Fish and Wildlife initiates protection, reintroduction efforts for black-footed ferrets

Black-footed ferrets | Photo courtesy of Kimberly Tamkun, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

DENVER, Colo. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed a programmatic safe harbor agreement for the black-footed ferret in cooperation with state, tribal, federal and local partners in 12 states, after more than two years of collaborative effort.

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Black-footed ferret reintroduction sites | Image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

This agreement provides opportunities for private and tribal landowners to volunteer their lands for reintroduction of this endangered species without affecting their land-use activities beyond measures mutually agreed upon. It also extends these assurances to surrounding non-participating lands and other landowner interests. This agreement will be an important step in promoting the recovery of this iconic species.

The service delivered a notice of availability of a draft agreement and environmental assessment to the Federal Register for a 30-day public review and comment period on Dec. 19, 2012. An extension of the comment period and availability of the documents for public review was announced on Jan. 23, 2013.

The final agreement and environmental assessment are now available here. Anyone needing a printed or electronic copy may contact Kimberly Tamkun at 970-897-2730 or [email protected].

As the first enrollees in this agreement in the nation, Gary Walker and Georgia Walker, who own a ranch near Pueblo, Colo., welcomed captive raised black-footed ferrets to their property in November. These animals were pre-conditioned for release in the wild by living in prairie dog burrows in predator-proof pens, as well as having had the opportunity to prey on these rodents, which are their principal food in the wild.

Black-footed ferret | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Black-footed ferret | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

“The return of this species to eastern Colorado is a testament to the state’s commitment to wildlife and the willingness of reasonable partners to accommodate both conservation and business interests,” Gary Walker said.

The species was thought to be extinct in 1980 as a result of the decline of prairie dog populations and non-native disease, but now numbers approximately 300 individuals in captive breeding facilities across North America and approximately 500 individuals in the wild where previous reintroductions have occurred. Ferrets released at Walker’s ranch will likely have young in the wild this coming spring, as has been documented for most previous ferret reintroduction efforts.

Submitted by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Email: [email protected]

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

Black-footed ferret | Photo courtesy of Kimberly Tamkun, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Black-footed ferrets | Photo courtesy of Kimberly Tamkun, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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2 Comments

  • 375ultra January 8, 2014 at 4:42 pm

    Can we put some in Iron county?

  • Kanabcowgirl January 8, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    Yes. Let’s put some in Iron County. Ferrets are so interesting. Beautiful little creatures

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