Black-footed Ferret Welcome Home

Black-footed Ferret Welcome Home
Wednesday, September 3, 4-7 p.m. at Soapstone Prairie’s south parking lot
The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department, Fort Collins Utilities and several partners are reintroducing endangered black-footed ferrets to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Meadow Springs Ranch. Black-footed ferrets are native to the shortgrass prairie and they depend on prairie dogs as their main food source. Everyone is invited to a ceremony celebrating the release. Speeches in the south parking lot will be followed by a 1 mile hike to the release site. Participants will witness the first ferret release by a municipality, from about a viewing point, about ¼ mile away. No registration is required, but a reminder and updates are available by signing up at naturetracker.fcgov.com .

More Details
4-5 p.m. Open House: Enjoy educational displays by project partners, interactive activities, and snacks.
5 p.m. Remarks at the south parking lot picnic shelter.
5:30- 6:30 p.m. Hike to release site, 1 mile, mostly flat, natural surface trail.
6:30 p.m. Black-footed ferret release.
Dusk (approximately 7:30 p.m.)- Soapstone Prairie Natural Area closes
For endangered black-footed ferret health and safety:
• All attendees must stay on the trail. Ferrets will be released about a ¼ mile from the viewing point. Binoculars and a spotting scope will be available to borrow onsite and the public is welcome to bring their own.
• There will be very limited photography opportunities, so professional photographs will be posted, and available for download, on the City of Fort Collins Flickr website shortly after the release, https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortcollinsgov.

The Welcome Home release ceremony is subject to cancelation due to weather and road conditions. Soapstone Prairie is a remote natural area and access to the release site is via unimproved roads that become dangerous with moisture. The decision to cancel the event will be made at 9 a.m. on September 3 and posted at fcgov.com/naturalareas, and those signed up at naturetracker.fcgov.com will be notified.

Limited transportation from Soapstone Prairie’s south parking lot to the release site is available for those with disabilities. Call at least 1 week in advance to make arrangements with Zoe Whyman, Natural Areas Community Relations Manager, 970-221-6311 or