Posted by Don Kurz on December 28, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Defenders of Wildlife announced today that the US Fish & Wildlife Service has released two dozen endangered black-footed ferret kits in Kansas. They were raised in captivity in western Kansas on a private ranch owned by the Haverfields. This ranch contains the largest prairie dog colony in the state.
Let's hear it for Larry and Bette Haverfield and other ranchers who finally won a long fight to provide a home for these ferrets in the heart of western Kansas!
Okay, Wayne and other Kansans, I expect to see your black-footed ferret images posted within a couple of years.
Best,
Don
Posted by Bill Dark on December 28, 2007 at 6:39 PM
Hats off to Fish and Wildlife, for sure, Don! I look forward to the Kansas shooters' future photos, especially since I've never seen a black-footed ferret.
Posted by Rob Graham on December 28, 2007 at 10:53 PM
I can't wait to get out there. The debate over the ferrets/prairie dogs was a hard fought battle. Updates were posted on the ksBird listserv, since the fate of the prairie dogs affected many species of birds. Needless to say, Kansas birders are also very happy that the prairie dogs are safe for the moment :).
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on December 29, 2007 at 1:25 PM
That's great news! I'll have to drop Larry & Bette a thank you note, along with the US Fish & Wildlife service. I've seen a marked increase in the number and size of prairie dog colonies in western Kansas and eastern Colorado during my travels the last couple of years.
Documentaries I've seen recently really opened my eyes to the benefits that prairie dogs bring to the local environments and having another natural predator present can only be beneficial to the entire natural process.
It's refreshing to know that small battles are being fought and won with the combined efforts of national organizations and enlightened local citizens! Thanks for bringing this to my attention Don!
Posted by Ken Bachman on December 29, 2007 at 6:17 PM
This has indeed been an interesting story and it appears to have a happy ending for lovers of wildlife and conservationists.
To make a long story short, late last year (2006) it didn't look like it could end this way since the Haverfields and the others were under threat from the local county commision and law enforcement to allow exterminators to erradicate the prairie dogs, against their wishes but at their expense.
In this battle of wildlife vs. private property rites, many think that the Haverfields are backwords or old fashioned in their attitude towards the prairie dog but I prefer to consider them as rather forward thinking.
Congratulations to all who worked for this. It will be interesting to follow the story in the next months and years.
I'm not a wildlife photgrapher but I might have to get a long lens and give it a try
Discussion
4 repliesLet's hear it for Larry and Bette Haverfield and other ranchers who finally won a long fight to provide a home for these ferrets in the heart of western Kansas!
Okay, Wayne and other Kansans, I expect to see your black-footed ferret images posted within a couple of years.
Best,
Don
Documentaries I've seen recently really opened my eyes to the benefits that prairie dogs bring to the local environments and having another natural predator present can only be beneficial to the entire natural process.
It's refreshing to know that small battles are being fought and won with the combined efforts of national organizations and enlightened local citizens! Thanks for bringing this to my attention Don!
To make a long story short, late last year (2006) it didn't look like it could end this way since the Haverfields and the others were under threat from the local county commision and law enforcement to allow exterminators to erradicate the prairie dogs, against their wishes but at their expense.
In this battle of wildlife vs. private property rites, many think that the Haverfields are backwords or old fashioned in their attitude towards the prairie dog but I prefer to consider them as rather forward thinking.
Congratulations to all who worked for this. It will be interesting to follow the story in the next months and years.
I'm not a wildlife photgrapher but I might have to get a long lens and give it a try