As one of the country’s rarest animals, black-footed ferrets have quite the history in Colorado, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) describes their story as a “roller coaster ride.”

According to the Colorado Wildlife Council, the animal is the only ferret species native to North America, having inhabited North America’s plains for over 10,000 years – all the way back to the last ice age.

Black-footed ferrets were officially declared extinct in 1979. Nevertheless, the animals persevered, and a small population of 129 ferrets was discovered on a Wyoming ranch in 1981. But disease struck, shrinking the population to only 18 members, almost wiping out the species. The ferrets, however, have made another comeback through captive breeding and reintroduction efforts. There are now about 600 ferrets split between captive breeding facilities and wild relocation sites.

According to CPW, black-footed ferrets were first reintroduced to Colorado in 2001, with more released in subsequent years.

CPW explains that prairie dogs as a food source are vital for black-footed ferrets’ survival, as the specialized predators rely on prairie dogs for 90 percent of their diet. According to the Colorado Wildlife Council, one ferret can eat up to 100 prairie dogs in a year.

CPW is also working on plague management to “ensure continued persistence of the ferrets and prairie dogs they rely on,” as well as continuing ferret reintroduction efforts and striving to increase genetic diversity.

This playful and unique Colorado species has made a comeback from near-extinction at least twice and is currently thriving in the Centennial State with a hopeful future ahead.