Arizona wildlife staff and volunteers released 18 captive-bred black-footed ferrets on grasslands near Seligman this month. The animals had arrived from the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in Colorado.
The release is part of a long-running effort to bring the endangered species back to northern Arizona. A survey earlier this year found only six ferrets living in the wild in the state, so biologists say recovery is still a work in progress.
Staff placed cameras near burrow entrances to watch how the newly released animals use their habitat. They planned to return later in the fall with trained dogs to survey the population.
The report also noted a strong breeding season at the Phoenix Zoo, where seven litters produced 34 ferret kits. Captive breeding and carefully monitored releases give conservation teams more animals to support the recovery effort.
