Black Footed Ferret Press release 5/31/95; For Immediate release, general distribution Distribution By: DR. Gary Holowicki, [log in to unmask], Compuserve 75464,741, 602-968-1523, pager 800-209-1071 Source document Follows: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L. St., NW, Washington, DC 20037 202-452-1100 FAX=3D202-778-6132 May 24, 1995 Ralph Morgenweck, Director Region 6 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 134 Union Blvd. P.O. Box 25486 Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Dear Mr. Morgenweck: On behalf of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and its 2.4 million members and constituents, I write to express my concern for the welfare of the group of four- and five-year-old black-footed ferrets scheduled for release into the wild in South Dakota and Wyoming next month. The HSUS has strongly supported the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service's (Service) efforts to recover endangered species, and has fought hard to protect the Endangered Species Act. In our view, the red and gray wolf and black-footed ferret reintroductions have provided the Service with some of its greatest and most visible endangered species successes. Nevertheless, we have recurring concerns about the humaneness of these reintroduction programs. Many of our constituents have questioned whether the stresses and risks faced by the reintroduced animals are ethically justified by the principles of the endangered species recovery. Accordingly, the HSUS has examined this issue in detail. In that context, we must express our misgivings about the Service's plan to release this group of older ferrets into the wild. It is our understanding that last February these ferrets were removed by the Service from several breeding facilities, at Pueblo, Colorado, and Sybille, Wyoming. Until that time, these animals had spent their entire lives in small cages, with considerable exposure to and handling by human caretakers. The HSUS believes that these senescent animals are unreleasable, and to release them into the wild under the guise of a scientific experiment would be both inhuman and hypocritical. It has been reported to us that many of these ferrets suffer serious physical ailments associated with old age, including damaged teeth, partial blindness, life threatening coccidiosis, and tumors; that few show either inclination or ability to hunt and kill prarie dogs when given the opportunity; that all, as hand-reared, habituated animals, are unwary; and that until late in their lives, none was ever intended for or trained for release. Based on past experience with black-footed ferret releases, it seems extremely unlikely that any of these animals would survive as long as 24 hours. Moreover, their last hours would be filled with confusion and fear. The Service justifies the release of these animals as an experiment designed to answer questions about monitoring technology, ferret behavior, and the effectiveness of pre-release conditioning in older adult animals. Because of the health and known behavior of these animals, however, we consider it virtually certain that the pre-release conditioning will be ineffective. Moreover, because these animals are senescent, their deaths will tell the Service little about the potential effectiveness of pre-release conditioning on healthy three-year-old adults, which might be better release candidates. The short expected survival time of these animals also makes it unlikely that they will provide data to answer the other scientific questions being posed. In our view, this is a poorly designed experiment that will kill many animals in a short period of time. The HSUS believes that all those who hold wild animals captive have the responsibility to ensure humane care for them to the end of their lives. Even though these black-footed ferrets are no longer considered useful to the captive breeding program, they nonetheless deserve to spend their last days in comfort. If suitable care cannot be found, they deserve at least a quick, humane death. We urge you to review this release program. If useful to you, The HSUS would be happy to offer its expertise in helping resolve this difficult issue. Sincerely, (signed) Allen T. Rutberg, Ph.D. Senior Scientist Wildlife and Habitat Protection cc: Mollie Beattie, Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service [Posted in FML issue 1211]