Photo by Brian GratwickThe Black-footed ferret should not be confused with its close relative the domesticated ferret. Contrary to the domesticated ferret which originates from Europe, the black-footed ferret is native to North America; in fact, it is the only indigenous species to North America.
The domestic ferret as the name would imply is widely kept as a pet and varies in color from white to nearly black usually with a dark mask and tail. The Black-footed ferret has dull yellow fur that is slightly darker on the back.
The degradation of the ferret’s home, the prairie grassland, significant decline of prairie dog populations (the ferret source of food), and disease have all led to the near-extinction of the species. This mid-sized member of the weasel family once found in almost every prairie dog colony across the length and breadth of the North American plains, from the Rio Grande north to the Frenchman Valley, was extirpated from Canada in 1937 and globally extinct in the wild by the late 1970s. It was officially listed under the Canadian Species at Risk Act in May 2000 and classified as endangered in the U.S. as of 1967. For a long time it was believed that the species was extinct until 1981 where a small group of about 130 ferrets were discovered near Meeteetse, Wyoming. At that time, these last known ferrets were probably the rarest mammals on earth. In 1985, these same ferrets were taken into captivity to be bred at various facilities across North America with the intention of being reintroduced into the wild.
Today, after being erased from the Canadian prairie over seven decades ago and after dwindling to a whisker of extinction, the black-footed ferret has made its comeback. "In the early hours of July 14, a playful litter of kits was observed," announced Federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice. "The black-footed ferret mother and her three kits appeared healthy and engaged in honing their survival instincts."
On October 2, 2009, a population of 34 black-footed ferrets were released into Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan; of those 34 at least 12 survived the winter. Here is a link to footage of the first black-footed ferret kits born in the Canadian wild. In the coming months you will also have the opportunity to take in this exciting new discovery through the documentary Nature of Things with David Suzuki.
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3 comments:
I'm sort of curious about the ethics of re-introducing extirpated species to Canada. Has there ever been an effort to return the timber rattlesnake to Ontario? Or are "dangerous" species considered unwelcome by the authorities?
It's hypothesized that every species fulfills a role in its native ecological community, though not surprisingly, we don't always know what that role is.
The snake has a bad reputation because of the potential danger it (more properly, its venom) poses to humans and other creatures. But we have to remember that venomous snakes evolved the ability to envenom primarily to assist in hunting, i.e., to immobilize fast-moving prey such as rodents. The venom happens to also be advantageous for defence.
The timber rattler, like all other venomous snakes, can ingest prey that has been envenomed because the venom is actually just a protein, which can easily be broken down in the digestive tract.
ETHICALLY, there should be no problem with reintroduction of this species, especially since it historically ranged through parts of southwestern Ontario, a region to which it was naturally adapted. Practically, there are a number of problems surrounding reintroduction.
The last confirmed sighting of the species was in the Niagara Gorge in the 1940s, and it is presumed that the species could still exist there, hence its listing as “endangered” by the Ontario government. The federal government lists the species as “extirpated” from Canada.
Canada's federal Recovery Strategy (RS) for the species, under the Species At Risk Act, indicates "potential impacts on other species" as a "knowledge gap" related to the recovery of the timber rattlesnake. In fact, in the Preface of the RS it states:
“Based on advice from a group of external experts, federal and provincial agency representatives…Environment Canada has determined that the recovery of the timber rattlesnake is not feasible.” (though none of the reasons cited included danger to the public).
So, by no means are prov or fed authorities reluctant to reintroduce the species. It would just be impossible to reintroduce it with any guarantee of success given the habitat loss & degradation and extensive human encroachment (and therefore a high probability of unjust persecution of individual snakes wherever they occur) that has occurred throughout its historic range.
Also, it could have something to do with the fact that the timber rattlesnake has one of the slowest reproductive cycles; usually occurs in year two and it does not bode well in captivity. Before the Black-footed ferret was reintroduced in the wild in was bred in several facilities across North America.
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