Why is the black-footed ferret endangered?

The black-footed ferrets is endangered because they require prairie dogs for food and shelter. In the early 1900's humans eradicated prairie dogs and destroyed prairie dog habitat. Ranchers see the prairie dog as a competitor for the grass that cattle eat, so they have poisoned prairie dogs with harmful chemicals that sometimes killed other animals. Also, many prairie dog towns have been plowed over for crop fields or destroyed for human development. Diseases, like sylvatic plague, have also reduced prairie dog populations. Scientists estimated we have lost as much as 98% of the prairie dog habitat that once existed. As human encroachment and other factors reduced the populations of prairie dogs, this also reduced ferret populations. Only 18 black-footed ferrets existed in 1987, making it one of the most endangered animals in the world. The U S government policies on saving our environment and preventing species from becoming extinct, like the Endangered Species Act is constantly being manipulated and changed for the betterment of Oil companies, the last being by President Bush, and is a very controversial issue, changes made for more expansion of oil drilling, on shore and off shore, So the rich and greedy can get richer and to destroy and pollute our environment

There are many reasons. I will give you 3.


1.) Lack of Prairie Dogs.
2.) Diseases.
3.) Poison in their food

other reasons:

humans

government policies

The loss of their prairie grassland habitat, the drastic reduction of prairie dog numbers (through both habitat loss and poisoning), and the effects of canine distemper and sylvatic plague (similar to bubonic plague) have all contributed to the near-extinction of the species during the 19th and 20th centuries.

First answer by Kitten4763. Last edit by Sdresh. Contributor trust: 417 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 4 [recommend question]