Robert Sandle
Description and Ecology of
Black-Footed Ferret
The black-footed ferret, 18 to 24 inches
length, five to six inches tall and weighs only one-and-a-half to
two-and-a-half pounds; with males slightly larger than females. The
black-footed ferret is well adapted to its prairie environment. Prairies are
ecosystems that are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and
shrublands biome, based on similar
temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and
shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type. Its color and
varying markings blend so well with grassland soils and plants, which it is
hard to detect until it moves. It has a slender body form, wiry animal with a
black facemask, black feet, and a black-tipped tail. The rest of its sleek fur
has a yellow tone, lighter on the belly and nearly white on the forehead,
muzzle, and throat. It has short legs with large front paws and claws developed
for digging. The ferret's large ears and eyes are an indicator of acute hearing
and sight, but smell is probably its most important sense for hunting prey
underground in the dark.
Geographic and Population
Changes
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service
is currently taking an active study and monitoring of the black-footed ferret.
The population is documented as found everywhere, expect where the experimental
population zone lies, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming. The population can also be found in
the UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge. As for other countries, Mexico is the
only know home to the black-footed ferret.
Date and Type of Listing
The black footed-ferret is listed as
endangered and first listed on 03/11/1967. The lead region is the
Mountain-Prairie Region (region 6). In 08/21/1991 the Experimental Population,
Non-Essential started in the same area and stands for all of U.S.A.
Cause of listing and Main
Threats
Black-footed ferret populations declined for
three principal reasons. First, In the late 1800s, there was a huge conversion
of native range to cropland, particularly in the eastern portion of the
species’ range. Second, because of competition with domestic livestock for
foliage, poisoning of prairie dogs was the plan for reduction in the early
1900s.. Third, the exotic disease sylvatic plague first impacted prairie dogs
and ferrets in the 1930s (Eskey and Hass 1940). Each of these resulted in a
substantial loss of prairie dogs, which in turn led to an even greater decline
in ferret populations due to the species’ dependency on large expanses of
habitat occupied by prairie dogs (Lockhart et al. 2006).
Recovery Plan
The Fish and Wildlife Service established the
BFFRIT, Black-footed ferret recovery Implementation Team, in 1996. One of its
guiding principles is to involve many partners across the known historical
range, including Tribes, State and local governments, Federal land management
agencies, non-governmental organizations, Canada, and Mexico. Recovery will be
achieved by establishing a number of ferret populations where appropriate
habitat and diminished threats exist to allow for the ferret. Throughout
historical times, he ferret’s habitat has slowly diminished; however, a
sufficient amount remains if its quality and configuration are appropriately
managed. Such management is likely to be conducted by traditional State,
Tribal, and Federal fish and wildlife and land management agencies.
Additionally, private parties, including landowners and conservation
organizations, must continue to support ferret recovery in many places to
minimize the risk of loss of wild populations.
Personal Action
Simple enough, the most logical action that
would benefit black-footed ferret recovery is to improve prairie dog
conservation. If efforts were executed to more proactively management for
ferret recovery, especially actively treating colonies for plague, any other
threats to the species would be less difficult to address. However, despite
being endangered, several states within the historical range of the species do
not manage prairie dogs in a manner that supports ferret recovery. Some of
these States bearing disease-free areas that would be especially valuable to
ferret recovery.. Conserving and managing a captive ferret population of
adequate size and structure to support genetic management and reintroduction
efforts.
•
Identify prairie
dog habitats with the highest biological potential for supporting future
populations of ferrets.
•
Establish free-ranging
ferrets to meet down listing and delisting goals.
•
Ensure sufficient
prairie dog habitat to support a wide distribution of ferret population’s
over
long term
•
Reduce
disease-related threats in wild populations of ferrets and associated species.
•
Support partner
involvement and conduct management through cooperative
interchange.
Donate to:
WWF (world
wildlife)
PWR (Prairie
Wildlife Research)
AFA (The American Ferret Association)
Links to other websites, materials, etc.
List of
Resources
Lockhart,
J.M. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007 draft. Email of preliminary
allocation of ferrets for 2006.
Personal communication with BFFRIT
Eskey,
C. and V. Haas. 1940. Plague in the western part of the United States. United
States Public Health Bulletin 254:1–83.
U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service, ECOS, Black-Footed Ferret. Web, 28 Nov. 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment