WELLINGTON- In 1986 there were only 18 Black-footed ferrets left in the world, placing the animal near the top of the endangered species list.
The National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center, located in Wellington, has been working to help restore that population for 30 years.
Recovery coordinators in charge of the ferrets breed, raise and condition them for re-introduction into the wild. Outreach coordinator Kim Fraser says about 280 Black-footed ferrets, which is estimated to be two thirds of the world's population, are at the facility. Recovery coordinators in charge of the ferrets breed, raise and condition them for re-introduction into the wild.
Fraser says the exact number of Black-footed ferrets in the wild is unknown, due to environmental conditions and the spread of diseases like plague.
"In the right circumstances where they don't have challenges like plague or disease or drought, they can do very well and their numbers can become significant on the landscape,"Fraser said.
While in captivity a Black-footed ferrets life expectancy is about 7 years. Once in the wild, the life expectancy drops to 1 to 3 years.
The Conservation Center says they release between 200 and 250 ferrets into the wild every year, where more than 30 federal, state, and non-governmental agencies help the center to keep them alive.
There will be a release of ferrets onto the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge on October 5 that will be attended by the head of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
For more information about Black Footed Ferret Recovery Program, you can visit www.blackfootedferret.org.
Or call the Black Footed Ferret conservation center at (970) 897-2730
(© 2015 KUSA)
