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KEY FACTS ABOUT THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET

With BC-CNS-Ferret Recovery

By Cronkite News Service

Here are key facts about the black-footed ferret:

_ Group: Member of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, mink and badgers.

_ Length: 18 to 24 inches.

_ Weight: 1.5 to 2 pounds.

_ Lifespan: Two to three years in the wild, up to six years in captivity.

_ Home: Uses prairie dog burrows for shelter and hunting.

_ Diet: Mostly prairie dogs, but occasionally mice, ground squirrels and other small animals.

_ Habits: Nocturnal and solitary.

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Source: Phoenix Zoo