BLACK-FOOTED FERRET (MUSTELA NIGRIPES) BEHAVIORAL-DEVELOPMENT - ABOVEGROUND ACTIVITY AND JUVENILE PLAY

We studied the behavioral development of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) from 6 to 16 post-natal weeks. At 6 weeks of age, kits are still lactating and depend on their mother for survival, while at 16 w eeks, ferret young start achieving independence from their mother and littermates. Behavioral observations were obtained by placing videomon itors in the litters' cages, nest boxes and in outdoor naturalistic en closures. Captive-raised black-footed ferrets displayed nocturnal acti vity patterns, although they tended to appear aboveground at certain d aytime hours presumably influenced by the established feeding and clea ning regimes. Growing ferrets began emerging aboveground at approximat ely 7 post-natal weeks and diel activity steadily increased as kits ma tured. The most manifest behavioral changes (appearance of new motor p atterns, increase in aboveground play and in neck-biting behaviors) oc curred from post-natal week 8 to week 12. This coincides with the peri od of maximum growth for ferrets and with a sensitive phase for the de velopment of food preferences in this species. Changes from the 12 to the 16 post-natal weeks involved an increase in aboveground activity, including a higher frequency of scent-marking behaviors. Information p rovided in this study has important implications for enhancing the cap tive management of this endangered carnivore.