Getting to see North America’s most endangered mammal, the Black Footed Ferret, is a rare and special treat. Since their reintroduction to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, I have only seen one twice, this being one of those occasions.
After spending two hours watching and waiting for the ferret to do something, it went into a burrow and seemed to be done for the day. Some, rather dumb, prairie dog then came along and alternately stuck its nose in the burrow and tossed dirt in. That was all it took and the ferret was on the hunt. He wasn’t successful but it sure was fun to watch.
Images are severely cropped as the action took place a good ways away from me. Scroll down to view the entire sequence of images.
Black-footed Ferret and Prairie Dog size each other up
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret takes off on the hunt
Black-footed Ferret dives into a burrow
Black-footed Ferret dives into a burrow
Prairie Dog surprised by the ferret in its burrow
Prairie Dog runs off quickly
Black-footed Ferret picks its next target
Black-footed Ferret picks its next target
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret takes on a Prairie Dog
Black-footed Ferret left without a meal
Black-footed Ferret left without a meal
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