Just 18 black-footed ferrets survived in 1986; about 400 are now back in wild

Once believed to be extinct, the black-footed ferret is making a stunning comeback across the American plains. In 1986, only eighteen of these animals survived, a dire moment in their history. Through dedicated captive breeding and reintroduction efforts, their population has increased to around four hundred in the wild. This remarkable recovery underscores the critical importance of conservation efforts in protecting endangered species.