Dec. 2021 - 9

NEWS
Thirty black-footed ferrets were released near Meeteetse and in Shirley Basin this fall. (Photo by Mark Gocke/WGFD)
30 black-footed ferrets join
kin in fall releases
CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game
and Fish Department released 20 blackfooted
ferrets on the historic recovery site
near Meeteetse in northwest Wyoming.
Black-footed ferrets are one of North America's
most endangered mammals and were first
reintroduced in Wyoming in 2016. An
additional 10 ferrets were released in Shirley
Basin near Laramie, bolstering the first and
longest lasting reintroduction site for blackfooted
ferrets in the country after successful
captive breeding. Both releases occurred in
late September.
Game and Fish received the ferrets from the
National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation
Center in Wellington, Colorado. Black-footed
ferrets were thought to be extinct but were
rediscovered in Wyoming over 40 years ago.
Ten male and 10 female ferrets were
released on the Lazy BV and Pitchfork ranches
near Meeteetse by Game and Fish and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Game and Fish works to maintain at least
35 individuals at the Meeteetse recovery site,
a baseline set by the USFWS. The new ferrets
were released to bolster the population, which
saw a decline last year due to plague. Plague is
a common disease that impacts prairie dogs,
the main food source for black-footed ferrets,
as well as ferrets themselves.
Andy Gygli, Game and Fish nongame
biologist, said ferret and prairie dog habitat is
smaller at Meeteetse than Shirley Basin which
makes populations more prone to impacts. The
Meeteetse release site was originally scheduled
to have 30 ferrets, but it was determined the
habitat couldn't support that many so 10 were
placed in Shirley Basin.
Shirley Basin is a large area, and Gygli said
four known satellite populations of ferrets
have been discovered there in addition to the
population in the main recovery area.
" In the coming years we need to conduct
additional research to get a better handle on
the abundance of ferrets in Shirley Basin, "
Gygli said. " Populations are faring better than
Meeteetse, but there's still work to be done. "
Meeteetse and Shirley Basin are the only
two places in Wyoming where black-footed
ferrets are released. Zack Walker, Game and
Fish nongame supervisor, said cooperation
from landowners near Meeteetse and Shirley
Basin has been key in trying to reestablish
ferret populations.
Game and Fish will continue to routinely
survey ferrets in the late summer months with
eyeshine surveys where biologists search prairie
dog colonies at night with high-powered
spotlights, looking for the green glow of a
ferret's distinctive eyeshine. When they see it,
they set a trap at the ferret's burrow to mark
the individual and vaccinate for disease. Any
wild-born ferrets captured are vaccinated
for distemper and plague, and captive bred
individuals receive boosters.
- Robert Gagliardi, WGFD
Wyoming Wildlife
earns awards from IRMA
CHEYENNE - Wyoming Wildlife
magazine won three bronze-medal awards
from the International Regional Magazine
Association in October.
The December 2020 grizzly bear issue
earned the bronze in the special focus
category, which included magazines from all
circulation categories. The judges comments
about the magazine included: " Beautiful
tribute to a beautiful animal. I love the
mix of photo, infographics and clean, clear
design. The pull-out poster was a really fun
addition. It's super interesting to see how
much the grizzly population has grown in
the last 35-plus years and how the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department is moving to
manage that. "
The Game and Fish staff article in the
grizzly bear issue, " Bruin Challenges, " won
the bronze for public issues. Game and Fish
Public Information Officer Sara DiRienzo
was the lead writer. " The reporting here
is very strong. Excellent infographics and
photography. The overall effect is quite
compelling, " the judges said.
In the historic feature category for
magazines with circulations of 35,000 or
less, Christina Schmidt's " Opening the
Borders for Justice " feature won the bronze.
Schmidt is the information and education
specialist in the Sheridan Region and a
regular contributor to the magazine.
- Robert Gagliardi, WGFD
Wyoming Wildlife | 9

Dec. 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dec. 2021