Not the sort to be domesticated, Travis Livieri's "ferrets (the black-footed kind) live in prairie dog colonies." My life is mostly consumed by ferrets, " says the executive director of Prairie Wildlife Research (http://www.prairiewildlife.org). After taking the domesticated ferret community by storm in St. Louis in 2005, Travis has become a common face in the ferret world. And, a move to Colorado this year put him at the helm of a growing group. The son of a retired firefighter and secretary, Livieri also has a sister and brother. Growing up in Milwaukee, he "gained a love for wildlife/animals as a child by spending time in the forests of northern Wisconsin. " After obtaining a degree in wildlife biology, Livieri took a temporary job as a technician on the black-footed ferret recovery project. That was more than10 years ago We have such fun with our little weasels that it is hard to imagine anything better. Newborn kits are such a thrill as they grow and play. So, what does the non-ferret owner have that could possibly compete? "I work with the endangered black-footed ferret, North America's only native ferret species, " Livieri says. "I have many memorable black-footed ferret experiences but my favorite was finding the first litter of wild-born kits in 1995. It was a special moment for me and also for black-footed ferret recovery. The re-introduction program began in 1994; Mike (a colleague) and I found the first litter of kits in SD in the summer; I have watched this population grow to a self-sustaining group. " Livieri would you like to be remembered "As a hard worker who contributed to the recovery of black-footed ferrets." Having seen Travis in action, I think that is an understatement. Travis Livieri is a wildlife biologist. A wildlife biologist must wear many hats. He is a long-haul driver, an off-roads driver and a chauffeur. He is a researcher, an educator and a fundraiser. He also must function as a veterinarian. Often he must also be a magician. To me he has been an educator, a supervisor and a friend. And, when you are a wildlife biologist specializing in Mustella nigripes (the black-footed ferret; see http://blackfootedferret.org) you must often work all night! When not traveling or working with ferrets, Travis likes to "hike, hunt, fish and watch the Green Bay Packers. " And, his ideal day would be "to go fishing with Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. He seems like a real down-to-earth guy who has always worked hard to achieve his dreams. He doesn't take himself too seriously, is loyal to his teammates and strives to be the best. On Sundays I sit in my easy chair and watch football, particularly the Green Bay Packers." Livieri also reads, his favorite book is "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand and enjoys listening to hard/classic rock music. This past year Travis was able to obtain grants from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation towards a Wyoming/South Dakota BFF Population project. We look forward to seeing the success of the black-footed ferret in other locations, including Canada. Stay tuned. Come to Portland and learn more about the black-footed ferret on June 24. And, to make a donation to support the re-introduction of the black-footed ferret (which thanks to efforts of Travis and others, is NO LONGER the MOST endangered mammal in the country), you can reach Travis at: Travis Livieri Prairie Wildlife Research P.O. Box 308r Wellington, CO 80549 (970) 219-1659 [log in to unmask] -- renee :) It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit! Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.) http://www.ferretemergency.org [log in to unmask] International Ferret Congress http://www.ferretcongress.org American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org [Posted in FML 5632]