Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Drones to unleash vaccine-laced M&Ms in bid to save endangered ferrets
Guardian ^ | 7-12-16

Posted on 07/12/2016 5:28:36 PM PDT by SJackson

US Fish and Wildlife Service to target diseased prairie dogs, food for the ferrets, via specially designed drones that shoot the candies in three directions at once

The US government is set to unleash drones that fire vaccine-covered M&Ms in a bid to save the endangered black-footed ferret, a species that is facing a plague epidemic across America’s great plains.

The US Fish and Wildlife (FWS) has developed a plan to bombard ferret habitat in Montana with the vaccine, which will be administered via specially designed drones that will be able to shoot M&Ms in three directions simultaneously.

The vaccines will be targeted at the prairie dog population at the UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge in north-eastern Montana. Black footed ferrets – North America’s only native ferret – are completely dependent upon prairie dogs, which are a type of burrowing rodent, for their food and shelter.

Both black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs are susceptible to the sylvatic plague, a flea-borne disease spread from rats that were introduced from ships arriving in California in the 1800s. While individual ferrets can be vaccinated by an injection, wildlife officials have found it difficult to protect prairie dogs over large areas.

Black-footed ferrets feast upon prairie dogs and invade their burrows, meaning that the disappearance of their co-dependent animal would prove disastrous for the species. Prairie dogs are considered a “keystone” species due to their importance to a range of animals, such as eagles, owls and coyotes.

“We dropped the vaccine out of a bag while walking around, but that’s very hard to do over thousands of acres,” said Randy Machett, a FWS biologist. “Spraying burrows with insecticide to kill the fleas is also labor intensive and not a long-term solution. So we are working with private contractors to develop equipment to drop the vaccine uniformly across an area, rather than one hog getting to eat a big pile of them.”

Machett said a “glorified gumball machine” has been devised to dispense the vaccine. This device can be fitted to a drone, which will use its GPS to reliably drop vaccines at 30ft intervals. The drone will also be able to fire out the M&Ms to the left and right, meaning that three vaccines can be dropped at once.

A modified fish bait machine has helped create the vaccine, which will consist of M&Ms smeared in vaccine-laden peanut butter. Machett said lab tests show that prairie dogs find the bait “delicious”, with a dye added to the mix reliably showing up on the animals’ whiskers.

Only 300 black-footed ferrets remain in the US across a handful of isolated sites. The species was briefly thought to be extinct in 1981, only for a number of animals to be brought into captivity for breeding. The current population originates from just seven ferrets that were selectively bred.

Advertisement

Black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs have suffered population crashes due to disease, shooting and habitat loss. Many farmers still consider both species to be a pest, with some voicing their unhappiness at the M&M drone plan.

However, Machett said most submissions during a public comment period were “highly supportive” of the plan and he hopes that it will be operational by 1 September following final FWS approval. Other ferret populations in Arizona and Colorado will also be aided by the drones following the trial in Montana.

“It is the fastest, cheapest way to distribute the vaccine,” Machett said. “We are hopeful this oral vaccine will be used to mitigate plague sites and treat tens of thousands of acres each year.

“This is what the Endangered Species Act is all about – saving species, particularly those affected by human actions.”


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: colorado; pestilence; plague; rodents
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

1 posted on 07/12/2016 5:28:36 PM PDT by SJackson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Sounds like a plot in an incredibly bad sci-fi flick.
2 posted on 07/12/2016 5:31:16 PM PDT by buckalfa (I am feeling much better now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Iowa Granny; Ladysmith; Diana in Wisconsin; JLO; sergeantdave; damncat; phantomworker; joesnuffy; ..
Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.

Interesting government expenditure.

3 posted on 07/12/2016 5:33:07 PM PDT by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Maybe they can come up with vaccine-coated Skittles they can fire into urban projects to keep the black-footed gibmedats from looting.........just a thought.


4 posted on 07/12/2016 5:33:12 PM PDT by Viking2002 (The gargoyles have taken over the cathedral.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

How many millions will this cost ??


5 posted on 07/12/2016 5:36:47 PM PDT by refermech
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

In keeping with government efficiency, expenditures work out to approximately $4000.00 per M&M.


6 posted on 07/12/2016 5:37:42 PM PDT by headstamp 2 (Fear is the mind killer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

Ferrets and prairie dogs only please. All other wildlife please eat something else. Thanks. U.S. Wildlife and Fisheries.

7 posted on 07/12/2016 5:39:11 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Robert DeLong

Ferrets are carnivores and p-dogs are vegetarians, neither eat M&M’s that I know of. I believe chocolate is toxic to most animals.


8 posted on 07/12/2016 5:44:13 PM PDT by Dusty Road (")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: refermech

I wonder which very delusional filthy democrat came up with this idea.


9 posted on 07/12/2016 5:52:56 PM PDT by Mr Apple (LORETTA LYNCH > > COOKIES, CANDIES, CAKE, DESSERTS & CASHEWS....the WALRUS LOOK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

Use a crop duster with heroin and cocaine.


10 posted on 07/12/2016 5:55:25 PM PDT by disndat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Dusty Road

I doubt it is toxic in the small amount contained in an M&M.

I do not know why both species (ferrets and prairie dogs) would be considered pests. Since the ferrets eat the prairie dogs, doesn’t that make them anti-pests?


11 posted on 07/12/2016 5:56:03 PM PDT by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

Or from breeding.

L


12 posted on 07/12/2016 5:57:20 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: buckalfa
 photo 08b72af8e00d595463a549e18c7cf9a4fde4d83f9607b91648b136317e4ac24b_1_zpskipao0lb.jpg
13 posted on 07/12/2016 5:59:47 PM PDT by Zeneta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Dusty Road

What you say makes sense. Certainly sounded like a hair-brained idea to me. I’ll defer for now to the “experts” being taught in the same schools as other “experts” are graduating from. Lord help as all.


14 posted on 07/12/2016 6:00:35 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: exDemMom

Ferrets being carnivorous, I doubt they limit their diet to prairie dogs.
I’m sure that other wildlife is on the menu as well as CHICKENS.

Never seen it myself but I have read of ferrets wiping out an entire chicken coop but only consuming one bird.

I expect they’re hell on small dogs, puppies and cats as well.

Hopefully someone with more direct knowledge will jump in.


15 posted on 07/12/2016 6:06:50 PM PDT by oldvirginian (Live free or die!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

Save Ferrett Bueller!


16 posted on 07/12/2016 6:10:29 PM PDT by Redcitizen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: buckalfa
maybe we should do that with birth control over muslim nations.
17 posted on 07/12/2016 6:12:14 PM PDT by bravo whiskey (Never bring a liberal gun law to a gun fight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

18 posted on 07/12/2016 6:32:52 PM PDT by moovova
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

You know, it has never ONCE occurred to me to spend tax dollars to save vermin. Even CUTE vermin!

Which is probably why I’d never make it as a politician of any stripe, LOL!


19 posted on 07/12/2016 6:36:39 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

Couldn’t we drop something in this same vein over rat-infested cities like Detroit, Philly, Berkley, Madistan, etc.? ;)


20 posted on 07/12/2016 6:37:44 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson