Prairie Bandits: The Story of Montana’s Black-footed Ferrets

Presented by John Ashley

Black-footed Ferret – Photo Credit: John Ashley

John Ashley will present Flathead Audubon’s evening program on Monday, 14 January at 7 PM in the Gateway Community Room in Kalispell. The program is free and open to the public.

Black-footed ferrets are Montana’s rarest native mammal. John will begin the program with a historical review of Black-footed Ferrets in North America, focusing on ferrets in Montana. After providing a summary of ferret biology and ecology, John will share some of his experiences as a volunteer working with ferret biologists and photographing this endangered and enigmatic species over the past few years on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. John will conclude his slide and video presentation with an overview of the conservation struggles and challenges facing the survival of Black-footed Ferrets in the prairie dog towns across the Great Plains.

John Ashley is a wildlife biologist, author, and photographer who lives with his wife and business partner, Tracy, and their dogs at the end of the road just past Kila in northwestern Montana.

John Ashley with Black-footed Ferret – Photo Credit: John Ashley