The Black-footed Ferret
Recovery Implementation Team (BFFRIT) was created in 1996 to more effectively
integrate the expertise and resources of various parties contributing to the
recovery of the black-footed ferret. The BFFRIT is a multi-agency/ conservation
organization effort, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which includes
representatives from federal and state governments, zoos, and nonprofit
organizations. The team was created pursuant to Section 4(f)(2) of the amended
Endangered Species Act which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
procure the services of appropriate public and private agencies, institutions,
and other qualified persons to help implement endangered species recovery
plans.
The goal of the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Plan is to
establish 10 or more widely separated, self-sustaining, wild black-footed
ferret populations in order to consider downlisting of the species to
"threatened" status. Although the role of the BFFRIT is strictly advisory in
nature, the team assists in the development of national guidance, provides
recommendations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the appropriate
conduct, methods, and priorities for ferret recovery efforts, and reviews any
future revision or update of the black-footed ferret recovery plan.
"Through a team effort, the agencies
and partners involved on the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team
will promote strategic public awareness, understanding, and support, resulting
in the successful recovery of the black-footed ferret and the conservation of
the ecosystem upon which it depends."
The
following agencies and non-profit organizations are working with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to save the black-footed ferret:
You can see live black-footed ferret at these exhibits:
- Akron Zoological Park, Akron, OH
- Binder Park Zoo, Battle
Creek, MI
- Bramble Park Zoo, Watertown, SD
- Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Visitor Center, Wall, SD
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, CO
- Dakota Zoo, Bismarck, ND
- Elmwood Park Zoo, Norristown, PA
- Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, TX
- Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE
- Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City, UT
- Hutchinson Zoo, Hutchinson, KS
- Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, MN
- Lee Richardson Zoo, Garden
City, KS
- Louisville Zoological
Gardens, Louisville, KY
- National Zoological Park, Washington, DC
- National
Zoological Park--CRC, Front Royal, VA
- North Eastern Wisconsin Zoo,
Green Bay, WI
- The Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix,
AZ
- Potter Park Zoological Gardens,
Lansing, MI
- Pueblo Zoo, Pueblo, CO
- Racine Zoological Gardens,
Racine, WI
- San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio,
TX
- San Antonio Zoological Garden
& Aquarium, San Antonio, TX
- San Diego Wild Animal Park, San
Diego, CA
- St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO
- Sybille Wildlife Research &
Conservation Center, Sybille, WY
- Toronto Zoo, Toronto,
Canada
- USFWS National Black-footed
Ferret Conservation Center, Wheatland, WY (mobile display only)
- Zoo Montana, Billings, MT
Black-footed ferret captive
breeding facilities:
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, CO
- Louisville Zoological
Gardens, Louisville, KY
- Toronto Zoo, Toronto,
Canada
- National Black-footed Ferret
Conservation Center, Sybille Canyon, WY (via
USFWS)
- National
Zoological Park's Conservation & Research Center, Front Royal, VA
- The Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix,
AZ
The photos used on this web site
came from a variety of sources, including:
- Angie McIntire, Arizona Game and
Fish Department
- Joanne Luyster
- Ron Stoneberg, Montana Fish,
Wildlife & Parks
- Dean Biggins, USGS/BRD
- Badlands National Park
- Marge From
- Dr. JoGayle Howard, NZP-CRC
- Ken Guthrie
- Dr. Corrine Brown
- Nebraska National Forest, Jerry
Schumacher
- George Andrejko, Arizona Game and
Fish Department
The following have contributed
invaluable assistance in the development of this web site:
- Arizona Game and Fish Department
- Ken Guthrie--kgByproducts
- Mike Lockhart--USFWS
- Roger Olson
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