Northern Plains tribes bring back their wild 'relatives'

[cbabe]

https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Northern-Plains-tribes-bring-back-their-wild-17640528.php

Northern Plains tribes bring back their wild 'relatives'

By MATTHEW BROWN,
Associated Press
Updated Dec 8, 2022 9:10 a.m.

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Mont. (AP) — Native species such as swift foxes and black-footed ferrets disappeared from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation generations ago, wiped out by poisoning campaigns, disease and farm plows that turned open prairie where nomadic tribes once roamed into cropland and cattle pastures.

Now with guidance from elders and outside wildlife groups, students and interns from the tribal college are helping reintroduce the small predators to the northern Montana reservation sprawling across more than 1,000 square miles (2,600 square kilometers) near the U.S.-Canada border.

…more…

[geardaddy]

1. Get thee to the Greatest Page!

[cbabe]

2. How do that?

[geardaddy]

6. Oh, I just meant I was the fifth recommendation

That gets you on the Greatest Threads list.

[cbabe]

9. Ah. Thanks. And the wild brothers and sisters thank you.

[republianmushroom]

3. thank you

[GusBob]

4. Yes we drove thru there early monday

And we saw a swift fox in the borrow pit!

The buffalo herd were all close to the road too which is always cool to see

[malaise]

5. K & R

for visibility

[Coventina]

7. The Black Footed Ferrets were extinct in the wild.

Now they are running free again!

THIS is why zoos are necessary. Many species have been saved through their conservation efforts.

Flame away, I care not.

[70sEraVet]

14. The Nashville zoo has gained quite a reputation for its success in coaxing animals to reproduce

Animals that have proven difficult to breed in captivty.

[Elessar Zappa]

18. I'm very pro zoo.

In an absolutely perfect world there would be no need for zoos but that’s not the world that we currently live in. My brother works at a zoo and he and his coworkers are absolutely dedicated to the care of the animals.

[Coventina]

19. I feel exactly the same as you.

There's a surprising number of progressives who think zoos are terrible and just the same as the animal prisons of the 19th century.

If they would set aside their prejudice and bothered to educate themselves, I think that would change, but I don't think they want to be confused by facts.

[Hekate]

8. Another reason to smile today!

[calimary]

10. Yep! It sure is!

This kind of news is what gives me hope for humanity - and for our precious irreplaceable Earth.

[LT Barclay]

11. A more enlightened approach to conservation is slowly taking over,

Which includes indigenous peoples as having the knowledge and skills to ensure species are given space to survive.
Maybe it will remake our culture too. Some combination of the old and new has to be healthier than what we are doing now.
I’m just a bit disappointed that the article didn’t mention wolves.

[Botany]

12. The Short Grass Prairies that were the home of these critters are very complex but having these ...

predators back is a big thing to restoring the native ecology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_fox#/media/File:Vulpes_velox_map.svg

[AllaN01Bear]

13. eggscllent . yesssss.

[frogmarch]

15. And soon

I suppose they'll be wearing their relatives' pelts and tails, as their tribal ancestors did in days of yore.

[GusBob]

16. They might, yes

for ceremonial purposes. They are allowed to wear eagle feathers for such, while it is illegal for others to possess them

But, based on my experience living on this Rez, not too many Natives trap furbearers anymore. I know plenty of Native hunters and there is a trapping season, but I know no trappers. And the exploding beaver population here tells me not many trappers either native or non native.

I do know they collect porcupine quills for various things, art and decorations. But they get them from roadkill. I am asked to bring in road kills I find. I reckon they would use the pelts and tails from road kill foxes, if they can get to them before the rez dogs do

they do harvest the buffalo and auction off "buffalo hunts" for fundraisers. Dont know how sporting that is as the buffs are pretty much domesticated and enclosed in fenced ranges

[frogmarch]

17. Thank you

for the fascinating - and very welcome - information. I appreciate it very much.