Black-footed ferrets (BFFs) are extremely susceptible to disease, so their home in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Conservation Center is under strict quarantine. It takes a lot of work to keep up. For example, zookeepers shower before dressing in special clothes and shoes, which are worn only when caring for the ferrets. Latex gloves and face masks are also worn since BFFs, like the domestic ferret, can catch the human flu. These measures are important in preventing catastrophic events such as the plague and distemper outbreak that caused their original brush with extinction.
BFFs are solitary animals. Inside the Conservation Center, each BFF has their own upper enclosure with a tube leading down to a nest box, or burrow. The tube mimics a prairie dog tunnel. Mornings consist of cleaning and checking the health of each BFF. First, each BFF is moved from its upper enclosure to its lower nest box, and the upper enclosure is wiped down with a disinfectant. Next, the BFF is shifted out of their lower nest box to clean and disinfect the latrine side. Cleanliness is key for the BFFs, so each enclosure has its own cleaning supplies and nothing is ever used twice. After disinfecting the enclosure, clean Alpha-dri bedding is put down, which is a special compressed, highly-absorbent shredded paper. Multiply this process by 25 ferrets and you have a busy morning!
After about two hours, the BFFs are all back to sleep in their freshly cleaned nest boxes. We try to limit our time in the room as they are nocturnal, but go back in near the end of the day to feed and check on them. The BFFs get ground meat especially prepared for small zoo carnivores, and twice a week, a rodent. The bones from the rodents help keep their teeth clean and healthy. Since we are part of a reintroduction program, it is very important for their teeth to be in good health for hunting in the wild. 
This breeding season (2011), we have nine males and 11 females. In addition, we care for five older BFFs unable to be released. They will eventually travel to other zoos or education facilities.
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