Anatomy: The Black-footed Ferret has very short legs, a long snout, and a slender body. It is 1 1/2 feet (46 cm) long (from snout to tail).

Diet: Ferrets are carnivores (meat-eaters). They eat prairie dogs, squirrels, insects, mice, and birds, which they hunt at night.

Distribution: Black-footed Ferrets are found in the central part of North America, from southern central Canada to Texas, USA.

Classification: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae (weasels, ferrets, minks, skunks, otters, badgers), Genus Mustela, Species M. nigripes.