Reproductive endocrinology of endangered black-footed ferrets: implications for conservation breeding.

ABSTRACT: The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is an endangered North American mustelid. This species is bred in managed care with the goal of reestablishing wild populations. However, individual ferrets in the conservation breeding programme have variable reproductive success. We monitored faecal steroid hormone metabolite profiles of 22 black-footed ferrets across two breeding seasons to examine whether endocrine factors were associated with successful reproduction. Among successfully whelping females, faecal progesterone metabolite concentrations were higher (P = 0.04) and faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations were marginally higher (P = 0.07) in the late luteal phase compared to females who did not whelp (likely pseudopregnant). Effect sizes suggested that, i

SUBMITTER: Arguelles DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11825693 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature