Last week, 17 additional endangered black-footed ferrets were released at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Meadow Springs Ranch. This was to supplement the 42 animals that were reintroduced last year.
Annual monitoring in September of the ferret population by scientists from City of Fort Collins Natural Areas, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and US Fish and Wildlife Service reported six ferrets, including one that is likely a wild-born kit, and a lactating female. Seeing only a few ferrets is a typical monitoring result and biologists feel that the population is doing well especially because it is reproducing on its own. The six ferrets were in good health.
Other wildlife observations included swift fox, badgers, coyotes, raccoon, porcupine, pronghorn, poor-wills and a barn owl. Twenty-five people contributed to the effort and contributed 312 hours over four nights.
Learn more about Soapstone Prairie Natural Area at fcgov.com/naturalareas/finder/soapstone.