WHAT
Join top officials at a historic release of endangered black-footed ferrets at the Espee Ranch outside of Williams aimed at establishing a second population of the species within Arizona. This release will be the first one for ferrets under a Safe Harbor Agreement, a tool used to work with private land owners to conserve endangered species. A demonstration will also be given of a new sylvatic plague vaccine to help protect prairie dogs. Prairie dogs are the primary prey of black-footed ferrets and sylvatic plague can decimate entire prairie dog colonies, thus jeopardizing the ferret population.

The black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct until a small colony was discovered in Wyoming in 1981. Disease outbreaks reduced this population to about 18 individuals, which were captured to begin a captive breeding program to save the species.

The descendants of the original 18 ferrets have now been used to successfully establish the species in the Aubrey Valley outside of Seligman, Ariz. The new Espee Ranch release site is the next step in the state's recovery goals and will provide a second population to help protect recovery efforts from catastrophic events at either site. Before reintroduction, the last black-footed ferret in Arizona was found in 1931 in an area between Williams and Flagstaff. Now, surveys show a minimum of 100 animals in the Aubrey Valley population, a number high enough that the population is considered self-sustaining and the release of captive ferrets is no longer required to augment the population.

WHEN
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014
10 a.m. to Noon

WHERE
Tin House Camp, Espee Ranch
Near Williams, Ariz.
Directions and a map will be provided upon R.S.V.P.

WHO
Top officials from the governmental agencies, non-profit organizations and private landowners that represent the collaborative partners on the Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction Project. Partners include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Babbitt Ranches, Phoenix Zoo, Hualapai Nation, Navajo Nation, Arizona State Land Department and the Cholla Cattle Company.

Additional Information
Lunch will be provided at Espee Ranch following the event.

Media should R.S.V.P. to Public Information Officer Lynda Lambert at (623) 236-7203. Officials and ferret biologists will be available for interviews following the release. Photos and video from the event will also be available to media after the event.

Contact:

Lynda Lambert, AGFD
(623) 236-7203