A conservation effort is helping the Black-footed Ferret return to Southwest Saskatchewan.
A species at risk recovery process was unveiled earlier today by the federal government in order to help re-populate the Black-footed Ferret into an area it had historically occupied in Grasslands National Park. The Black-footed Ferret was at one time North America's rarest mammal.
On Friday, the federal government announced both a Recovery Strategy for the Black-footed Ferret, and a Management Plan for the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog. These Parks Canada initiatives are intended to assist in helping restore a fully functioning prairie ecosystem at the Grasslands National Park.
Parks Canada is working closely with many agencies and organizations towards the black-footed ferret conservation efforts. The Toronto Zoo, one of these valued partners, has been the only captive breeding facility for these native ferrets in Canada for almost 20 years.
"The return of the black-footed ferret to the Canadian wilds is truly an international effort and emphasizes the importance of establishing National Parks and the role zoo's have in endangered species conservation", stated Maria Franke, Curator of Mammals, at Toronto Zoo.
The Calgary Zoo, another key research partner, is looking into the habitat of the ferret in Canada and providing significant knowledge to ensure a successful reintroduction within Grasslands National Park. Critical habitat for black-footed ferrets is identified in the strategy and includes all black-tailed prairie dog colonies in Canada based on their boundaries mapped in 2007.
"At one time an integral part of this prairie landscape, the black-footed ferret is a mink-sized, buff-coloured weasel with a distinctive dark chocolate band crossing its eyes, cheeks and feet. Black-footed ferrets rely on prairie dogs for food and shelter and their Canadian distribution likely centered on the area that is now Grasslands National Park before they were extirpated in the early 20th century. Black-tailed prairie dogs are listed as Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). All of the black-tailed prairie dogs in Canada exist within Grasslands National Park or the immediate surrounding area," a federal government press release notes.
"Due to the reliance of both species on habitat within Grasslands National Park, Parks Canada is the lead federal agency responsible for the recovery of the black-footed ferret back onto the Canadian prairies as well as the SARA responsible authority for the Management Plan for the Black-tailed prairie dog in Canada. Parks Canada headed the development of these plans in cooperation with the province of Saskatchewan, as well as representatives of major academic institutions and stakeholder groups."
