Prairie Night: Black-Footed Ferrets and the Recovery of Endangered Species

With an inquisitive, intelligent face and rounded ears like a mouse's, the black-footed ferret, the most endangered mammalian species in North America, might well be the poster child for the Endangered Species Act. The authors, drawing on their years of experience working to keep these animals from becoming extinct--Miller has been involved with programs for the captive breeding and reintroduction of black-footed ferrets; Reading is a conservationist with the U.N.; Forrest is a consulting biologist in Montana--relate conservation strategies specific to ferrets while generalizing to examine what this case study might teach us about saving threatened wildlife more broadly. Of significant interest is their discussion of the political infighting between state and federal officials, dissension that compromises aspects of the captive breeding program and dramatically increases costs. On the biological front, the authors make an articulate case for habitat preservation. Since black-footed ferrets rely almost exclusively on black-tailed prairie dogs for food, prairie dog towns must be protected if the ferrets are to survive, they stress. Yet, ironically, another arm of the federal government spends millions of dollars to eradicate prairie dogs. Although intended to be accessible to a general audience, at times the writing here is too technical and dry to be fully effective. Photos. (Oct.)