USGS-FORT Co-hosting National Black-Footed Ferret Symposium

Logo for the Symposium on the Status of the Black-Footed Ferret and its Habitat

The black-footed ferret is a federally endangered member of the weasel family. Captive breeding, research, habitat conservation, and successful reintroduction to the wild all play a vital role in saving this species, as do the dedication and expertise of a diverse group of researchers and land and resource managers from private entities, nonprofit organizations, universities, and federal, state, and local government agencies. A two-day symposium on the black-footed ferret will be held in Fort Collins, Colorado, January 28-29, 2004, to present and document the latest information on the ferret. Hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Foundation, the symposium will provide an overview of the ferret recovery program, management of captive populations, re-establishment of wild ferret populations, and factors limiting recovery. The intent of the symposium is to document what we have learned about the ferret but also to provide information that may be pertinent for assisting conservation and recovery efforts for other species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Registration is limited to 250 participants.

For more information contact: Jerry Godbey