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Dean E Biggins - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Oxford Scholarship Online - Evolution, natural history, and conservation of black-footed Ferrets
Oxford Scholarship Online, 2018Co-Authors: Dean E Biggins, David A. EadsAbstract:Black-footed Ferrets were reduced to a remnant population of 10 in 1985 due to diseases (plague, canine distemper), but successful captive breeding and releases have improved the prospects for ferret recovery. Comparisons between black-footed Ferrets and Siberian polecats, close relatives that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, allow the following evolutionary speculation. Predation on Ferrets and polecats tends to narrow their niches and promote specialization due to requirements for escape habitats. In Asia, that influence is countered by the larger and more diverse area of steppe and alpine meadow habitats for polecats, and by plague which causes large variation in prey abundance. In North America, the selective pressure favoring specialization in Ferrets on prairie dog prey and burrows had no strong counter-force before plague invaded. Plague is an immense challenge to black-footed ferret recovery, and several management tools including vaccines and vector control may be necessary to conserve the species.
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American badgers selectively excavate burrows in areas used by black-footed Ferrets: implications for predator avoidance
Journal of Mammalogy, 2013Co-Authors: David A. Eads, Dean E Biggins, Travis M Livieri, Joshua J. MillspaughAbstract:We evaluated how American badgers (Taxidea taxus) might exert selective pressure on black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) to develop antipredator defenses. In a colony of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in South Dakota, badgers concentrated their activities where burrow openings and prairie dogs were abundant, a selective behavior that was exhibited by Ferrets in the same colony. Badgers excavated burrows more often when in areas recently used by a ferret, suggesting that badgers hunt Ferrets or steal prey from Ferrets, or both. We also conducted an analysis of survival studies for Ferrets and Siberian polecats (M. eversmanii) released onto prairie dog colonies. This polecat is the ferret’s ecological equivalent but evolved without a digging predator. Badgers accounted for 30.0% of predation on polecats and 5.5% of predation on Ferrets. In contrast, both polecats and Ferrets have evolutionary experience with canids, providing a plausible explanation for the similar relative impact of coyotes (Canis latrans) on them (65.0% and 67.1% of predation, respectively). We hypothesize that Ferrets and badgers coexist because Ferrets are superior at exploitation competition and are efficient at avoiding badgers, and badgers are superior at interference competition.
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Information on black-footed ferret biology collected within the framework of ferret conservation
Western North American Naturalist, 2012Co-Authors: Dean E BigginsAbstract:ABSTRACT. Once feared to be extinct, black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) were rediscovered near Meeteetse, Wyoming, in 1981, resulting in renewed conservation and research efforts for this highly endangered species. A need for information directly useful to recovery has motivated much monitoring of Ferrets since that time, but field activities have enabled collection of data relevant to broader biological themes. This special feature is placed in a context of similar books and proceedings devoted to ferret biology and conservation. Articles include general observations on Ferrets, modeling of potential impacts of Ferrets on prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), discussions on relationships of Ferrets to prairie dog habitats at several spatial scales (from individual burrows to patches of burrow systems) and a general treatise on the status of black-footed ferret recovery.
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FINE-SCALE HABITAT USE OF REINTRODUCED BLACK-FOOTED Ferrets ON PRAIRIE DOG COLONIES IN NEW MEXICO
Western North American Naturalist, 2012Co-Authors: Jennifer G. Chipault, Dustin H. Long, Dean E Biggins, James K Detling, Robin M ReichAbstract:ABSTRACT. Black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are among the most endangered animals in North America. Reintroductions of captive-born Ferrets onto prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) colonies are crucial to the conservation of the species. In September 2007, captive-born Ferrets were released on a black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony at the Vermejo Park Ranch, New Mexico. Ferret kits experimentally released in areas of comparatively low and high prairie dog burrow densities were located via spotlight surveys. Some maturing ferret kits were subsequently translocated to areas of low and high burrow densities on nearby prairie dog colonies. For 2 months, fine-scale habitat use was quantified by mapping all burrow openings within a 30-m radius of each ferret location. Spatial statistics accounted for autocorrelation in the burrow densities in areas used by Ferrets. It was hypothesized that Ferrets would select areas of high burrow densities within colonies; however, burrow densities in areas used...
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Patterns of surface burrow plugging in a colony of black-tailed prairie dogs occupied by black-footed Ferrets
Western North American Naturalist, 2012Co-Authors: David A. Eads, Dean E BigginsAbstract:Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) can surface-plug openings to a burrow occupied by a black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). At a coarse scale, surface plugs are more common in colonies of prairie dogs occu- pied by Ferrets than in colonies without Ferrets. However, little is known about spatial and temporal patterns of surface plugging in a colony occupied by Ferrets. In a 452-ha colony of black-tailed prairie dogs in South Dakota, we sampled burrow openings for surface plugs and related those data to locations of Ferrets observed during spotlight surveys. Of 67,574 burrow openings in the colony between June and September 2007, 3.7% were plugged. In a colony-wide grid of 80 m × 80 m cells, the occurrence of surface plugging (≥1 opening plugged) was greater in cells used by Ferrets (93.3% of cells) than in cells not observably used by Ferrets (70.6%). Rates of surface plugging (percentages of openings plugged) were significantly higher in cells used by Ferrets (median = 3.7%) than in cells without known ferret use (median = 3.2%). Also, numbers of ferret locations in cells correlated positively with numbers of mapped surface plugs in the cells. To investigate surface plugging at finer temporal and spatial scales, we compared rates of surface plugging in 20-m- radius circle-plots centered on ferret locations and in random plots 1-4 days after observing a ferret (Jun-Oct 2007 and 2008). Rates of surface plugging were greater in ferret-plots (median = 12.0%) than in random plots (median = 0%). For prairie dogs and their associates, the implications of surface plugging could be numerous. For instance, Ferrets must dig to exit or enter plugged burrows (suggesting energetic costs), and surface plugs might influence microclimates in burrows and consequently influence species that cannot excavate soil (e.g., fleas that transmit the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis).
Tonie E. Rocke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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enzootic plague reduces black footed ferret mustela nigripes survival in montana
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2010Co-Authors: Marc R. Matchett, Dean E Biggins, Valerie Carlson, Bradford S Powell, Tonie E. RockeAbstract:Abstract Black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) require extensive prairie dog colonies (Cynomys spp.) to provide habitat and prey. Epizootic plague kills both prairie dogs and Ferrets and is a major factor limiting recovery of the highly endangered ferret. In addition to epizootics, we hypothesized that enzootic plague, that is, presence of disease-causing Yersinia pestis without any noticeable prairie dog die off, may also affect ferret survival. We reduced risk of plague on portions of two ferret reintroduction areas by conducting flea control for 3 years. Beginning in 2004, about half of the Ferrets residing on dusted and nondusted colonies were vaccinated against plague with an experimental vaccine (F1-V fusion protein). We evaluated 6-month reencounter rates (percentage of animals observed at the end of an interval that were known alive at the beginning of the interval), an index to survival, for Ferrets in four treatment groups involving all combinations of vaccination and flea control. For captive...
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enzootic plague reduces black footed ferret mustela nigripes survival in montana
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2010Co-Authors: Marc R. Matchett, Dean E Biggins, Valerie Carlson, Bradford S Powell, Tonie E. RockeAbstract:Black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) require extensive prairie dog colonies (Cynomys spp.) to provide habitat and prey. Epizootic plague kills both prairie dogs and Ferrets and is a major factor limiting recovery of the highly endangered ferret. In addition to epizootics, we hypothesized that enzootic plague, that is, presence of disease-causing Yersinia pestis without any noticeable prairie dog die off, may also affect ferret survival. We reduced risk of plague on portions of two ferret reintroduction areas by conducting flea control for 3 years. Beginning in 2004, about half of the Ferrets residing on dusted and nondusted colonies were vaccinated against plague with an experimental vaccine (F1-V fusion protein). We evaluated 6-month reencounter rates (percentage of animals observed at the end of an interval that were known alive at the beginning of the interval), an index to survival, for Ferrets in four treatment groups involving all combinations of vaccination and flea control. For captive-reared Ferrets (115 individuals observed across 156 time intervals), reencounter rates were higher for vaccinates (0.44) than for nonvaccinates (0.23, p = 0.044) on colonies without flea control, but vaccination had no detectable effect on colonies with flea control (vaccinates = 0.41, nonvaccinates = 0.42, p = 0.754). Flea control resulted in higher reencounter rates for nonvaccinates (p = 0.026), but not for vaccinates (p = 0.508). The enhancement of survival due to vaccination or flea control supports the hypothesis that enzootic plague reduces ferret survival, even when there was no noticeable decline in prairie dog abundance. The collective effects of vaccination and flea control compel a conclusion that fleas are required for maintenance, and probably transmission, of plague at enzootic levels. Other studies have demonstrated similar effects of flea control on several species of prairie dogs and, when combined with this study, suggest that the effects of enzootic plague are widespread. Finally, we demonstrated that the experimental F1-V fusion protein vaccine provides protection to Ferrets in the wild.
Marc R. Matchett - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Resource Selection by Black-Footed Ferrets in South Dakota and Montana
Natural Areas Journal, 2011Co-Authors: David S Jachowski, Dean E Biggins, Travis M Livieri, Marc R. Matchett, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Chadwick D. RittenhouseAbstract:ABSTRACT: The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), once extinct in the wild, remains one of the most critically endangered mammals in North America despite 18 years of reintroduction attempts. Because black-footed Ferrets are specialized predators of prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.), a better understanding of how black-footed Ferrets select resources might provide insight into how best to identify and manage reintroduction sites. We monitored ferret resource selection at two reintroduction sites with different densities of prairie dog populations-one that contained a high density of prairie dogs (Conata Basin, South Dakota) and one that was lower (UL Bend, Montana). We evaluated support for hypotheses about ferret resource selection as related to the distribution of active burrows used by black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), interactions between Ferrets, and habitat edge effects. We found support for all three factors within both populations; however, they affected ferret resource selection diff...
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home range size and spatial organization of black footed Ferrets mustela nigripes in south dakota usa
Wildlife Biology, 2010Co-Authors: David S Jachowski, Dean E Biggins, Travis M Livieri, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Marc R. MatchettAbstract:x¼56.3 ha, SE¼19.7, N¼6), while male ferret home ranges were on average more than twice as large as those of females (¯ x¼128.3 ha, SE¼68.5, N¼3). The home-range size of female Ferrets was correlated with mean active prairie dog burrow utilization distribution (UD) value within ferret home ranges, where home-range size decreased as active prairie dog burrow UD value increased (r 2 ¼ 0.974, P , 0.001, N ¼ 6). Ferret space use overlapped more extensively than previously reported, with up to 43% UD overlap between a ferret and the nearest adjacent ferret of the same sex. Areas of overlap tended to have higher active prairie dog burrow UD values, suggesting that the spatial distribution of active prairie dog burrows influenced both home-range size and the amount of space use overlap between Ferrets. These findings emphasize the potential influence of resource distribution on carnivore sociobiology and the importance of considering that distribution in assessing habitat for the re
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enzootic plague reduces black footed ferret mustela nigripes survival in montana
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2010Co-Authors: Marc R. Matchett, Dean E Biggins, Valerie Carlson, Bradford S Powell, Tonie E. RockeAbstract:Abstract Black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) require extensive prairie dog colonies (Cynomys spp.) to provide habitat and prey. Epizootic plague kills both prairie dogs and Ferrets and is a major factor limiting recovery of the highly endangered ferret. In addition to epizootics, we hypothesized that enzootic plague, that is, presence of disease-causing Yersinia pestis without any noticeable prairie dog die off, may also affect ferret survival. We reduced risk of plague on portions of two ferret reintroduction areas by conducting flea control for 3 years. Beginning in 2004, about half of the Ferrets residing on dusted and nondusted colonies were vaccinated against plague with an experimental vaccine (F1-V fusion protein). We evaluated 6-month reencounter rates (percentage of animals observed at the end of an interval that were known alive at the beginning of the interval), an index to survival, for Ferrets in four treatment groups involving all combinations of vaccination and flea control. For captive...
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enzootic plague reduces black footed ferret mustela nigripes survival in montana
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2010Co-Authors: Marc R. Matchett, Dean E Biggins, Valerie Carlson, Bradford S Powell, Tonie E. RockeAbstract:Black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) require extensive prairie dog colonies (Cynomys spp.) to provide habitat and prey. Epizootic plague kills both prairie dogs and Ferrets and is a major factor limiting recovery of the highly endangered ferret. In addition to epizootics, we hypothesized that enzootic plague, that is, presence of disease-causing Yersinia pestis without any noticeable prairie dog die off, may also affect ferret survival. We reduced risk of plague on portions of two ferret reintroduction areas by conducting flea control for 3 years. Beginning in 2004, about half of the Ferrets residing on dusted and nondusted colonies were vaccinated against plague with an experimental vaccine (F1-V fusion protein). We evaluated 6-month reencounter rates (percentage of animals observed at the end of an interval that were known alive at the beginning of the interval), an index to survival, for Ferrets in four treatment groups involving all combinations of vaccination and flea control. For captive-reared Ferrets (115 individuals observed across 156 time intervals), reencounter rates were higher for vaccinates (0.44) than for nonvaccinates (0.23, p = 0.044) on colonies without flea control, but vaccination had no detectable effect on colonies with flea control (vaccinates = 0.41, nonvaccinates = 0.42, p = 0.754). Flea control resulted in higher reencounter rates for nonvaccinates (p = 0.026), but not for vaccinates (p = 0.508). The enhancement of survival due to vaccination or flea control supports the hypothesis that enzootic plague reduces ferret survival, even when there was no noticeable decline in prairie dog abundance. The collective effects of vaccination and flea control compel a conclusion that fleas are required for maintenance, and probably transmission, of plague at enzootic levels. Other studies have demonstrated similar effects of flea control on several species of prairie dogs and, when combined with this study, suggest that the effects of enzootic plague are widespread. Finally, we demonstrated that the experimental F1-V fusion protein vaccine provides protection to Ferrets in the wild.
Kenneth F. Higgins - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Efficacy of Scent Dogs in Detecting Black-Footed Ferrets at a Reintroduction Site in South Dakota
Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2006Co-Authors: Sara A. Reindl-thompson, Aimee Hurt, John A Shivik, Alice Whitelaw, Kenneth F. HigginsAbstract:Abstract Endangered black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are difficult to monitor because of their nocturnal and fossorial habits, but land use and management are influenced by their potential presence. Detector dogs have been suggested as a method for determining ferret presence, although its efficacy has not been thoroughly investigated. We evaluated 2 dogs trained specifically for determining ferret presence in field evaluations conducted in black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies at the Conata Basin reintroduction site in South Dakota, USA, during September and October 2003. We tested the dogs on 4 test colonies that had no record of ferret presence and 7 colonies known to have Ferrets inhabiting them. One dog was 100% accurate at detecting presence and the other was between 57% and 71% successful at detecting Ferrets, with neither dog falsely indicating presence when Ferrets were absent. For the 2 dogs, the mean time to detect Ferrets on a prairie dog colony was 21 minutes and mea...
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Efficacy of Scent Dogs in Detecting Black‐Footed Ferrets at a Reintroduction Site in South Dakota
Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2006Co-Authors: Sara A. Reindl-thompson, Aimee Hurt, John A Shivik, Alice Whitelaw, Kenneth F. HigginsAbstract:Abstract Endangered black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are difficult to monitor because of their nocturnal and fossorial habits, but land use and management are influenced by their potential presence. Detector dogs have been suggested as a method for determining ferret presence, although its efficacy has not been thoroughly investigated. We evaluated 2 dogs trained specifically for determining ferret presence in field evaluations conducted in black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies at the Conata Basin reintroduction site in South Dakota, USA, during September and October 2003. We tested the dogs on 4 test colonies that had no record of ferret presence and 7 colonies known to have Ferrets inhabiting them. One dog was 100% accurate at detecting presence and the other was between 57% and 71% successful at detecting Ferrets, with neither dog falsely indicating presence when Ferrets were absent. For the 2 dogs, the mean time to detect Ferrets on a prairie dog colony was 21 minutes and mea...
Valerie Carlson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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enzootic plague reduces black footed ferret mustela nigripes survival in montana
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2010Co-Authors: Marc R. Matchett, Dean E Biggins, Valerie Carlson, Bradford S Powell, Tonie E. RockeAbstract:Abstract Black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) require extensive prairie dog colonies (Cynomys spp.) to provide habitat and prey. Epizootic plague kills both prairie dogs and Ferrets and is a major factor limiting recovery of the highly endangered ferret. In addition to epizootics, we hypothesized that enzootic plague, that is, presence of disease-causing Yersinia pestis without any noticeable prairie dog die off, may also affect ferret survival. We reduced risk of plague on portions of two ferret reintroduction areas by conducting flea control for 3 years. Beginning in 2004, about half of the Ferrets residing on dusted and nondusted colonies were vaccinated against plague with an experimental vaccine (F1-V fusion protein). We evaluated 6-month reencounter rates (percentage of animals observed at the end of an interval that were known alive at the beginning of the interval), an index to survival, for Ferrets in four treatment groups involving all combinations of vaccination and flea control. For captive...
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enzootic plague reduces black footed ferret mustela nigripes survival in montana
Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2010Co-Authors: Marc R. Matchett, Dean E Biggins, Valerie Carlson, Bradford S Powell, Tonie E. RockeAbstract:Black-footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) require extensive prairie dog colonies (Cynomys spp.) to provide habitat and prey. Epizootic plague kills both prairie dogs and Ferrets and is a major factor limiting recovery of the highly endangered ferret. In addition to epizootics, we hypothesized that enzootic plague, that is, presence of disease-causing Yersinia pestis without any noticeable prairie dog die off, may also affect ferret survival. We reduced risk of plague on portions of two ferret reintroduction areas by conducting flea control for 3 years. Beginning in 2004, about half of the Ferrets residing on dusted and nondusted colonies were vaccinated against plague with an experimental vaccine (F1-V fusion protein). We evaluated 6-month reencounter rates (percentage of animals observed at the end of an interval that were known alive at the beginning of the interval), an index to survival, for Ferrets in four treatment groups involving all combinations of vaccination and flea control. For captive-reared Ferrets (115 individuals observed across 156 time intervals), reencounter rates were higher for vaccinates (0.44) than for nonvaccinates (0.23, p = 0.044) on colonies without flea control, but vaccination had no detectable effect on colonies with flea control (vaccinates = 0.41, nonvaccinates = 0.42, p = 0.754). Flea control resulted in higher reencounter rates for nonvaccinates (p = 0.026), but not for vaccinates (p = 0.508). The enhancement of survival due to vaccination or flea control supports the hypothesis that enzootic plague reduces ferret survival, even when there was no noticeable decline in prairie dog abundance. The collective effects of vaccination and flea control compel a conclusion that fleas are required for maintenance, and probably transmission, of plague at enzootic levels. Other studies have demonstrated similar effects of flea control on several species of prairie dogs and, when combined with this study, suggest that the effects of enzootic plague are widespread. Finally, we demonstrated that the experimental F1-V fusion protein vaccine provides protection to Ferrets in the wild.