On Oct. 18, Parks Canada, with participation of over 60 schoolchildren and representatives from the Calgary and the Toronto Zoos, reintroduced 15 more black-footed ferrets back to their prairie home at Grasslands National Park.
Only two years ago, the approved recovery strategy announced at the Toronto Zoo gave the support for the first group of 34 ferrets to journey up from Colorado, United States, for reintroduction to the Canadian prairies.
The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, acknowledged the continued success of this species at risk program. Since their first reintroduction in 2009, many inspired volunteers and partners have dedicated an astonishing 4,000 hours of night-time survey effort monitoring the elusive animals.
“I am honoured to announce that 15 more ferrets will join a growing Canadian population of families born in the wild,” said Minister Kent. “Once considered one of North America’s rarest mammals, this species at risk is thriving thanks to Parks Canada’s leadership.”
Grassland ferret trackers have had the unique experience of spotting three new ferret families on three different prairie dog colonies. The discovery of new families demonstrates the speed with which ferrets are adapting to their new home on the Canadian prairie.
"I was absolutely thrilled to be able to support the Grasslands National Park ferret monitoring program and to have been able to examine black-footed ferrets born in the Toronto Zoo, surviving, healthy, and reproducing in the prairie wilderness,” said Graham Crawshaw, Toronto Zoo Senior Veterinarian. “It demonstrates the value of the common goals of the Zoo and Parks Canada in returning threatened species to their native habitat."
“The Calgary Zoo is proud to participate in a significant way to the overall success of the program by contributing to the annual monitoring of ferrets and black-tailed prairie dogs – a key component in helping them to survive and thrive well into the future in the Canadian prairie landscape where they belong as part of a healthy ecosystem,” said Dr. Clément Lanthier, Calgary Zoo President and CEO.
Throughout 2011, the international Black-footed Ferret Recovery Team is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Wyoming rediscovery of the species. From the last 18 surviving ferrets found and trapped in Wyoming in 1981, these small predators have been reintroduced to 19 locations in the United States, Mexico and Grasslands National Park in Canada.
For more information on the black footed ferret, visit www.blackfootedferret.org.
