Arizona Game and Fish looking for volunteers to find endangered ferrets

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is looking for volunteers to help keep track of a population of an endangered species of ferrets near Flagstaff.

The initiative is part of an effort to help document black-footed ferrets and gather more information on them before the winter, the department said in a press release.

The department has designated two five-night events — Sept. 19-23 and Oct. 17-21 — to find the ferrets.

Volunteers are asked to have the ability to stay attentive from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and learn how to use a GPS system.

The methodology of locating the ferrets includes using high-powered lights, which reflect off their eyes at night.

Volunteers can sign up by emailing azferret@azgfd.gov — with “fall spotlighting” in the subject line — by Sept. 13 for next month’s project and Oct. 11 for the later event.

Volunteers 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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