Black-footed Ferrets Return to Wind Cave National Park

After a thirty-year absence, black-footed ferrets, one of the rarest animals in North America, have returned to Wind Cave National Park. National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees released seven animals in the park on July 4. The animals were captured in the Conata Basin near Wall and transported to the park on Wednesday and released the same day. The release follows the completion of an environmental assessment this spring that called for the reintroduction of ferrets into the park under a 10(a)(1)(A) scientific experimental/recovery permit issued under the Endangered Species Act. This permit allows experimental reintroductions to occur within park boundaries and provides mechanisms to ensure that private property interests outside the park are not impacted.

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