The black-footed ferret is the only ferret species native to North America, and its historical distribution overlapped with those of black-tailed, Gunnison's, and white-tailed prairie dogs on which they depend. It is a highly endangered species that was thought to be extinct by 1979. One small population was discovered in Wyoming, and all known black-footed ferrets are decedents of eight individuals from that population brough into a captive breeding program. The breeding program has been largely successful and resulted in the introduction of ferrets to more than 30 sites across the species historical range as 10j non-essential experimental populations. To effectively design conservation interventions--and reach the recovery goal of 3,000 adults in the wild--biologists need to estimate the size and health of existing wild populations. Black-footed ferrets were first released into Coyote Basin, Uintah County, Utah in 1999. Spotlight surveys for ferrets have been conducted since the first release with over 1,000 person-hours required annually for coverage of the introduction area. Ferrets are located by searching prairie dog colonies with spotlights and looking for eye-shine. Once found, ferrets are captured to administer vaccines and collect biological information. The surveys are costly, inefficient, dangerous (driving over uneven landscapes in the dark while sleep deprived), and are hampered by conditions (surveys cannot occur in years where it is too wet or too dry). Further, ferrets can only be detected when they are above ground and facing the spotlight. Because of those issues, ferret surveys underestimate the number of animals on the landscape and reported to USFWS towards meeting recovery objectives. Black-footed ferret biologists have long wanted a more efficient and effective method for monitoring populations. The use of thermal technology to detect cryptic or nocturnal species in wildlife monitoring programs is a relatively new technique that shows great promise. Paired with image analysis software, The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Great Plains Science Program and the World Wildlife Fund, along with many partners, are pioneering the use of infrared cameras mounted to drones to monitor black-footed ferrets. Results suggest that UAVs could be used to efficiently detect ferrets from the air, survey large areas at reduced survey times compared to traditional methods, and overcome other challenges (i.e., difficult terrain, limited road-access) associated with on-the-ground survey methods. Due to the small founder population, one of the greatest stressors to black-footed ferrets is the lack of genetic diversity. We recently found a report that documented ferrets in central Utah into the mid-1980s when no wild populations were known to persist. It is unknown why additional follow-up to this work did not occur at the time. Although the likelihood of a remnant undetected population of ferrets persisting to the present is highly unlikely, the discovery would be invaluable to black-footed ferret recovery efforts. Once we become proficient with the thermal drones, we would like to survey prairie dog colonies in the Cisco Desert on the off chance of detecting a black-footed ferret. The thermal drone technology has also been used to map and count prairie dog towns. We could deploy the drones to count Utah prairie dogs in areas of difficult access where undercounts using traditional surveys are likely- especially the Awapa recovery area.

1- obtain more accurate counts of black-footed ferrets to help meet ESA recovery objectives. 2- locate ferrets to capture for vaccination and documentation of survival and wild-born individuals. 3- search areas where ferrets were historically documented. 4- supplement Utah prairie dog counts in areas with poor access.

In recent years, we have had an especially difficult time conducting black-footed ferret surveys due to droughts, floods, disease, and limited staffing. Subsequently, we have documented very few ferrets- and the success or failure of recent introductions remains unknown. The recent development of the thermal imaging drone technology offers an opportunity to apply modern technology to a long-standing problem.

Black-footed ferret recovery plan- Help to meet the delisting criteria of 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 and white-tailed prairie dogs. Utah black-footed ferret management plan SWAP Utah prairie dog recovery plan.

Black-footed ferret surveys are frequently cancelled due to concerns about driving trucks through grassy habitats. Drone technology would avoid those issues.

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UDWR has authority to handle black-footed ferrets under our Section 6 agreement. We will ensure any drone used meets federal policies on foreign-made drones.

We will work with World Wildlife Fund and others currently using and developing the technology for monitoring black-footed ferrets with drones to determine the which technology will best meet our needs. We will then contract with those entities for instructions and initial surveys of Utah's management area. With the needed training and equipment, we can then survey the black-footed ferret population annually, as well as investigating the technology for other ferret and prairie dog management purposes.

This project would modernize ferret monitoring and support the standardization of monitoring efforts into the future.

US Fish and Wildlife Service, World Wildlife Fund, Utah's Hogle Zoo

Utah will continue recovery actions within the 10j boundary.

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