Black-Footed Ferret Reintroduction And Management - continuation
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Project ID: 6397
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2021
Submitted By:
1121
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Project Manager: Kimberly Hersey
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Salt Lake Office
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Northeastern
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Description:
The goal of this project is to facilitate the recovery and delisting of the black-footed
ferret (Mustela nigripes) by reintroducing and establishing a free-ranging
population of ferrets in Uintah County, Utah in a way that is compatible with existing and
future local economies and lifestyles. Reintroduction and management will be a
cooperative effort of state, federal and local governments and private entities.
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Location:
Black-footed ferret management zone in eastern Uintah County
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Project Need
Need For Project:
The delisting criteria for black-footed ferrets calls for establishing free-ranging black-footed ferrets totaling at least 3,000 breeding adults in 30 or more populations with at least one population in each of at least 9 of 12 States within the historical range of the species with no fewer than 30 breeding adults in any population, and at least 10 populations with 100 or more breeding adults, and at least 5 populations within colonies of Gunnison's or white-tailed prairie dogs. This project represents Utah's contribution to the recovery efforts. Since 1999, the UDWR in coordination with the USFWS has released ferrets in a white-tailed prairie dog colony in the Coyote Basin and adjacent complexes. The population was augmented in 2019 and 2020. This project will seek to determine the success of those introductions.
Objectives:
Our objective is to continue work to establish and maintain a self-sustaining population of black-footed ferrets
in Utah that will contribute to the species' recovery goals.
Project goals are:
* Release captive born ferrets in the management area for 1 or 2 years with the number of releases depending on funding and the allocation process.
* Conduct surveys to document ferret populations.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Relation To Management Plan:
This supports objectives of the Black-footed ferret recovery plan.
Fire / Fuels:
Water Quality/Quantity:
Compliance:
Utah's work on black-footed ferrets is authorized under our Section 6 agreement.
Methods:
1. In coordination with the BLM, black-footed ferret habitat will be monitored by annual census of white-tailed prairie dog colonies within the Utah release site according to procedures detailed in Biggins, et al. (1996). Utah monitors the prairie dog populations in several areas (Coyote Basin, Snake John Reef, Bohemian Basin, and Walker Hollow). This enables us to better track the prairie dog population, recognize any potential disease issues, and determine the best habitat for releases.
2. An allocation requests will be made to the National Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team
Conservation Subcommittee. Each area where ferrets have been released within the management area will now
be considered separate sites for allocation purposes. Coyote Basin, Snake John Reef (including Walker Hollow),
and Bohemian Basin will have separate allocations when needed.
3. We will release allocated ferrets into suitable habitat in the fall when the kits are ready. That involves picking
up and transporting ferrets from Colorado.
4. Spotlight surveys will be conducted in the fall and spring, if conditions allow, for up to 20 nights to
determine reproductive success of wild ferrets and survival of transplants. Kits will be captured and marked
with individual PIT tags
5. Inter-agency coordination and related administrative activities, including preparation of reports, will be
performed as needed to ensure progress toward recovery plan objectives. Cooperation across state lines is
critical for the success of the Coyote Basin/Snake John Reef population.
6. UDWR will coordinate with the BLM to determine the need for plague abatement work.
Monitoring:
Black-footed ferret populations are monitored each spring and fall as conditions allow.
Partners:
We are working closely with the USFWS, including the ferret recovery team. The BLM is also actively supporting
this project. We have also involved students and volunteers from USU Vernal and Hogle Zoo.
Future Management:
We intend to continue yearly surveys of black-footed ferret populations, implement management measures,
and conduct additional releases as needed.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $20,000.00 | $0.00 | $20,000.00 | $0.00 | $20,000.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Seasonal technicians to primarily conduct spotlight surveys (2 technicians for 3 months). | $14,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 |
| Other | Trucks and field supplies | $6,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $20,000.00 | $0.00 | $20,000.00 | $0.00 | $20,000.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species Protection Account | This is funding granted to the ESMF office by the USFWS for ferret reintroduction. | $20,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2021 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
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| Black-footed Ferret | N1 | |||||
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| Black-footed Ferret | N1 | |||||
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| White-tailed Prairie Dog | N4 | |||||
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| White-tailed Prairie Dog | N4 | |||||
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Habitats
| Habitat |
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Project Comments
| Comment | 07/06/2021 | Type: 2 | Commenter: Dana Dean |
| With fiscal year 2021 now behind us, please report on your FY21 ESMF project accomplishments in the ESMF database by September 1, 2021. This includes 1) filling in all fields on the completion form as well as 2) reporting on the expenses for the project at the bottom of the Finance Tab. Your project will not be closed until this reporting is completed. While reporting, please indicate if the project finished on track and what was accomplished by project task. If the project could not be completed, please also report on what was not accomplished and why some tasks were not completed. If you have been approved for carry over funding, please indicate what project tasks will be completed during fiscal year 2022. | |||
Completion
Start Date:
07/01/2020
End Date:
06/30/2021
FY Implemented:
2021
Final Methods:
Ferrets are know to be highly susceptible to coronaviruses, therefore we were unable to conduct planned monitoring work.
Project Narrative:
12 adult black-footed ferrets were released in northeastern Utah. Measure were taken to reduce any potential COVID exposures. Working with the BLM, annual counts of white-tailed prairie dogs in the ferret management area were made.
Future Management:
Between droughts, fires, floods, and disease- black-footed ferret monitoring has proved very difficult over the last few years. We recommend carrying over funding and continuing monitoring and management work when conditions allow.
Black-footed ferret monitoring is a continued need. We will conduct work as conditions allow.
Map Features
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Project Map
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