Rapid Population Growth of a Critically Endangered Carnivore

Reintroductions of endangered species are controversial because of high costs and frequent failures. However, the population of black-footed ferrets descended from animals released in Shirley Basin, Wyoming, from 1991 to 1994 has grown rapidly after a decline to a low of five animals in 1997. Beginn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2007-08, Vol.317 (5839), p.779-779
Main Authors: Grenier, M.B, McDonald, D.B, Buskirk, S.W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal populations
Animal reproduction
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Brevia
Carnivores
Communicable Diseases - epidemiology
Communicable Diseases - veterinary
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Demecology
Dogs
Ecology
Endangered & extinct species
Endangered species
Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration
Ferrets
Ferrets - genetics
Ferrets - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Mammalia
Population Dynamics
Population estimates
Population Growth
Population growth rate
Prairies
Sciuridae
Vertebrata
Wyoming - epidemiology
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Summary:Reintroductions of endangered species are controversial because of high costs and frequent failures. However, the population of black-footed ferrets descended from animals released in Shirley Basin, Wyoming, from 1991 to 1994 has grown rapidly after a decline to a low of five animals in 1997. Beginning around 2000, the population grew rapidly to an estimated 223 (95% confidence interval is 192 to 401) individuals in 2006. Matrix population modeling shows the importance of survival and reproduction during the first year of life, reflecting an uncommon life history for an endangered mammalian carnivore. Recovery of the species may benefit from more opportunistic and widespread releases.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1144648