black footed ferret release

[Robilyn]

Hey guys. I've been gone the past few days on a trip to Mexico to release black-footed ferrets. I volunteer at the black footed ferret conservation center, where they breed the most ferrets in the world in order to recover the species. The bff is one of the most endangered mammals in North America--they have been recovered to a wild population of about 650 from 17 through captive breeding and release efforts. I got to drive 25 ferrets from Colorado to Mexico with another volunteer, where we met up with other US Fish and Wildlife biologists, as well as Mexican biologists for the release. Here are some pictures :-)

Here's Colorado when we left:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0577.jpg

Showing off the ferrets at the El Paso zoo where they spent the night:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0580.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0581.jpg

at the release site:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0591.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0593.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0599.jpg

this one didn't want to leave her kennel:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0601.jpg

me releasing a ferret:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0608.jpg

here's one of the captive ferrets at the breeding center:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Robilyn/Mexico%20Ferret%20Trip/IMG_0503.jpg

[ffollett]

Awesome.

[Lorelei]

That is so cool!

[Basil]

Kudos! That's great!

[SnakeGirl]

Awesome! Glad to see these guys making a comeback. Keep up the good work! :thumb:

Btw, were those guys friendly and cuddly or did they not interact with humans much (too make 'em survive in the wild)? I ask because it would have been cool if you coulda played with that many ferrets during rest stops on the way down there! ;)

[The Snake Guru]

That's pretty sweet Robyn! Thanks for sharing!

~B~

[~Sweet Devil~]

Big kudos to you for making an effort to play a part of the bigger scheme of things! This is an educational post worth reading!

[mcem]

That's too cool Robyn!! I have to say...I'm a bit jealous!!! LOL

[Robilyn]

Thanks everyone! It was a great experience. Conservation biology is what I went to school for, so it's great to get an opportunity to work on this project. I might get to come on as a seasonal at the conservation center this summer and I'm pretty excited about it.

Awesome! Glad to see these guys making a comeback. Keep up the good work! :thumb:

Btw, were those guys friendly and cuddly or did they not interact with humans much (too make 'em survive in the wild)? I ask because it would have been cool if you coulda played with that many ferrets during rest stops on the way down there! ;)

Ha ha, no, they are NOT friendly. Lol. Every once in a while you get one who is friendlier than the rest. (There was a really sweet one at the breeding center, but he went to the San Diego Zoo.) But in general they will bite you if you give them the chance. We keep interaction to a minimum for the reason you stated.