BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK HOLDS FOCUS ON WILDLIFE WEEK

Badlands National Park will host Focus on Wildlife Week August 3 through 9, 2003. During this week, visitors will be able to view special exhibits dealing with restoration of native animal populations to the park, including the black-footed ferret, bison, bighorn sheep, and swift fox. Visitors are also encouraged to visit Robert’s Prairie Dog Town for a Ranger led Prairie Dog Town Walk, everyday at 9:30 a.m. On this walk visitors can learn about the vital role that ferrets play in a prairie dog town. There will also be Wildlife Talks given daily at 4:00 p.m. at the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail.

Badlands National Park is committed to restoring native wildlife through reintroduction. Each native animal that makes up the prairie ecosystem is important to the health of Badlands National Park’s prairie. The park finds it especially important to aid in the recovery and reintroduction of endangered species, such as the black-footed ferret. If an endangered animal becomes extinct, not only do we lose that particular animal, but we also lose a part of a complex ecosystem. An ecosystem, such as the prairie, that has lost a particular animal due to extinction will always be incomplete and will never go back to its original state. For this reason, Badlands National Park has reintroduced native species like bison, bighorn sheep, and the endangered black-footed ferret. More reintroductions of endangered native animals are planned for the future, including the swift fox.

For more information on “Focus on Wildlife Week,” contact Cathy Schleh at (605) 433-5246.