More Ferrets Return to Meeteetse
Written by Andrew-Rossi on September 1, 2017
Black-footed ferrets are thriving in their old habitat near Meeteetse.
One year after the animals historically returned to the ranch where they were first found 36 years ago, thirteen more of the endangered species were released by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department this week.
The ferrets were released on a portion of the Pitchfork Ranch, near the Hogg Ranch, where in 1981, Lucille and John Hogg’s blue heeler Shep found one of the animals. The family contacted Game and Fish, who were able to locate and trap 18 of the animals, who were thought to be extinct at the time. Those 18 went on to parent over nine thousand more, which have since been released throughout western North America.
A year ago, 35 ferrets were released on the Lazy BV and Pitchfork Ranches near Meeteetse, and a group of 60 people witnessed the return of 13 more on Monday.
