Returning Ferrets to the Wild After Near ExtinctionConstant Wonder • Season 12, Episode 16
Nov 26, 2025 • 56m
When Shep the ranch dog discovered a mysterious rodent raiding his food dish, the canine forever changed the trajectory of the black-footed ferret species. Join us as we explore the precarious but wonderful lives of North America's only native ferret. We'll even take you along on a release of captive-born ferrets into the wild.
Guests:
Travis Livieri, founder and Executive Director of Prairie Wildlife Research https://prairiewildlife.org/
Justin Chuven, Deputy Recovery Program Coordinator at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center https://www.fws.gov/office/national-black-footed-ferret-conservation-center
Brian Maxfield, wildlife conservation biologist with Utah Department of Natural Resources
Jimmy Breitenstein, wildlife photographer https://www.jimmybreitenstein.com/
Other voices from the ferret release: Clint Sampson, Crew, Marek