Badgers

► European Badger (M. meles)

Badger culling in the United Kingdom is a controversial form of controlling European badger populations. The act is permitted under licence, within a set area and timescale in the hope of controlling the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Animal welfare groups such as the Badger Trust and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) are opposed to what they believe is random slaughter of these badgers—which have special legal protection in the UK—in return for what they describe as a relatively small impact on bTB.

• Badger Trust

• Das & Boom

Ferrets (M. [putorius] furo)

There is a lot of misinformation out there about ferrets. Thankfully, there are organisations and independent enthusiasts who have dedicated their time to help educate the general public, as well as ferret owners about the proper care of their pet.

• All About Ferrets

• American Ferret Association

• Ferret World

• Friendly Ferret

Ferrets are a common pet, and often owners give up their ferrets due to misunderstanding in the amount of effort and resources required to take care of them. To provide these ferrets a chance at finding a forever home, shelters take in surrendered ferrets and offer prospective ferret owners information to take care of ferrets with a history of neglect and/or abuse. These organisations typically operate off of donations and charity.

• Ferret Shelters Directory (Global)

Fisher (P. pennanti)

• The Center for Biological Diversity

Martens

► Eurasian Pine Marten (M. martes)

While Eurasian pine martens were once very common throughout Britain, habitat destruction and efforts to eliminate predators dating back to the Victorian era had nearly eradicated the population of wild Eurasian pine martens. Not only is there a need for funding to reintroduce the marten, there is still public indecision about reintroducing pine martens back into the wild.

• Vincent Wildlife Pine Marten Recovery Project

Otters

Many species of otter throughout the world are vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. For many species, habitat loss and climate change play a role. Competition with fishermen poses the risk of unnecessary culling of otters in some areas. In Asia, hunting of otters for their fur, or taking otter cubs as pets are very common issues. Owing to the widespread and vastly varying natures of the problems facing otters, the solutions differ by region.

► North American River Otter (L. canadensis)

• River Otter Ecology Project

► Sea Otter (E. lutris)

• Sea Otter Foundation & Trust

► Concerns Multiple Otter Species

• International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF)

• IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group (OSG)

• Otter Joy

North American Mink (N. vison)

• Mink International Rescue and Recovery

A mink rescue based near Cincinnati, OH rehoming minks escaped from fur farms.

Polecats

► European Mink (M. lutreola)

• The Lutreola Foundation

• EuroNerz e. V.

• Fiebfoundation

► North American Polecat / Black-Footed Ferret (M. nigripes)

Before colonisation of the United States, the populations of North American polecats spread across most of the North American Prairies. Due to habitat loss and disease, the population of North American polecats declined to extinction in the wild in the 1980s. Today, owing to conservation efforts, there are isolated populations of these mustelids in the wild. Reintroduction efforts, as well as research into immunising them from the Sylvatic plague continue on to protect the prairie ecosystem.

• Sylvatic Plague Research

• Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Weasels (excluding ferrets, minks, and polecats)

► Concerns Multiple Weasel Species

• Mustelid Rescue UK

Mustelid Rescue was established in 2002 and specialises in the rescue, raising, and rehabilitation to the wild of orphaned and injured young Eurasian stoats and least weasels.

Wolverine (G. gulo)

• Cascades Wolverine Project

A grassroots effort to support wolverine recovery in the US state of Washington’s North Cascades. They do field science, visual storytelling, and build backcountry community science.

• The Wolverine Foundation

Facts about wolverines have long been overshadowed by sensationalism and misinformation. The Wolverine Foundation was established in the interest of promoting facts through research funding and awareness for the wolverine’s benefit.

• Wolverine Watch

An independent and informal group of wolverine researchers who collaborate on wolverine related scientific research projects.

Concerns Multiple Mustelids

• The Hankensbüttel Otter Centre

The Otter Centre showcases the European otter, as well as several related species of marten in a natural environment. The centre is run by the Aktion Fischotterschutz (“Otter Conservation Project”), a state-recognised nature conservation organisation, and is a popular tourist and visitor destination on the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath.

• The IUCN/SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group

The IUCN/SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group (SCSG) consists of  scientists, wildlife managers, and conservationists, who help promote the conservation of the world’s small carnivores through science-based research, management and education.

• Mustelid Madness Rescue

A small educational program for the ferret and North American mink located in Wyoming, USA.

• Small Mustelid Foundation

An organisation that leads efforts for the conservation and study of small mustelids in the Netherlands.

• The Vincent Wildlife Trust

A charity that focuses on mammal conservation in Britain and Ireland.

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Rescue, Conservation, and Education | Visual Arts

Miscellaneous