I realize this is getting off-topic for the FML, but I wanted to clarify
the 'survival' stats posted yesterday.
* Most released BFFs don't adapt to the wild conditions. About 600 were
released a few years ago; 500 died. The remaining ones are doing well.
* The management goal is to reintroduce at least one BFF population into
each state in its original range. Last I knew, they had successfully
done this in 3 states.
* 30% of 36 individuals is actually a pretty good percentage for
reintroduction despite the small sample size.
* The BFF has been listed via the ESA for a while and the DO have quite a
number of them captive and breeding successfully despite an early bout
with canine distemper that killed over half of all the wild BFFs (which
represented ALL wild BFFs) brought into the reclaimation facility.
-Erin...
[Posted in FML issue 2265]