Wind Cave National Park black-footed ferret reintroduction – 5-year review

Livieri, Travis; Muenchau, Barbara; Roddy, Daniel; Licht, Daniel

Summarizes a reintroduction of black-footed ferrets to Wind Cave National Park and associated management actions. Wind Cave National Park, located in western South Dakota, is one of the premier wildlife parks in the country. Although only 33,851 acres in size, it supports a diversity of iconic Northern Great Plains species including bison (Bison bison), pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana), and elk (Cervus elaphus). In 2012 the park supported an estimated 1,955 acres of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies, a species reduced to only 2% of its historic range. Prairie dogs are obligate prey species for the critically endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). The black-footed ferret was thought extinct until 1981 when a population was discovered in Wyoming. Due to disease and other concerns the last remaining 18 animals were brought into captivity by 1987. From 1991-2007 the descendants of those animals were released back into the wild. However, the ferret recovery program was running out of large reintroduction sites, defined as sites with more than 5,000 acres of prairie dog colonies. Wind Cave National Park agreed to become a ferret reintroduction site, but due to the relatively small prairie dog acreage the reintroduction was viewed as an experiment. In 2007, 49 black-footed ferrets were released into the park. Sixteen animals came from captive breeding facilities and 33 were transplanted from a wild population. Forty-five of the animals were released in 3 prairie dog colonies in the southern end of the park and 4 animals were released in the north central area of the park. In 2010 another 12 animals, all from captive breeding facilities, were released on the east side of the park. As of the fall of 2012, there are an estimated 57-67 black-footed ferrets at Wind Cave. They have been documented in 9 of 24 prairie dog colonies with 80-90% of the animals occurring in the northern portion of the park. Further research and monitoring is needed to understand the reasons why ferrets are primarily occupying prairie dog colonies in the northern area of the park despite the majority of releases taking place in prairie dog colonies at the southern end of the park. Plague, a disease not native to North America, continues to be a major threat to the park’s prairie dog and ferret populations because it is highly fatal to both species. Although the plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) has been detected in the park, no epizootics have been observed. The park conducts an active prairie dog burrow dusting program (i.e., putting an insecticide in burrows) in an effort to control fleas that transmit the disease. The visiting public appears to be very supportive of the ferret program. From 2007-2012 the park conducted a variety of outreach and education programs regarding ferrets. For example, the park conducted summer night-time ranger-led spotlighting walks for ferrets. Although ferrets are less observable at this time of the year than they are in the fall, the night-time walks were popular with visitors. From 2008-2012 fifty-three night-time walks were conducted with 1,084 visitors participating. This is believed to be the only regularly-scheduled program established for the public to see ferrets in the wild. From 2008-2012 it is estimated that several hundred thousand visitors were exposed to ferrets as part of the park’s interpretive and outreach programs. After 5 years the Wind Cave National Park black-footed ferret reintroduction is considered a success. Whether ferret populations in the park can sustain themselves and remain viable over a longer term remains to be seen. Continuing management and monitoring of ferrets, prairie dogs, and other components of the ecosystem is strongly encouraged.

Wind Cave National Park black-footed ferret reintroduction – 5-year review

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