Photo: Endangered Ferrets Face Plague Threat

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


Plague outbreaks are closing in on the Conata Basin of South Dakota, where the largest group of endangered black-footed ferrets in the U.S. lives.

The ferrets were believed to be extinct in the 1970s after a U.S. government program nearly eradicated prairie dogs, which are ferret's primary prey.

Photograph by Charlene Bessken/BLM

MOST VIEWED NEWS

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies

PICTURES: "Extraordinary" Ancient Skeletons Found
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.