There are 3 ferret species in the world.

The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is the only native ferret in North America.

Black-footed ferrets are members of the Mustelidae family, which includes mink, weasels, badgers, wolverines, otters and domestic ferrets.

Black-footed ferrets are generally about 20-24 inches long, including a six inch long tail. They typically weigh between 600 and 1000 grams (1-2 pounds), and females are typically smaller than males.

Black-footed ferrets are obligate, or dependent, on prairie dogs for survival. They hunt prairie dogs and live in their burrows, and occasionally eat other small rodents and rabbits.

Owls, hawks, eagles, coyotes, badgers, and bobcats are all predators of black-footed ferrets.

Plains Indians named the black-footed ferret pispiza etoptasapa (the black-faced prairie dog) and used black-footed ferret skins for various cultural purposes. The Navajo Nation referred to the black-footed ferret as Dlo ii Iiz-hinii and used ferret body parts and skins for medicinal purposes and ceremonial adornments. The Hualapai Indians, who traditionally regard all living things that come out at night as sacred, call the black-footed ferret Na-math.

Black-footed ferrets were thought to be extinct until a small population was discovered in Wyoming in 1981. The last 18 known wild black-footed ferrets were taken into captivity between 1985 and 1987 to start a captive breeding program.

Today, about 280 black-footed ferrets are housed in six captive breeding facilities throughout North America.

Since 1991 over 2,100 black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced into the wild at sites across the western United States, Mexico and Canada.