Ten black-footed ferrets were reintroduced by Arizona Game and Fish into the Aubrey Valley and Double O Ranch area of Coconino and Yavapai counties. It’s the first time in more than 15 years that the department has attempted to successfully bring the species back into Arizona.
The department made similar recovery efforts in the early 2000s, but years later, it began to notice a steep decline in population. Scientists tracked the problem to a bacterial disease that prairie dogs carry.
Prairie dogs are hunted by black-footed ferrets, and while they’re able to live with the disease, the ferrets are not. Prior to their release, the ferrets were vaccinated for the disease to increase their recovery chances.
Holly Hicks is a biologist at the department. She said that the ferrets hunting prairie dogs helps with overpopulation, something that can reduce the spread of disease to other animals and help Arizona farmers.
“They don’t want to see these populations being too high because they feel that it’s a competition with the forage for their cattle,” Hicks said.
Hicks added that this will be the first of six ferret releases over the next three, years with two more to happen in April 2025. She also said that the department is the first of four groups in the country to successfully release them into the wild.
-
The U.S. Forest Service says it will close a bald eagle breeding area in the Prescott National Forest this weekend. The closure will continue through June 30 unless there are plans to reopen early. -
Maricopa County officials want to remind residents to do their part to keep our air clean during this holiday season. -
Lighting the Arizona Capitol Christmas tree has been a longstanding tradition. Last year, for the first time ever, an Arizona tribe gifted the state a tree for the occasion. With each passing holiday season, it’s becoming more commonplace. -
Researchers with Wildlands Network and Sky Island Alliance found that small wildlife openings, added into the border wall, allow more connectivity for smaller animals like javelina, coyote and even mountain lion. -
The Center for Biological Diversity, Mountain Lion Federation, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, and other conservation groups have petitioned the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to ban the use of dog packs to hunt wildlife.
