Fort Collins 

At a new captive breeding center, biologists and volunteers from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management are working hard to recover the black-footed ferret. Once common throughout Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, the ferret was pushed to near extinction by the eradication of prairie dogs, the primary prey of the ferret. In 1981 there were only 18 known black-footed ferrets in the U.S. earning it the title as one of the most endangered mammals in the U.S. While many hurdles still remain, the black footed ferret’s recovery is on the right track. The new captive breeding center has just seen its’ first litters born this spring. Over all 126 black footed ferrets have been released in Colorado and 2,200 have been released overall in the ferret’s historic range.

Lyons

Sigrid Noll Uelblacker founded Birds of Prey, which specializes in treating injured and orphaned endangered wildlife such as eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls to be returned as healthy members of the breeding population in their natural habitats. Sigrid also works to foster compassion for endangered wildlife among young people through mentorship, internships, lectures, and volunteer programs. Through this work she advocates for the increased protection of endangered raptors in Colorado.

Nutrioso 

Ranch Jim Crosswhite is working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through a Safe Harbor Agreement to restore the waterway habitat along the portion of the Nutrioso creek that runs through his property. Mr. Crosswhite first approached the Service when he wanted to plant willows along the creek to stop erosion and improve the creek for the endangered Little Colorado spinedace. Hopefully the willows will also attract the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher.

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