A Clone to the Rescue!

With dark spots around her eyes, beige fur, and a long body, Elizabeth Ann looks like any other black-footed ferret. But there’s one thing that sets her apart: She’s a clone. Elizabeth Ann is an identical copy of a black-footed ferret that lived more than 30 years ago. This is the first time that scientists have cloned an endangered animal native to the United States.

Elizabeth Ann looks like any other black-footed ferret. She has dark spots around her eyes, beige fur, and a long body. But one thing sets her apart. She’s a clone. Elizabeth Ann is an identical copy of another black-footed ferret. That one lived more than 30 years ago. Her birth marks the first time scientists have cloned an endangered animal native to the United States. 

Black-footed ferrets are one of the most threatened mammals in North America. More than a hundred years ago, millions of black-footed ferrets lived across the Great Plains—a large, flat expanse of grassland in the central U.S. and parts of Canada. But disease, shrinking habitat, and loss of their primary food source—the prairie dog—nearly wiped out the ferret population.

Today, about 600 black-footed ferrets live in the wild. Another 300 live in captivity. None of them would likely exist if not for the efforts of biologists at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in Colorado. For the past few decades, they’ve been raising black-footed ferrets and releasing them into the wild. So far, the ferrets have been reintroduced into eight Western U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico (see Where Ferrets Live). But the program has encountered a challenge: Every ferret alive today is closely related and shares similar DNA—the molecule that carries hereditary information. When these ferrets breed, they produce offspring that are more susceptible to certain illnesses.

Black-footed ferrets are one of the most threatened mammals in North America. More than 100 years ago, millions of black-footed ferrets lived across the Great Plains. That’s a large area of flat grassland in the central U.S. But disease and habitat loss struck the ferrets. They also lost their main food source, the prairie dog. The ferret population nearly disappeared. 

Today, about 600 black-footed ferrets live in the wild. Another 300 live in captivity. Without help from biologists, the ferrets probably wouldn’t exist. These biologists work at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in Colorado. For decades, they’ve raised black-footed ferrets and released them into the wild. So far, they’ve returned ferrets to eight Western U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico (see Where Ferrets Live). But the program has run into a challenge. Today, all living ferrets are closely related. They share similar DNA, the molecule that carries hereditary information. When these ferrets breed, their offspring are more likely to develop certain illnesses.

Scientists needed a way to improve the health of the wild black-footed ferret population. That’s where Elizabeth Ann comes in. Her DNA comes from a black-footed ferret named Willa that died in 1988 and was unrelated to the current population (see How Scientists Cloned a Black-footed Ferret). Scientists believe that Elizabeth Ann could be the key to saving her species. “Her DNA could help bring black-footed ferrets back from the brink,” says Robyn Bortner, a breeding manager at the ferret conservation center.

Scientists needed to improve the health of the wild black-footed ferret population. That’s where Elizabeth Ann comes in. Her DNA comes from a black-footed ferret that died in 1988. That ferret’s name was Willa, and she wasn’t related to today’s population (see How Scientists Cloned a Black-footed Ferret). Scientists believe that Elizabeth Ann could be the way to save her species. “Her DNA could help bring black-footed ferrets back from the brink,” says Robyn Bortner. She’s a breeding manager at the ferret conservation center.

In the 1800s, farmers began moving to the Great Plains. There, they encountered prairie dogs. These rodents were seen as pests because they dug extensive underground burrows that ruined fields. Farmers, and later the U.S. government, carried out campaigns to eradicate, or get rid of, prairie dogs by poisoning them. Many prairie dogs also died from a deadly disease called sylvatic plague, introduced by rodents from Europe brought on ships in the early 1900s.

Without enough prairie dogs to eat, black-footed ferret numbers dwindled. By 1979, they were thought to be extinct. Scientists believed there were no more living individuals left in the wild. But in 1981, a Wyoming rancher’s dog came home carrying a surprise: a dead black-footed ferret. Conservationists discovered a group of about 130 of the animals nearby. However, within a few years most of the colony had died from sylvatic plague and another disease called distemper. Soon, only 18 of the animals remained. Scientists captured those individuals to breed in captivity.

In the 1800s, farmers began moving to the Great Plains. They found prairie dogs there. Farmers saw these rodents as pests. That’s because prairie dogs dug far-reaching underground burrows that ruined fields. Farmers carried out campaigns to eradicate, or get rid of, prairie dogs. Later, the U.S. government did the same. They poisoned the animals. Many prairie dogs also died from sylvatic plague. This deadly disease was introduced by rodents from Europe. They arrived on ships in the early 1900s.

Black-footed ferrets didn’t have enough prairie dogs to eat. So their numbers fell. By 1979, scientists thought the ferrets were extinct. They believed no living ferrets were left in the wild. But in 1981, a Wyoming rancher’s dog brought a surprise home. The dog was carrying a dead black-footed ferret. Conservationists found a group of about 130 of the animals nearby. But most of the colony died within a few years. Sylvatic plague and another disease called distemper killed them. Soon, only 18 of the animals remained. Scientists captured those ferrets to breed in captivity.

All black-footed ferrets alive today came from only 7 of the 18 remaining individuals from the rediscovered colony, says Ben Novak. He’s a scientist at Revive & Restore, an organization that worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other partners on the ferret cloning project. The plan is to allow Elizabeth Ann to breed with other ferrets in captivity. Doing so will introduce new genes, or units of hereditary material, into the current population. Scientists hope this will increase the ferret population’s genetic diversity, or different inherited traits within a species.

Today, all living black-footed ferrets are closely related. They came from just 7 of the 18 remaining animals from the rediscovered colony, says Ben Novak. He’s a scientist at Revive & Restore. This organization worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other partners on the ferret cloning project. They plan to allow Elizabeth Ann to breed with other ferrets in captivity. This will introduce new genes, or units of heredity material, into today’s population. Scientists hope this will increase the ferret population’s genetic diversity. Then the species will have different inherited traits.

Novak remembers holding his breath after Elizabeth Ann was born in December 2020 while waiting to see if she was healthy. So far, she’s doing great. At the conservation center, she’s cared for just like any other ferret bred in captivity. She munches on prairie dog meat and scurries through her enclosure. The pen is designed to resemble an abandoned prairie dog burrow, where ferrets would live in the wild. She has an easy-going personality, says Bortner. “But our favorite thing about Elizabeth Ann,” she says, “is what she could mean for the future of her species.”

Elizabeth Ann was born in December 2020. Novak held his breath. He waited to see if she was healthy. So far, she’s doing great. She lives at the conservation center. Workers care for her just like any other ferret bred in captivity. She eats prairie dog meat and runs through her enclosure. The pen looks like an empty prairie dog burrow. That’s where ferrets would live in the wild. She has an easy-going personality, says Bortner. “But our favorite thing about Elizabeth Ann,” she says, “is what she could mean for the future of her species.”

Saving the black-footed ferret population will benefit more than one species. It could help the entire prairie ecosystem—a community of organisms interacting with their nonliving environment. Black-footed ferrets act as a flagship species, or mascot, for the prairie, says Novak. People get excited about saving these adorable, feisty animals. That, in turn, could encourage people to protect prairie dogs—which many farmers and ranchers still view as pests—so the ferrets will have food to eat.

Saving black-footed ferrets will help more than one species. It could help the entire prairie ecosystem. That’s the community of organisms along with their nonliving environment. Black-footed ferrets act as a flagship species for the prairie, says Novak. They’re like a mascot. People get excited about saving these cute, lively animals. And that could encourage people to protect prairie dogs, so the ferrets will have food. Many farmers and ranchers still see prairie dogs as pests.

Prairie dogs are considered a keystone species, essential to the prairie ecosystem. They eat vegetation and till the soil as they dig, helping to maintain grasslands. They’re food for predators like ferrets, badgers, and eagles. Their burrows also provide homes for many other prairie creatures, including ferrets and burrowing owls. Conservationists want people to realize that protecting prairie dogs also helps ferrets survive, as well as more than 130 other prairie plants and animals.

However, both ferrets and prairie dogs will continue to struggle if their habitat isn’t restored. Large areas of prairie have been turned into farms and ranch land. Both prairie dogs and ferrets also need protection from diseases. One promising development is a peanut-butterflavored pellet containing a vaccine that protects against sylvatic plague. Federal wildlife agencies have been distributing the pellets, which prairie dogs eat, stopping them from contracting the disease and passing it on to ferrets.

Prairie dogs are considered a keystone species. They’re necessary for the prairie ecosystem. They eat plants and till the soil as they dig. That helps to maintain grasslands. They’re food for predators like ferrets, badgers, and eagles. And their burrows provide homes for many other prairie creatures. That includes ferrets and burrowing owls. Protecting prairie dogs helps ferrets survive, plus more than 130 other prairie plants and animals. Conservationists want people to realize that.

But ferrets and prairie dogs need their habitat to be restored. If it isn’t, they’ll continue to struggle. Large areas of prairie have been turned into farms and ranch land. Both prairie dogs and ferrets also need protection from diseases. Scientists are hopeful about a peanut-butter-flavored pellet that contains a vaccine. It protects against sylvatic plague. Federal wildlife agencies are delivering the pellets for prairie dogs to eat. That way the animals don’t get the disease and pass it on to ferrets.

With the arrival of Elizabeth Ann, Novak feels good about the black-footed ferrets’ future. For now, researchers are making sure the one-of-akind clone remains healthy and well-fed. When it comes to protecting her species, “she is the most important ferret in the world,” says Novak.

Now that Elizabeth Ann is here, Novak feels good about the black-footed ferrets’ future. Researchers are looking after the one-of-a-kind clone. They’re keeping her healthy and well-fed. When it comes to protecting her species, “she is the most important ferret in the world,” says Novak.