Eventually, a population of steppe polecat migrated to North America and evolved into the black-footed ferret.

[8][9] The range extended into North American when a population of steppe polecat (Mustela eversmannii berengii) crossed the Bering land bridge.

90% of the black-footed ferret's diet is made up of prairie dogs, followed by other small rodents and lagomorphs.

The European polecat primarily feeds on mouse-like rodents, followed by amphibians and birds.

The steppe polecat's predominant prey is the common vole, though it hunts more frequently on hamsters during spring and the summer.