More Ferrets Released Near Meeteetse
Written by Andrew-Rossi on October 5, 2018
Black-footed ferrets are thriving in their natural habitat.
That’s the determination of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, who released fourteen more of the animals last Friday on the Lazy BV and Pitchfork Ranches, outside Meeteetse. This cohort is the third and final group of ferrets released on the historical landscape as part of the black-footed ferret reintroduction efforts.
Black-footed ferrets are one of the most endangered mammals in North America, but have successfully been reintroduced to the wild thanks to captive breeding efforts.
The Meeteetse Museums hosted a celebration last weekend to commemorate the release. Museum director David Cunningham says that the reintroduced ferrets have taken well to the land over the past two years.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the owners of two ranches, have released a total of 64 ferrets since 2016 on the location they were rediscovered in 1981.
Surveys last year showed the mammals reproducing in the wild. Officials with the Game and Fish Department say these 14 ferrets are the last planned release to help a self-sustaining population.
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