Endangered species

The Black-Footed Ferret (North America's only ferret) was once listed as extinct until a tiny remnant colony was discovered in Wyoming in 1981. A program of capturing, breeding in captivity and re-release into suitable habitat has resulted in self-sustaining wild ferret populations again living in a few western states and wild numbers are now estimated at a few hundred to over a thousand, total. They are nocturnal in habit and their diet consists mainly of prairie dogs.

Wind Cave National Park, near my home, is one of the successful reintroduction sites and I have longed to see (and photograph!) a black-footed ferret, but daytime sightings are extremely rare. Most, if not all, photos I have seen of them have come from captive breeding facilities or were nighttime photos taken with artificial light.

So, for me this is a big deal, a wild, free-ranging Black-Footed Ferret in natural daylight! They have been on my "bucket list" of species to see and capture. Your critiques and observations are welcome.

Nikon D3S, 200-400 w/1.4 TC, 500mm, iso 1400, 1/250, f11, +1.3ev, cropped to a little less than half for presentation, leaving me enough for a decent sized print!