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Nine Black-Footed Ferrets Released At Wind Cave National Park

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By NPT Staff - November 23rd, 2016

Nine black-footed ferrets were released into the wilds of Wind Cave National Park earlier this week/NPS

Editor's note: The following is an unedited release from the National Park Service.

Nine black-footed ferrets have new homes after being released at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. These ferrets, raised at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in northern Colorado, will augment the park’s estimated ferret population of 25 to 30 animals.

“This release is part of a national effort to bring this animal back from near extinction,” said Wind Cave Superintendent Vidal Dávila. “Wind Cave National Park has a long history of reintroducing animals, starting with bison in 1913 and then elk and pronghorn. In 2007, this legacy continued when we received 49 black-footed ferrets.”



Black-footed ferrets are considered one of the rarest animals in North America. Thought to be extinct, in 1981 a population was discovered on a Wyoming ranch. Since then the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has worked to bring the population back from near extinction and has reintroduced ferrets to 28 sites across the West.

A nocturnal animal that lives in prairie dog towns, it is rarely seen above ground in the daylight. 

Comments

Submitted by KJ on November 23, 2016 - 12:40pm.

Very Cool - thanks for sharing!


Submitted by drew hanson on November 29, 2016 - 8:28pm.

Fantastic news for a great park!


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