HomeMy WebLinkAbout20142211.tiff Natural Areas Department
City of 1745 Hoffman Mill Road
PO Box 580
Fort Collins Fort Collins,CO 80522
970.416.2815
970.416.2211 -fax
lcgov.comMaturalareas
July 11,2014
Dear Neighbor.
The City of Fort Collins is excited to announce that we are reintroducing endangered black-
footed ferrets on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Meadow Springs Ranch in early
September.This letter explains what the reintroduction might mean for you. There are
several safeguards in place,explained below.
Black-footed ferrets are an endangered species and are considered one of the rarest
mammals in North America. They are a key part of a healthy, functioning shortgrass prairie
ecosystem. Black-footed ferrets are nocturnal predators that eat prairie dogs almost
exclusively. Soapstone Prairie and Meadow Springs Ranch will be the twenty second black-
footed ferret reintroduction site, so we are confident about the resulting positive impact on
the land. The City has been working to manage prairie dog colonies to support black-footed
reintroduction since 2007 when reintroducing endangered species was approved as a priority
in Soapstone Prairie Natural Area's Management Plan.
Landowner Safeguards
The reintroduction process has several safeguards for you,as a landowner, under the City's
enrollment in the U.S. Fish&Wildlife Service's, Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement
(Agreement) and the associated Biological Opinion (BO).
1. Under the BO, neighboring landowners,such as yourself,will not be subject to
any land use restrictions as result of black-footed ferret reintroduction.
2. You are not liable for ferret death or harm caused by lawful activity
The BO states that "We anticipate most ferrets that leave the reintroduction area will perish
from predation or exposure to plague. However, there could be some ferrets that leave the
reintroduction site that experience incidental take with the most likely occurrences being
vehicle collisions and other routine ranching activities such as prairie dog management.The
Agreement covers all ferrets that may leave the reintroduction site if mortalities occur from
otherwise lawful activities." It is okay if a ferret is inadvertently killed by lawful activities
such as motorized vehicle operation, regulated sport hunting, prairie dog management,
animal husbandry,and maintenance of infrastructure associated with agricultural operations.
However, deliberate take or killing of ferrets is prohibited.
To Have Ferrets Removed From Your Property
Most landowners welcome black-footed ferrets as a prairie dog management tool; however,
if they disperse to your property and you would like to have them removed,please contact
me, Daylan Figgs at(970)416-2814,and I will make the necessary arrangements.
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If You Find a Dead Ferret
We would appreciate it if you would notify the City or the Service if dead, injured, or sick
black-footed ferrets are located on your property. In that event, we request the animals be
left in place,photographed if possible,and secured by covering. Please immediately report
to me or the Service's Black-footed Ferret Recovery Coordinator at(970) 897-2730 x224
with the date, time, location, and any other relevant details. Specimens will be collected by
authorized individuals(City, US Fish and Wildlife Service or Colorado Parks and Wildlife),
and will be transported to the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center.
Expiration
The Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit issued for the black-footed ferret reintroduction
expires November 30, 2063. Should the agreement not be extended and/or a new permit not
be issued,or should the City withdraw from being a cooperator in the Agreement prior to
that date,the BO is still considered to be in effect. The City will notify you of any such
changes, and will continue to coordinate with you and the Service on black-footed ferret
recovery activities.
Thank you
We are excited to welcome black-footed ferrets home to their historic range. The City of
Fort Collins Natural Areas and Utilities will be celebrating the reintroduction with a special
ceremony and other events this fall- look for details soon. Thank you for cooperating with
the black-footed ferret species recovery effort. We look forward to working with you on
continued cooperative efforts for natural resource management. If you have any questions
or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Daylan Figgs
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department
dfrogs@fcgov.com
(970)416-2814
Cc: John Hughes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Francie Pusateri,Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department
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Jennifer Fuller
From: Daylan Figgs[dfiggs@fcgov.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 12:19 PM
To: Jennifer Fuller
Cc: Hughes, John (john_hughes@fws.gov); ken.morgan@state.co.us; Mike Freeman
Subject: Fort Collins letter to landowners regarding the Black-Footed Ferret Safe Harbor Agreement
Attachments: Landowner letter SHA.pdf
Jennifer
Please express my thanks and appreciation to the Weld County Commissioners for taking time from their busy schedule
to meet with me,John Hughes(USFWS), and Ken Morgan (CPW). I enjoyed our dialog on the Black-Footed Ferret Safe
Harbor Agreement and the thoughtful comments and questions the Commissioners provided.
As promised, attached is a copy of the letter that has been sent to private landowners adjacent to Soapstone Prairie and
Meadow Springs Ranch. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like any additional
information on this reintroduction effort.
Daylan Figgs
Sr Environmental Planner/Land Manager
Fort Collins Natural Areas Department
(970)416-2814
(970)217-5968
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