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Black-Footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual (BFFMCOM)

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Black-Footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual (BFFMCOM) US Fish and Wildlife Service Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual (BFFMCOM) January 16, 2017 Adopted as the official Black-footed Ferret Species Survival Plan® Animal Care Manual Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual Page ii Table of Contents Title Page Preface……………………………………………………………………………………ii Purpose of Manual……...…………………………………………………………………ii Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………..iii Natural History…….…………………………………………………………………………..1 Quick Facts…………………………………………………………………………...….1 Characteristics………………………………………………………………………...…2 Ontogeny and Life Cycle……………………………………………………………...…3 Behaviors……………………………………………………………………………...…4 Range and Habitat…………………………………………………………………….…5 Threats…………………………………………………………………………………..6 Status in the Wild….…………………………………………………………………….6 References…....................................................................................................................9 Management of Indoor Facilities…………………………………………………………….10 Quick Facts…………………..………………………………………………………..…10 Housing Requirements…………………………………………………………………..11 Cleaning………………………………………………………………………………….14 Feeding…………………………………………………………………………………..15 Breeding…………………………………………………………………………………17 General Issues……………………………………………………………………………19 Pitfalls and Problematic Areas…………………………………………………………..19 Product Information……………..………………………………………………………20 Addendum A FCC Protocols……………………………………………………………21 Addendum B SCBI Design………………………………………………………………25 Addendum C Hamster Protocols………...………………………………………………26 Addendum D Body Condition Chart…………………………………………………….31 Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual Page iii Addendum E Forms (see Supplement document for PDF format)……….....…………32 Management of Outdoor Facilities…………………………………………………………33 Quick Facts….………………………………………………………………………….33 Pen Types………………………………………………………………………………34 Feeding…………………………………………………………………………………37 Breeding………………………………………………………………………………..38 Addendum A Maintenance Checklist………….………………………………………41 Addendum B Prairie Dog Protocols…………………………………………………...43 Addendum C Forms (see Supplement document for PDF format)…..…………………46 Nutrition……………………………………………………………………………………….47 Quick Facts……..…….…………………………………………………………………47 Nutritional Requirements…....………………………………………………………….48 Prairie Dog Analysis……..……………………………………………………………..50 Rodent Analysis…………..…………………………………………………………….51 Product Information………...…………………………………………………………..52 References………………………………………………………………………………52 Enrichment……………………………………………………………………………………..53 Purpose of Enrichment………………………………………………………………….53 Suggested Enrichment Items……..……………………………………………………..54 Problematic Enrichment Items…….......………………………………………………..56 Enrichment Food Items………………………………………………………………….57 References………………………………………………………………………………58 Management of Reproduction…………………………………………………………………59 Quick Facts………………………………………………………………………………59 Basic Characteristics……..……………………………………………………………...58 Detection of Estrus…………..…………………………………………………………..61 Male Readiness………………..…………………………………………………………65 Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual Page iv Pairing Recommendations……………………………………………………………..66 Pairing Introductions………....………………………………………………………..67 Whelping………………....……………………………………………………………71 Addendum A FCC Protocols……….....……………………………………………….72 Addendum B Expected Reproduction Range….....……………………………………76 Addendum C Papanicolaou® Stain………….....……………………………………..79 Addendum D Induced Ovulation………….....………………………………………..80 Addendum E Semen Collection…………….....………………………………………81 Assisted Reproduction……………………………………………………………………..87 Development of Techniques……….....……………………………………………….87 Uses for Assisted Reproduction…….....………………………………………………89 Genome Resource Bank……………….....……………………………………………91 Fecal Hormone Monitoring…………….....…………………………………………..92 Semen Collection and Preservation……......………………………………………….93 Artificial Insemination…………………….....……………………………………….95 Problematic Issues……………………….....…………………………………………95 Recommendations………………………….....………………………………………96 Appendix 1 Semen Collection, Evaluation, and Preservation Protocols….......… … 97 Electro-ejaculation Form (see Supplement document for PDF format)…......…........ 103 Appendix 2 Artificial Insemination Protocols……………………......………………104 References……………………………………………………….....…………………107 Tables………………………………………………..………………………………110 Whelping and Kit Care…………………………………………………………………….113 Quick Facts……………...…………………………………………………………..113 Whelping Protocols…………...…………………………………………………….114 Kit Care Protocols………………....………………………………………………..116 Cross Fostering and Hand raising……..……………………………………………117 Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual Page v Addendum A FCC Protocols……………………………………………………....119 Addendum B Pinwheel Feeding Chart……………………………………………..123 Addendum C Hand Raising Information…………………………………………..124 Infant Development……………………………………………………………………….128 Quick Facts………….…………….……………………………………………….128 Developmental Landmarks………..……………………………………………….129 References………………………………..………………………………………..130 Addendum A Developmental Chart….……..……………………………………..131 Veterinary Care…………………………………………………………………………..132 Quick Facts……………………...…....……………………………………………132 Preventive Medicine………....…………………………………………………….133 Vaccines……………………...…………………………………………………….134 Disease…………………………....………………………………………………..135 Additional Concerns…………….....………………………………………………139 Reference Values………….....…………………………………………………….140 Veterinary Procedures…….....…………………………………………………….140 Restraint and Anesthesia……......…………………………………………………141 Post Mortem……………….......…………………………………………………..141 References…………………......…………………………………………………..143 Addendum A Mortality Form…….......……………………………………………144 Addendum B Sulfa Drug Information……......……………………………………145 Addendum C Acid Fast Staining for Cryptosporidia…......……………………….146 Addendum D Neoplasms…………………………......……………………………147 Addendum E Normal Blood Values……………….....……………………………148 Addendum F FCC Protocols………………………....……………………………149 Transport……………………………………………………………………………….153 Pre-shipment Preparations ..............................…......……………………………..153 Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual Page vi Ground Shipment………………....…………….…………..............................154, 156 Air Shipments……………………………….......…………………………154,155,157 Addendum Shipping Container examples………........……………………………159 Reintroduction…………………………………………………………………………161 Site Selection and Allocation……….......…………………………………………161 Preparations for Release…………………...………………………………………162 Release Protocols………………………………...………………………………..163 Post-release Monitoring……….…………………………………………………..165 Reintroduction Efforts……………….…………………………………………….165 Program Direction………………………...……………………………………….166 References…………………………………………………………………………168 Education………………………………………………………………………………….171 Exhibit…………………………………………………………………………………….172 General Requirements…………….……………………………………………….172 Husbandry……………………………...………………………………………….173 Diet……………………...…………………………………………………………173 Veterinary Care…………………………………………………………………….174 Enrichment……………...…………………………………………………………178 Exhibit design and Educational Messaging……………………………………….179 Addendum A Annual Report Form……..…………………………………………184 Addendum B Memorandum of Participation……..……………………………….185 Addendum C Display Facilities…………………….……………………………..186 Addendum D Disposition Form……………………..…………………………….189 Summary of Research……………………………………………………………………190 Research Guidelines……………………………….…………………………….190 Published Research-Behavior and Development….…………………………….192 Published Research-Reproduction………………………………………………194 Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual Page vii Published Research- Genetics….………………………………………………..199 Published Research- Disease………...…………………………………………..200 Published Research- Nutrition/Food Requirements…..…………………………203 Published Research- Field Biology……...………………………………………204 Published Research- Habitat………………...……………..................................207 Published Research - Immobilization and Marking….…………………………210 Published Research – Reintroduction………..………………………………….211 Published Research – Other…………..…………………………………………214 Annual Report form……………………………………………………………………..217 Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………219 List of SSP Officers, IRs…………………………………………………………………220 Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual Page viii n NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET Quick Facts: • BLACK-FOOTED FERRET, (BFF), Mustela nigripes • SOLITARY, NOCTURNAL, FOSSORIAL MUSTELID ONLY FERRET NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA • • EVOLVED 30,000 – 45,000 YEARS AGO FROM SIBERIAN OR STEPPE FERRET • FORMER RANGE FROM CANADA TO MEXICO THROUGHOUT THE SHORT GRASS PRAIRIE (WESTERN STEPPE) EXCLUSIVELY IN PRAIRIE DOG COLONIES • BFF IS AN OBLIGATE SPECIES TO PRAIRIE DOGS, DEPENDENT UPON PRAIRIE DOGS FOR FOOD AND SHELTER. PRAIRIE DOG IS KEYSTONE SPECIES OF WESTERN PRAIRIES/STEPPE HABITAT • BFFS KILL PRAIRIE DOGS WITH SUFFOCATION THROAT BITE; KILL SMALL PREY WITH PITHING BITE • LIFESPAN: 7-8 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY; 1-3 YEARS IN THE WILD • REPRODUCES ONCE/YEAR FOR 3- 5 YEARS • LAST KNOWN WILD BFFS, (18) RESCUED INTO CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM FROM 1985 TO 1987 • ONLY SEVEN OF LAST 18 BFFS REPRODUCED TO BECOME POPULATION FOUNDERS • THREATS TO SURVIVAL: DECLINE OF THE PRAIRIE DOG ECOSYSTEM POISONING OF PRAIRIE DOGS DISEASE (PLAGUE, DISTEMPER) Black-footed Ferret Managed Care Operations Manual Page 1 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET INTRODUCTION The black-footed ferret (BFF), one of the most endangered mammal species in North America, stands at a crucial point in its survival. Efficiently adapted for life as a predator in prairie dog towns, BFFs were an integral component
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