The Effect of Rearing Methods on Survival of Reintroduced Black-Footed Ferrets

Biggins, Dean E.; Godbey, Jerry L.; Hanebury, Lou; Luce, Bob; Marinari, Paul E.; Matchett, Marc R.; Vargas, Astrid

doi:10.2307/3802340

Cited by 84 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In another European mink re-introduction project in Estonia, Maran et al (2009) reported 59 and 30% alive after 14 d and 1 mo, respectively, with 37% confirmed as having died. For black-footed ferrets in North America, Biggins et al (1998) reported only 30% still alive after 30 d. In the current study, only 9 polecats (28%) were confirmed to have died. However, the fate of the other 23, once the signal had been lost, is not known, and these animals may also have died.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

Post-release survival of orphaned wild-born polecats Mustela putorius reared in captivity at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in England

Kelly¹,

Scrivens²,

Grogan³

2010

Endang. Species. Res.

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Many thousands of rehabilitated wildlife casualties and captive-reared orphans are released back to the wild each year. Most wildlife rehabilitators equate release with success, and very little is known about the post-release survival of rehabilitated wildlife. We measured the postrelease survival of orphaned polecats Mustela putorius, a species of conservation concern and currently a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species. Between 1997 and 2008, 137 polecats were admitted to the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in northwest England. Of these, 89 (65%) were orphaned juveniles. Fortythree percent of adults and 89% of juveniles were released back to the wild following rehabilitation. Between 2005 and 2008, we radio-tracked 32 juvenile polecats at 5 release sites in Cheshire and North Wales, UK. These individuals were tracked for 3 to 104 d (median = 27.5). Of the 32 radiotracked animals, 26 (81%) were still alive after 14 d, and a minimum of 16 (50%) were still alive after 1 mo. Twelve percent were known to have died in road traffic collisions, 22% shed their collars, and the signal was lost for 56%. Those for which the signal was eventually lost were tracked for 13 to 103 d (median = 38.5 d). Two female polecats trapped following release in 2007 had lost 30% and 18% of their body weight, respectively. The data suggest that the survival of rehabilitated polecats is sufficient to justify the resources used in the rehabilitation process and that the animals' long-term welfare is not compromised by being held in captivity.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

Post-release survival of orphaned wild-born polecats Mustela putorius reared in captivity at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in England

Kelly¹,

Scrivens²,

Grogan³

2010

Endang. Species. Res.

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“…Perhaps individuals of both sexes were overwhelmed by release into a strange area, and other sources of variation masked intersexual dierences (Biggins et al, 1998). Over time, patterns of movement unique to each sex would be expected to develop; the duration of this study was too short to gather such information.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…There are many possibilities (Biggins et al, 1998), but few experiments have been conducted to isolate their separate in¯uences on ferrets. Ferrets raised outdoors were subjected to oscillations in climatic conditions, and were pre-exposed to soil microorganisms and parasites such as¯eas and ticks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Influence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes)

Biggins

Vargas

Godbey

et al. 1999

Biological Conservation

Self Cite

127

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“…Among other considerations, such as genus, species, sex, and enclosure-type differences [Day, 2003;Day et al, 2003], the age of animals when they receive any pre-release training may determine whether the experience is effective in enhancing postrelease survival [Beck et al, 2002;Biggins et al, 1998]. In contrast to previous studies in which callitrichids were exposed to pre-release foraging tasks [Kleiman et al, 1986;Redshaw & Mallinson, 1991], the current results suggest that older individuals have an increased ability to acquire or exploit novel information compared to younger individuals.…”

Section: Application To Reintroductionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age differences in neophilia, exploration, and innovation in family groups of callitrichid monkeys

Kendal

Coe

Laland

2005

American J Primatol

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The prevailing assumption in the primate literature is that young or juvenile primates are more innovative than adult individuals. This innovative tendency among the young is frequently thought to be a consequence, or side effect, of their increased rates of exploration and play. Conversely, Reader and Laland's [International Journal of Primatology 22:787-806, 2001] review of the primate innovation literature noted a greater reported incidence of innovation in adults than nonadults, which they interpreted as (in part) a reflection of the greater experience and competence of older individuals. Within callitrichids there is contradictory evidence for age differences in response to novel objects, foods, and foraging tasks. By presenting novel extractive foraging tasks to family groups of callitrichid monkeys in zoos, we examined, in a large sample, whether there are positive or negative relationships of age with neophilia, exploration, and innovation, and whether play or experience most facilitates innovation. The results indicate that exploration and innovation (but not neophilia) are positively correlated with age, perhaps reflecting adults' greater manipulative competence. To the extent that there was evidence for play in younger individuals, it did not appear to contribute to innovation. The implications of these findings for the fields of innovation and conservation through reintroduction are considered.

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The Effect of Rearing Methods on Survival of Reintroduced Black-Footed Ferrets

Cited by 84 publications

References 18 publications

Post-release survival of orphaned wild-born polecats Mustela putorius reared in captivity at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in England

Post-release survival of orphaned wild-born polecats Mustela putorius reared in captivity at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in England

Influence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes)

Age differences in neophilia, exploration, and innovation in family groups of callitrichid monkeys

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