The black-footed ferret is a highly specialized predator that depends on prairie dogs for survival. Prairie dogs make up more than 90% of the black-footed ferret’s diet, and prairie dog burrows provide ferrets with dens to raise their young, as well as a means to escape from predators and harsh weather. Ferret habitat largely coincided with the habitats of the black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus), Gunnison’s prairie dog (C. gunnisoni), and the white-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus). Despite significant recovery successes over the last decade, the black-footed ferret remains one of the most endangered animals in the world. Consider the status of the black-footed ferret. What is the MOST logical contributing factor to its endangered status?