A total of 26 wildborn kits from 12 litters were observed during late summer, bringing the total number of wildborn kits observed at UL Bend to 49. Wildborn kit production at UL Bend during the last 3 years represents almost half of all wildborn kit production observed nationally during the last 7 years.
Sylvatic plague continues to threaten ferrets and prairie dogs.
To combat plague, over 75,000 burrows on about 3,300 acres were dusted with permethrin to reduce fleas, a plague vector. The late fall 1997 ferret population, including survivors from the 1997 release of 20 captive-reared ferrets, was at least 38. Director Jamie Rappaport-Clark visited the Refuge in October to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week. She was given a helicopter tour of the Refuge, landing at several locations to speak with Refuge staff.