Information on Black-Footed Ferret Biology Collected Within the Framework of Ferret Conservation

Biggins, Dean E.

doi:10.3398/064.072.0201

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 24 publications

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“…Ferrets are one of the most endangered mammals in the world (Hillman et al , Miller et al , Biggins ) and are currently being recovered via an intensive captive‐breeding and reintroduction program (Miller et al , Lockhart et al ) that will likely continue for many years. From 1991 to 2010, >3,000 captive‐reared ferrets were reintroduced at 19 sites.…”

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Efficacy of electronet fencing for excluding coyotes: A case study for enhancing production of black-footed ferrets

2013

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Reducing coyote (Canis latrans) predation can be an important management objective. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of electronet fencing for excluding coyotes from focal areas on black tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies, measured the effect of fencing on wild-born black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) kit survival, and modeled costs and benefits of fencing. From 27 July to 2 October 2010 in northcentral Montana, USA, we erected and maintained 7.7 km of electronet that enclosed 108 ha on portions of 2 prairie dog colonies. We monitored 2 female ferrets and 6 kits inside exclosures and 3 females and 12 kits outside of exclosures. Percent of coyote sightings in the protected areas was 6 times less than expected during the exclosure period (42% pre-exclosure, 7% exclosure, 47% post-exclosure). We conclude that the electronet fencing was effective for dramatically decreasing coyote activity in focal areas where black-footed ferret litters were being raised. We found evidence that survival of kits living primarily in protected areas was 22% higher, but we qualify this finding because of low sample sizes and because our monitoring activity on the study site may have influenced coyote activity. We estimated one-time costs for fencing to be US$4,464/km and operation and/or maintenance costs for the 68 days of fence operation to be US$641/km. If fencing increased survival by 20-30%, then total cost per ferret kit not lost to coyote predation would range between US$5,400 and $3,600, or US$2,550 and $1,700 if fence set-up-take-down labor and use of an all-terrain vehicle were donated. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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Efficacy of electronet fencing for excluding coyotes: A case study for enhancing production of black-footed ferrets

2013

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The Conservation of Populations: Theory, Analysis, Application

Dyke¹,

Lamb

2020

Conservation Biology

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Genetic signature of disease epizootic and reintroduction history in an endangered carnivore

Phillips

Livieri²,

Swanson

2020

Journal of Mammalogy

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Abstract Emerging infectious diseases have recently increased in wildlife and can result in population declines and the loss of genetic diversity in susceptible populations. As populations of impacted species decline, genetic diversity can be lost, with ramifications including reduced effective population size and increased population structuring. For species of conservation concern, which may already have low genetic diversity, the loss of genetic diversity can be especially important. To investigate the impacts of a novel pathogen on genetic diversity in a genetically depauperate endangered species, we assessed the ramifications of a sylvatic plague-induced bottleneck in black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). Following a plague epizootic, we genotyped 184 ferrets from Conata Basin and Badlands National Park, South Dakota, at seven microsatellite loci. We compared our results to pre-plague studies in the same population. We observed population substructuring into three genetic clusters. These clusters reflect founder effects from ferret reintroduction events followed by genetic drift. Compared to the pre-plague population, we observed losses of allelic diversity in all clusters, as well as significantly reduced heterozygosity in one cluster. These results indicate that disease epizootics may reduce population size and also genetic diversity. Our results suggest the importance of early and sustained management in mitigating disease epizootics in naïve populations for the maintenance of genetic diversity.

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Information on Black-Footed Ferret Biology Collected Within the Framework of Ferret Conservation

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Efficacy of electronet fencing for excluding coyotes: A case study for enhancing production of black-footed ferrets

Efficacy of electronet fencing for excluding coyotes: A case study for enhancing production of black-footed ferrets

The Conservation of Populations: Theory, Analysis, Application

Genetic signature of disease epizootic and reintroduction history in an endangered carnivore

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