The Arizona Game and Fish Department's annual fall effort to document endangered black-footed ferrets in Aubrey Valley, west of Seligman, is coming up, and the department is looking for volunteers to help at two "spotlighting" events in September and October.
The dates of the efforts are September 24-28 and October 22-26. Volunteers will point high-powered lights at the ferrets' burrows, causing the animals' emerald-green eyes to shine. That helps Game and Fish determine whether a burrow is occupied, so they can trap, vaccinate, count and release its inhabitants. (You might remember this from our January 2014 cover story.)
The ferrets were declared extinct in the wild in the 1980s, but a small population was discovered in Wyoming in 1981. By 1985, when captive-breeding efforts began, there were only 18 left. They were brought in 1996 to Aubrey Valley, where, as elsewhere, they hunt prairie dogs and live in prairie-dog burrows. Last year, ferrets were released at Northern Arizona's Espee Ranch in an attempt to create a second self-sustaining population in the state.
The spotlighting events happen at night, so if you're thinking of volunteering, you'll need to be able to stay alert and attentive from sunset to sunrise. (Bring coffee.) You'll also have to learn to use a GPS device provided by the department.
To volunteer or get more information, email [email protected] by September 21. In the subject line, include the words "Fall Spotlighting" and either "September," "October" or "Both," depending on which events you want to attend. In the email, include which nights you're available, your full name, a contact phone number and whether anyone will be attending with you.
To learn more about the ferrets and the spotlighting process, click here.
Photo courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish Department