BFF Press Release,  6/13/95
 
Attention:  All National Media
Re: Release of adult, cage-reared, older black-footed ferrets into the wild.
 
RECAP: In February, 1995, the U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
implemented a plan to release 55 adult, endangered black-footed ferrets on
prarie dog habitat in the Badlands National Park, South Dakota.  27 ferrets,
culled from four U.S. zoo captive breeding facilities, were sent to Pueblo,
CO, to be acclimated to outdoor survival at the National Biologic Service
Pre-release Conditioning Research Facility.  28 comparable ferrets were
culled from the Sybille, WY, captive breeding facility and placed outdoors
as well.
 
    At Pueblo, after three days outdoors, ferrets began to fall ill, or to
suffer injury from live prarie dogs placed in the enclosures to encourage
ferret predation.  A ferret died at Sybille when same-sex animals were
deliberately placed in common enclosures.  Pueblo ferrets, anesthetized for
treatment, were found to have arrived with severe physical disabilities -
broken, blunted, missing teeth; a malignant tumor; umbilical hernia;
chronic, contagious disease; and partial blindness.  In addition, most
exhibited extreme tameness, a factor bound to compromise their ability to
survive in the wild.
 
    Contrary to USFWS standard protocol, medical records were withheld from
the staff.  Three ferrets died at Pueblo, one when removed from critical
care to a distant facility in the process of dismissing a dissident medical
staff member who objected to the release of older, debilitated ferrets.  A
second staff member resigned in protest.
 
    In light of the information revealed at Pueblo, a group of independent
citizens and wildlife professionals proposed a privately-funded, continuing
care facility (the Black-footed Ferret Living Care Center) as an
alternative to release of older, adult ferrets.  The group predicted high,
if not total, annihilation of such ferrets.  Only 400 black-footed ferrets
are in existence.  The USFWS rejected the proposal and proceeded with the
release, despite a nationwide protest.
 
RELEASES:  Ignoring public outrage, the USFWS shipped 14 pregnant female
black-footed ferrets to South Dakota in mid-April.  12 were released in
Badlands National Park;  2 were excluded for health reasons.  They were not
radio-collared, so their survival was not documented.  As of June 13, none
have been confirmed alive by spotlighting technique.  On June 5, 14 more
adult ferrets were radio-collared and released in the park.  By the
following night, one was dead by coyote predation.  By June 13, 11 more
were reported dead due to the same cause.  2 animals were unaccounted for,
although one collar was detected in a prarie dog burrow and another collar
was stationary, indicating either a dead animal or a lost collar.  The
experiment was terminated.  A second release, scheduled for June 19, was
canceled.
 
UPDATE:   Representatives of the BFF Living Care Center proposal are
calling for an all-out examination of the USFWS policies in regard to the
management of endangered species, in particular the black-footed ferret.
They are urging the formation of an independent ethical review board
consisting of biologists, veterinarians and national wildlife protection
organizations to represent the interests of the animals under the
jurisdiction of the USFWS and are encouraging an extensive revamping of the
black-footed ferret captive breeding and reintroduction program.
 
    A more extensive care facility proposal is underway which will
encompass a wide scope of scientific studies for the benefit of the effort
to reintroduce the black-footed fetter to the American landscape.  All
parties are thoroughly committed to the captive breeding, pre-release
conditioning, and reintroduction effort, but emphasize the need to protect
the rights of the animals as individuals, rather than a commodity, and
revamp the structure of the USFWS program as a whole.
 
    NOTE: Agencies and networks receiving this press release have previously
been issued a package of background information regarding the USFW release
of older, adult, black-footed ferrets.  A videotape demonstrating the high
degree of habituation, or tameness, of these animals was included.  If you
have not received a packet or wish further information, please contact the
SOCIETY FOR THE CONVERSATION AND PROTECTION OF THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET, at
719-391-2627; Carolyn R.  Kinsey / Andrew Abate, co-chairman.
[Posted in FML issue 1226]