A research team at Wind Cave National Park lose sleep but catching black-foot ferrets this week in nocturnal overlapping efforts designed to address the small endangered animals.
The work is so inspiring because it is important, park biologist Than Roddy said Tuesday evening for a night out shed light on prairie dog towns in the 28,295-acre park.
"We are looking for that emerald eyes," said Roddy, referring to the greenish glow of ferret eyes in the spotlight."There is nothing like being on the prairie in the night looking for an endangered species."
Members of the crew to shine spotlight on vehicles or while on the foot to search of the ferrets, which in prairie dog towns live and dine on the rodents. crew members are in particular after the kits so micro chips can be implanted in the young ferrets to persons to identify in the future.
Once a fret, members of the team adopted a live trap on the opening to the cave and take a GPS fix on the location. Ferrets caught in the trap are stunned, checked for diseases and parasites and equipped with a microchip.
The crew is about sunset and is likely to remain all night. Monday night, they spotlight from 15 to 20 ferrets and were able to trap six. Roddy was hopeful that Tuesday evening and tonight would be so productive or better.
Black-foot ferrets were at the Wind Cave National Park in 2007.The estimation of the population in the Park is 30 to 35 ferrets. But that could be revised upwards, depending on what these three nights of field research.
The crew will the animals again next spring survey.
Roddy said ferrets checked this week seemed to be in good conditions, with only one show a high tap or flea infestation. fleas are a source of concern in particular because they are channels of sylvatic plague, a bacterial disease that can destroy prairie dog colonies and killing of ferrets.
Plague has prairie dog population in the Badlands area has hit and within 20 miles or so of the Park. Plague is not confirmed in the Park, but biologists closely watching for signs of the disease.
If Pest is found in the park, can vaccinations protect ferrets. Even so the loss of prairie dogs a threat to the Ferret survival.
"If you don't you no prairie dogs, ferrets," said Roddy.
Right now, the Park has them, however, after an absence of 30 years. And Roddy and others work to keep it that way.
They Also have some wonderful nights out on the prairie, looking for that emerald eyes.
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