Ferrets are Being Reintroduced to Colorado for their Viciousness

You've likely heard debates regarding wolves being reintroduced in Colorado, an idea that has been met with criticism and opposition from some. However, wolves aren't the only animal being reintroduced to the state and this particular animal, while "vicious," will actually serve a valuable purpose for Colorado's grasslands and plains.

Vicious Ferrets are Being Reintroduced in Colorado

The black-footed ferret is the most endangered animal in North America and reintroducing them into the wild has been a project for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department, as well as numerous groups in Colorado.

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Black-footed ferrets are known as opportunistic burrowers, which means that instead of digging their own burrow, they'll often find one already established by another animal and take it over. This particular species of ferret lives on a 100% prairie dog diet, so more often than not, when one of these animals encounters a prairie dog it not only gains a new home but dinner too.

The ferrets are being released in numerous parts of Colorado, including the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge which is home to numerous species of wild animals including a massive herd of bison, but also pesky prairie dogs.

While adorable to look at, black-footed ferrets have been described as "vicious" by Deputy Refuge Supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Mountain-Prairie Region Nick Kaczor, who adds, "They're cute but they'll bite your face off."

The goal is to repopulate parts of Colorado with black-footed ferrets not only because the species is highly endangered, but because they're important to the state's grasslands' ecosystem.

Take a look at some highlights from a recent trip to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge where a total of 19 black-footed ferrets were released: