September 26, 2024

Wyoming State Parks is excited to announce the addition of two domestic ferrets to Sinks Canyon State Park. 

These 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, on this day in 1981, sparking decades of intensive recovery efforts.

Wyoming State Parks will use these domestic ferrets to share the inspiring 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."

"Working with Kimberly Fraser and the USFWS Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center staff has been amazing,” said Shoshone District Manager Kyle Bernis. “They have been great partners who support our efforts to educate and interpret the black-footed ferret story, which is a great success story for conservation efforts."

The ferrets have been named Shep, for the dog who brought the black-footed ferret to its owners, and Hogg, for the family whose ranch was home to the ferrets.

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 wonderful chance for park visitors to learn about the black-footed ferret's incredible 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. 

About Mark Warren:

Warren, a former Georgia Author of the Year recipient, has written numerous books on the West and historical characters, such as Wyatt Earp. He lectures on Native American history and survival skills, as well as Western Frontier History presenting at museums and cultural centers around the country.