Influence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes)
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Published source details
Biggins D.E., Vargas A., Godbey J.L. & Anderson S.H. (1999) Influence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). Biological Conservation, 89, 121-129.
Published source details Biggins D.E., Vargas A., Godbey J.L. & Anderson S.H. (1999) Influence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). Biological Conservation, 89, 121-129.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Captive rear in large enclosures prior to release Action Link |
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Provide live natural prey to captive mammals to foster hunting behaviour before release Action Link |
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Captive rear in large enclosures prior to release
A controlled study in 1992 in a grassland area in Wyoming, USA (Biggins et al. 1999) found that captive-bred black-footed ferrets Mustela nigripes raised in large enclosures dispersed smaller distances and moved less after release than did ferrets raised in small enclosures. Black-footed ferrets raised in large enclosures had a lower average maximum dispersal distance during the first three days post-release (1.7 km) and lower average cumulative movement over any three-day period post-release (8.2 km) than ferrets raised in small enclosures (maximum dispersal distance: 5.6 km; average cumulative movement: 21.1 km). Between September and October 1992, twenty-five 16.5–18-week-old captive-bred black-footed ferrets were radio-tagged and released into a 20,596-ha area. Eight ferrets were born in cages but raised in 80-m2 outdoor pens with prairie dog burrows and 17 were born and raised in indoor-1.5 m2 cages. All ferrets were fed live prairie dogs. Ferrets were followed in October–November 1992.
(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)
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Provide live natural prey to captive mammals to foster hunting behaviour before release
A controlled study in 1992 in a grassland area in Wyoming, USA (Biggins et al. 1999) found that captive-bred black-footed ferrets Mustela nigripes fed on live white-tailed prairie dogs Cynomys leucurus took longer to disperse after release but showed greater subsequent movements than did black-footed ferrets not fed with live prairie dogs. Results were not tested for statistical significance. Black-footed ferrets fed on live prairie dogs dispersed less on average during the first three days post-release (5.6 km) than did those with no experience with live prairie dogs (7.9 km). However, they had a greater average cumulative movement over any three-day period (21.2 km) than did those without live prairie dog experience (15.6 km). Between September and October 1992, twenty-nine 16.5–18-week-old captive-bred black-footed ferrets were radio-tagged and released into a 20,596-ha site. Seventeen ferrets had been fed live white-tailed prairie dogs weekly at 13–16 weeks and 12 had no experience with live prairie dogs. All ferrets were born and raised in indoor 1.5-m2 cages. Ferrets were radio-tracked in October-November 1992.
(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)
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