09-14-2007, 03:10 AM
LANDER - On Friday, Aug. 10, Science magazine will publish an article highlighting the great progress made in the recovery of the black-footed ferret, the most endangered mammal in North America.
Wyoming has played a key role in the ongoing recovery of this species, and work done by Wyoming Game and Fish Department Nongame Mammal Biologist Martin Grenier is featured in the Science article. Grenier is the lead author of the article titled "Rapid Population Growth of a Critically Endangered Carnivore."
The black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct until 1981, when the last wild population was found on a ranch near Meeteetse, Wyo. The population was severely impacted by disease and was nearly lost completely, but the last 18 animals were successfully trapped and placed in a captive breeding and reintroduction program to attempt recovery of the species. The 18 black-footed ferrets were all that was left and became the basis for the captive breeding program that was initiated by the Game and Fish.
"Endangered species taken captive for breeding and then reintroduced to the wild seldom produce populations that can survive and reproduce in the wild," said Grenier. "However, the first reintroduced population of the black-footed ferret is recovering rapidly in Wyoming's Shirley Basin after a lag we thought may have indicated extinction."
A total of 228 captive-born black-footed ferrets were released into the Shirley Basin from 1991-1994. The introduced population declined due to plague and canine distemper, and fewer than 25 animals were observed in 1996, then only five ferrets in 1997. Wildlife officials thought population extinction was imminent, but then in 2003, a surprising increase to 52 ferrets was documented.
"Following the surprising discovery, we initiated the first demographic analysis of any reintroduced population of black-footed ferrets," said Grenier. "Three seasons of monitoring now allow us to estimate the current population size of approximately 223 animals within the study area, which only includes 14 percent of the area inhabited by the white-tailed prairie dog, the black-footed ferret's primary prey. It is very likely that there are many more animals in the area than we estimate."
According to Grenier, the increase in the ferret population in the Shirley Basin indicates the species have been successfully breeding in the wild for seven and a half generations and are on the road to recovery. Officials say the future looks good for this little critter, but add the animal still has a long way to go to reach recovery goals.
"Although the growth of this population has helped relieve fears about whether or not captive-raised ferrets can survive and reproduce on their own, there are still several threats facing them," he said. "Vulnerability to disease and potential declines in prairie dog populations remain serious concerns. Other factors limit recovery efforts as well, including funding."
Although black-footed ferrets are a big part of his job, Grenier is responsible for management of 84 species of nongame mammals from ground squirrels to wolverines, a species that was recently proposed for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. Funding for management of black-footed ferret and other nongame mammals is often hard to come by, but the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming offers a unique opportunity. The foundation is an independent, charitable organization whose purpose is to provide financial support, through philanthropy, to critical conservation efforts in this state. Donations to the foundation can be made to specific projects and can be mailed to Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, PO Box 20088, Cheyenne, WY 82003. More information on the foundation can be found on their Web site.
"The black-footed ferret still remains the most endangered mammal in North America, but the success of the Shirley Basin population is very encouraging," said Grenier. "We hope to establish additional populations and hope to see the same success we've seen in Shirley Basin and eventually recover the species."
Grenier's article offers an in depth look at the recovery of the Shirley Basin black-footed ferrets and can be found in the most recent edition of Science or on their Web page at http://www.sciencemag.org/. For more information on black-footed ferret recovery or how you can help, contact the Lander Game and Fish office at (307) 332-2688 or visit the regional Web page.
Wyoming has played a key role in the ongoing recovery of this species, and work done by Wyoming Game and Fish Department Nongame Mammal Biologist Martin Grenier is featured in the Science article. Grenier is the lead author of the article titled "Rapid Population Growth of a Critically Endangered Carnivore."
The black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct until 1981, when the last wild population was found on a ranch near Meeteetse, Wyo. The population was severely impacted by disease and was nearly lost completely, but the last 18 animals were successfully trapped and placed in a captive breeding and reintroduction program to attempt recovery of the species. The 18 black-footed ferrets were all that was left and became the basis for the captive breeding program that was initiated by the Game and Fish.
"Endangered species taken captive for breeding and then reintroduced to the wild seldom produce populations that can survive and reproduce in the wild," said Grenier. "However, the first reintroduced population of the black-footed ferret is recovering rapidly in Wyoming's Shirley Basin after a lag we thought may have indicated extinction."
A total of 228 captive-born black-footed ferrets were released into the Shirley Basin from 1991-1994. The introduced population declined due to plague and canine distemper, and fewer than 25 animals were observed in 1996, then only five ferrets in 1997. Wildlife officials thought population extinction was imminent, but then in 2003, a surprising increase to 52 ferrets was documented.
"Following the surprising discovery, we initiated the first demographic analysis of any reintroduced population of black-footed ferrets," said Grenier. "Three seasons of monitoring now allow us to estimate the current population size of approximately 223 animals within the study area, which only includes 14 percent of the area inhabited by the white-tailed prairie dog, the black-footed ferret's primary prey. It is very likely that there are many more animals in the area than we estimate."
According to Grenier, the increase in the ferret population in the Shirley Basin indicates the species have been successfully breeding in the wild for seven and a half generations and are on the road to recovery. Officials say the future looks good for this little critter, but add the animal still has a long way to go to reach recovery goals.
"Although the growth of this population has helped relieve fears about whether or not captive-raised ferrets can survive and reproduce on their own, there are still several threats facing them," he said. "Vulnerability to disease and potential declines in prairie dog populations remain serious concerns. Other factors limit recovery efforts as well, including funding."
Although black-footed ferrets are a big part of his job, Grenier is responsible for management of 84 species of nongame mammals from ground squirrels to wolverines, a species that was recently proposed for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. Funding for management of black-footed ferret and other nongame mammals is often hard to come by, but the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming offers a unique opportunity. The foundation is an independent, charitable organization whose purpose is to provide financial support, through philanthropy, to critical conservation efforts in this state. Donations to the foundation can be made to specific projects and can be mailed to Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, PO Box 20088, Cheyenne, WY 82003. More information on the foundation can be found on their Web site.
"The black-footed ferret still remains the most endangered mammal in North America, but the success of the Shirley Basin population is very encouraging," said Grenier. "We hope to establish additional populations and hope to see the same success we've seen in Shirley Basin and eventually recover the species."
Grenier's article offers an in depth look at the recovery of the Shirley Basin black-footed ferrets and can be found in the most recent edition of Science or on their Web page at http://www.sciencemag.org/. For more information on black-footed ferret recovery or how you can help, contact the Lander Game and Fish office at (307) 332-2688 or visit the regional Web page.