Ontogeny of black-footed ferret predatory behavior towards prairie dogs

To study the effects of environmental upbringing and predation experience o n black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) predatory skills towards prairie d ogs, we compared killing efficiency and behaviors of 32 black-footed ferret kits (from 24 different litters). Four treatment groups were established: group 1 (n = 8), kits raised in indoor cages and never exposed to live prey ; group 2 (n = 8), kits raised in indoor cages and fed live hamsters twice a week beginning at 8 weeks of age: group 3 (n = 8), kits raised in indoor cages, fed live hamsters, and exposed to live prairie dogs in family trials once per week; and group 4, kits raised in outdoor enclosures with ad libi tum access to live prairie dogs in natural burrows. Juvenile black-footed f errets raised with exposure to live hamsters were more successful at killin g prairie dogs than kits devoid of any predation experience. Previous exper ience with prairie dogs (in both indoor cages and outdoor pens) significant ly increased predation efficiency. Witnessing a black-footed ferret mother performing a kill enhanced the kit's predatory skills. We conclude that the placement of the kill bite appears to be innate for black-footed ferrets, but the likelihood of killing and the efficiency at handling pl ey are subs tantially enhanced by experience.