Black-footed ferret areas of activity during late summer and fall at Meeteetse, Wyoming

Product Type: Journal Article

Year: 2011

Author(s): Fagerstone, K.A. and D.E. Biggins

Suggested Citation:
Fagerstone, K.A. and D.E. Biggins. 2011. Black-footed ferret areas of activity during late summer and fall at Meeteetse, Wyoming. Journal of Mammalogy 92(4): 705-709.

Abstract

Radiotelemetry was used during 1983 and 1984 to collect information on short-term areas of activity for blackfooted ferrets (Mustela nigripes) near Meeteetse, Wyoming. This population ultimately provided ferrets for the captive-breeding program that bred and released offspring into the wild since 1991. We fitted 5 adult ferrets and 13 juveniles with radiotransmitters and followed their movements during late summer and fall. Adult males had 7-day areas of activity that were .6 times as large as those of adult females. Activity areas of adult males varied little in coverage or location on a weekly basis, but females sequentially shifted their areas. Unlike juvenile females, juvenile males tended to leave their natal colonies.