Domestic ferrets to help tell story of black-footed ferret conservation

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Wyoming State Parks announces the addition of two domestic ferrets to Sinks Canyon State Park.

The five-month-old ferrets come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Black-Footed Ferret Breeding Facility in Carr, Colorado, where they were part of the breeding and cloning efforts to help save one of North America’s most endangered species.

Black-footed ferrets, once considered extinct, were rediscovered in Meeteetse, Wyoming, in 1981, sparking decades of intensive recovery efforts.

Wyoming State Parks will use the domestic ferrets to share the conservation story of their endangered cousins, providing visitors with a close-up experience and a unique educational opportunity.

According to Interpretive Ranger Angelina Stancampiano, “We have seen how live animals connect visitors to the stories of wildlife; observing the huge canines of ferrets and watching them slink around makes ‘endangered’ feel very real and close-to-home.”

The ferrets will be in residence at the Sinks Canyon State Park Visitor Center in the summers and will also make special public appearances during park programming. 

This is a chance for park visitors to learn about the black-footed ferret’s journey from the brink of extinction and the ongoing efforts to preserve this iconic species.

For updates on ferret appearances and other programming events, follow Sinks Canyon State Park and the Shoshone District of Wyoming State Parks on Facebook and Instagram.

This story was published on September 27, 2024.