Despite dedicated efforts by the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (USFWS) and recovery partners, recent estimates suggest that black-footed ferret (mustela nigripes) populations remain far below federal…

This $657,780 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation program (CFDA 15.657) aims to develop innovative technologies and methods to improve protection and detection of the endangered black-footed ferret.

Key deliverables include:

• Building 10 or more all-terrain vehicle devices to deliver plague protection baits to prairie dogs at black-footed ferret reintroduction sites
• Analyzing and improving existing black-footed ferret survey methodologies to maximize detection
• Producing and delivering 500,000 FIPBITS, an effective and cost-efficient plague prevention tool, to control fleas on prairie dogs at 5 or more ferret sites
• Comparing black-footed ferret detection rates using traditional spotlighting versus new thermal camera survey methods and developing recommendations to optimize survey efforts

The project will be conducted in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Smithsonian National Zoo, Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture, and other ferret conservation organizations. Sub-awards will support FIPBITS manufacturing and analysis of ferret survey techniques.

Despite dedicated efforts by the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (USFWS) and recovery partners, recent estimates suggest that black-footed ferret (mustela nigripes) populations remain far below federal recovery criteria. This population deficiency is largely the result of challenges associated with combating the deadly impacts of sylvatic plague and limitations of survey methods used to assign time-sensitive management. Recovery of this endangered species requires annual monitoring and protection of both black-footed ferrets and their prairie DOG (cynomys SPP.) prey from plague within recovery sites. Currently, less than 20% of active prairie dogs colonies occupied by black-footed ferrets are protected from plague annually due to the substantial cost. We propose to address these challenges and achieve a series of priority actions described in the USFWS recovery PLAN2 by applying innovative technologies to advance cost-effective protection and detection of black-footed ferrets at reintroduction sites throughout their historical range. The purpose of this project is to cultivate additional plague protection techniques and black-footed ferret detection methods to improve survival and annual estimates of wild populations. During the july 1, 2024 - june 30, 2026 project period, we will:(1) build ten or more functional all-terrain vehicle delivery devices capable of delivering plague protective baits to prairie dogs at black-footed ferret reintroduction sites.(2) analyze and improve existing black-footed ferret survey methodology to maximize black-footed ferret detection.(3) produce and deliver an effective and cost-efficient plague prevention tool fipbits to control fleas on prairie dogs.(4) analyze existing black-footed ferret spotlighting survey methodology.(5) develop recommendations to maximize black-footed ferret spotlighting survey efforts.(6) compare results of surveys conducted with thermal cameras to spotlighting surveys.(7) promote the use of thermal cameras.(8) develop a method for integrating thermal-camera technologies into black-footed ferret surveys, along with a guide to protocols, analysis, and data interpretation. Specific deliverables include: ten functional ATV triple-shooters. One unmanned aerial vehicle with a functional triple-shooter system. 500,000 fipbits distributed at five or more black-footed ferret sites. Database of black-footed ferret encounter histories from four or more black-footed ferret sites. Evaluation of statistical techniques measuring detection rates, catch-per-unit effort, abundance estimates, power analyses, etc. List of recommendations for optimizing black-footed ferret survey efforts. Comparison of black-footed ferret detection rates using traditional VS. New survey methods thermal camera black-footed ferret training workshops for site managers guide for black-footed ferret thermal camera surveysthe expected benefits of this project are improved annual estimates and survival of wild black-footed ferret populations from current levels by developing and implementing innovative protection and detection tools. Subsequently this will help stabilize or increase wild black-footed ferret populations, reduce extinction risk, and contribute to meeting recovery criteria. Project results will be shared with the intended beneficiaries: the greater black-footed ferret conservation community. This work will be accomplished in partnership with USFWS, smithsonians national ZOO and conservation biology institute, turner institute of ecoagriculture, conservation technology consultants kurt kreiger and shawn jepson, and black-footed ferret reintroduction site partners in arizona, colorado, montana, north dakota, south dakota, new mexico, wyoming, and utah.