals and ground-nesting birds.
It tends to hunt at night, killing its prey with a single bite at the base of the skull.
Its own predators are primarily owls and other predatory birds.
Since its favorite prey, the black-tailed prairie dog, has been exterminated in many areas, the once-common black-footed ferret has become extremely rare.
It was considered extinct in the wild by 1987 and has since been reintroduced in several areas.
Ready for the next mammal? Check out the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog.
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