5 Disappearing Species & Where to See Them

From the Red Wolf to the Sierra Nevada Bighorn.5 cool species almost gone, >400 words, Men's Journal, July/August, on stands now (with Lance Armstrong on the cover--yet again!).

nb. $50,000 for credible proof on an Ivory Bill...

Plus, here's one that didn't make the cut...

Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes)
HOW MANY LEFT: <250 born in the wild
Once a common scourge of prairie dogs across the Great Plains, this sleek, mostly nocturnal predator (the only ferret native to North America) was by the 1970s believed to be extinct. The discovery of a remnant population in Wyoming in 1981 led to the capture of the last 18 survivors, a breeding program, and subsequent re-introduction into the wild. They are considered self-sustaining in small populations at only three locations.

Natl Geographic PhotoWHERE TO SEE ONE: “Prairie dogs don’t become active until about a half hour after sunrise so the window to pick out a ferret is slim,” says Travis Livieri, of Prairie Wildlife Research. Try Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota, where on summer nights rangers offer guided visits to prairie dog colonies along the road.

Update on July 6, 2009 by SG

Alison Yin Photo

As for the fatmucket, the Furbish lousewort, the much maligned smelt, while they may not be appearing in glossy men's mags anytime soon, they can certainly have their effect on the way humans do business. If you don't believe us, just ask the Devils Hole Pupfish.

Christina Swanson, of the Bay Institute, has this to say in a recent Washington Post piece on fauna not so charismatic: "Whither smelt, so goes the rest of the system."

Update on July 29, 2009 by SG

Article now online here.