Black-Footed Ferret Restoration; History, Challenges and Current Status

Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) were once found throughout the West on prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) colonies ranging from Canada to Mexico. Ferrets are totally dependent on prairie dogs as prey and for habitat, living exclusively in the burrow and tunnel systems created and maintained by prairie dogs. Cultivation of the Great Plains for crop production and prairie dog eradication efforts in support of domestic livestock production during the 20th century reduced black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) by some 98% of their former extent and black-footed ferrets were thought extinct by the late 1970’s. The surprise finding of a remnant population near Meeteetse Wyoming in 1981 gave new hope for survival of the species. However, devastating diseases resulted in a heroic rescue effort of remaining survivors and the beginnings of an intensive captive breeding effort. All black-footed ferrets in existence today are descendants of 7 founders from that effort. More than 8,500 ferrets have been born in captivity since 1985. The first reintroduction of black-footed ferrets back into the wild was in Shirley Basin, Wyoming in 1991. The first reintroduction in Montana was in 1994 on the UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge in north-central Montana. Notably, wolf reintroduction began 3 months after the first ferrets were released in Montana when wolves were placed in soft-release pens in Yellowstone National Park. More than 4,500 captive-reared black-footed ferrets have been released at 27 reintroduction sites since 1991. A total of about 300 black-footed ferrets were estimated alive in the wild at the end of 2015. Ferrets have been released at 5 sites in Montana; 3 on Indian Reservations (Fort Belknap, Northern Cheyenne and Crow), 1 on the UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge and 1 on Bureau of Land Management lands that are part of The Nature Conservancy’s Matador Ranch. There are numerous challenges to recovery of this critically endangered species. Understanding and attempting to manage sylvatic plague, an exotic disease introduced to North America in the early 1900’s, is foremost on the research front and a formidable biological challenge. There are both promising and challenging aspects to plague management. Social tolerance of prairie dogs on the landscape by agricultural interests and some natural resource managers is also a significant obstacle to black-footed ferret recovery. Opportunities are available to develop locales capable of supporting ferret populations if the right synergies of social and biological interactions can be fostered. Despite highly varied and emotional viewpoints, along with intense controversy, Montanan’s have found room for wolves as native fauna and they now occupy more than one-third of the state. Hopefully, Montanan’s can also find room for a few thousand acres of prairie dogs in multiple places that can each support viable ferret populations. Recovering an endangered species that was once thought extinct, and one that is truly indicative of prairie ecosystem function and health, would be an accomplishment. However, continuing investment in recovery of this species in the wild has been, understandably, criticized. Until recovery of black-footed ferrets is no longer deemed a worthy pursuit, efforts to provide a landscape that could support prairie dogs, ferrets and other native wildlife that were once widespread across the Great Plains will continue

Attributes of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Northcentral Montana

We examined several characteristics of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies in Phillips County, Montana, including slope, aspect, soils, land tenure, and distance from roads using a geographic information system (GIs). Colonies exhibited significantly smaller slopes, but not significantly different aspects than did randomly located polygons. In addition, colonies were more prevalent than expected on well drained clay-loam and loam soils and on U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land than on other soil types or on private land. Although prairie dogs commonly use roads for dispersal, distance to nearest road was not related to prairie dog density nor to colony area. These findings could be used to develop a cartographic model of preferred black-tailed prairie dog habitat useful for prairie dog monitoring and management, and for estimating prairie dog expansion potential for possible black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) reintroduction sites

Attributes of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in Northcentral Montana

We examined several characteristics of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies in Phillips County, Montana, including slope, aspect, soils, land tenure, and distance from roads using a geographic information system (GIs). Colonies exhibited significantly smaller slopes, but not significantly different aspects than did randomly located polygons. In addition, colonies were more prevalent than expected on well drained clay-loam and loam soils and on U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land than on other soil types or on private land. Although prairie dogs commonly use roads for dispersal, distance to nearest road was not related to prairie dog density nor to colony area. These findings could be used to develop a cartographic model of preferred black-tailed prairie dog habitat useful for prairie dog monitoring and management, and for estimating prairie dog expansion potential for possible black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) reintroduction sites

Intact Pathway Successfully Buffers Sage Grouse Migration

Landscape conservation is the mechanism for conserving migratory wildlife in sagebrush ecosystems. We studied a greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter ‘sage-grouse’) population with the longest-known annual migration, ? 240 km round-trip, between summer and winter ranges in Saskatchewan, Canada, and northcentral Montana. We asked: Do birds fly quickly through a corridor, or do they use stopovers within a larger pathway? GPS-tracking revealed that migrating grouse frequent stopovers along multiple routes that coalesce to form an integrated pathway. Month-long fall migration in November contrasted with punctuated spring migration lasting ~2 weeks in late March/early April. Individual birds typically spent ~1 day at 9 different stopovers, migrating 71-91 km in 11-15 days. Migrating grouse used native sagebrush rangeland in proportion to its availability and avoided cropland and badlands. Birds responded to record-breaking snowfall in winter 2011 (>274 cm) by migrating another ? 50 km south onto windswept ridge tops where sagebrush remained above snow. Grouse selected habitat on Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge most similar to typical winter habitat. Doing so was without consequence to winter survival; such was not the case for a nearby resident population. Newly identified winter range suggests that high site fidelity is tempered by an ability to adapt quickly when resources become scarce. We recommend public land policy that provides grazing opportunities while precluding large-scale energy development or whole scale removal of sagebrush. Management actions that maintain sagebrush as an emergency food source in newly identified sage grouse wintering grounds will help conserve this migratory population

Scientific Integrity: Producing, Incorporating, and Advocating for Science in the Age of Alternative Facts

Technical information – along with politics, economics, public opinion, societal values, and legal considerations – is one input into wildlife management decisions.  As information consumers, decision-makers require objectivity of those who produce such information, and should have an understanding of the inference scope and strength (and uncertainty) associated with technical information.  Information producers must earn, demonstrate, and protect that reputation of objectivity.  Both producers and consumers must both foster and guard a culture of integrity, such that the processes of producing and applying information are transparent and can withstand intense scrutiny.  Today, rather suddenly, there is national discourse on these subjects of transparency, professional integrity, and rigorous questioning and defense of scientific information.  The discussion of the role of science and scientists in informing public policy has assumed a prominent position in traditional and social media.  This panel, consisting of representatives from federal, state, tribal, and non-governmental organizations will engage in this discussion with the audience