QuickBooks for Endangered Species
It’s 3:41 a.m. and I slowly bump across the South Dakota prairie in my pickup truck. I use a spotlight to scan for glimpses of glowing eye-shine, similar to a deer in the headlights. Some of the locals think I’m looking for E.T., Bigfoot or Barney the dinosaur. I’m looking for the green eyes of a black-footed ferret. You see, I chase ferrets for a living. Not the pet store kind of ferret, which is descended from European ferrets but rather the endangered kind and the only native ferret to North America.
My high school guidance counselor said ‘Endangered Ferret Chaser’ wasn’t as strong a vocation choice as ‘Doctor’, ‘Engineer’ or even ‘Sewage Specialist’. Initially I worked for the government, putting zoo-born black-footed ferrets into the wild and documenting their survival. By 2001 I was weary of working for Uncle Sam as the project funding dwindled so I founded a non-profit organization, Prairie Wildlife Research. We use grants, contracts and donations from the public to restore black-footed ferrets across North America.
At 3:42 a.m. I spot the green eyes of a black-footed ferret and I set a live-trap to capture this female for a health checkup. She enters the trap within an hour and I diligently sedate her, implant a micro-chip for identification, vaccinate against disease, and several other procedures. Lastly, I mix up some women’s hair dye and dab it on the ferret’s neck which allows for a quick visual recognition in the field. I chuckle to myself and think, ‘How am I going to explain to our accountant why I bought a case of women’s hair dye to save an endangered species?’ Even worse, I just bought this ‘QuickBooks’ software at the behest of our accountant and doubted there was a column for ‘Women’s Hair Dye’ between ‘Office Supplies’ and ‘Telephone’.
The health checkup is complete and I release the female black-footed ferret where I captured her. The morning sun is peeking above the horizon and it’s time to go back to the office. I need to get started on QuickBooks and I’m dreading it because I don’t know anything about accounting; I chase ferrets for a living! But I was wrong. It’s easy and elegant, logical and INTUITtive. Even with my basic computer skills I was able to use QuickBooks without any problems. It’s been 8 years now and PWR is still chasing black-footed ferrets across the prairies of North America. I even added a new column in QuickBooks for one of our common purchases; ‘Women’s Hair Dye’.
Don't ever be afraid to think outside the box. Unique problems are only solved by unique solutions which requires unique ways of thinking. Find a knowledgeable accountant as soon as possible to advise you and review your financial operation. But the day-to-day workings of your business (accounting, payroll, taxes) can be handled by you and QuickBooks. And never poke a black-footed ferret in a cage.
Comments
It's amazing how many things need to be done behind the scenes to protect endangered species. Thanks for all the work you do, and for sharing some of the day-to-day detail.
I loved this story, I wish I could work in the field and do this. Thank you for doing what you do.
I loved that last bit of advice: "Never poke a black-footed ferret in a cage."
I am in awe of the care and careful work that is being done to protect the species for our future generations.
Very interesting. I had no idea what has to be done to keep track of the BFF.
Something I could get into totally.
I cant imagine a more noble or fulfilling experience than to work to ensure the survival of an endangered species. What a legacy!
I do have a question though....Have any of the ferrets requested a different shade of dye? You know, something that would make all the other ferrets stand up and take notice!!
Travis, keep up the good work. The blacked footed fuz butts need you! I enjoyed reading the story!
Very cool "slice of life" story, and a fascinating use for accounting software :) If only all businesses using QuickBooks were so interesting.
Thanks for being out there for these incredible animals.
Travis,
Maybe you could get one of those giant hair dye companies to sponsor your work with the blackfooted ferrets!?
Way to go Travis!The story is great,I specially like the advice for others! I'm wondering WHO did poke at one of the black footed ones in their cage an got their finger chomped? hhmmmmmm??We could only pick one, but all of choices apply!Thank you for caring for the BFF.
Thanks Travis, for helping to keep our American Heritage alive and well! Hey, we Wisconsiners can always think outside the box! Keep up the good work and our shelter also uses Intuit products to keep our ferrets under control!
What a story! I really enjoyed it! Thanks for doing what you do!
You do great work Travis. Few are as dedicated as you. Ferret conservation is especially challenging because they live in prairie dog holes and ranchers and others have waged a war on prairie dogs for over a century. All species of prairie dogs on which ferrets depend are at conservation as a result along with burrowing owls, mountain plovers, and other species that also depend on prairire dogs in one way or another.
Those who protect our natural habitat and the animals we've displaced are truly unsung heros. You remind us it's OUR country and we should cherish it.
Great job Trav. Hopefully no one will plagiarize your story in a smutty romance novel this time:)
You are doing a fantastic job and I hope you win. More should be done to preserve ALL our wildlife.
I hope this female like the new color you gave her? I have a new respect for what you do. :)
I hope this female like the new color you gave her? I have a new respect for what you do. :)
Travis, I cannot thank you enough for putting all yor time and energy into helping prevent such a special species from extinction. I've had the great pleasure of hearing you speak at a few symposia and find what you do to be absolutely fascinating!! Best of luck to you and your crew. Keep up the great work!
Fascinating story! The job may be tough but you are doing what many of us dream of doing!!!
That's great! :-D
Thank you for what you do for endangered species. Even the littlest of souls is precious. Maybe someday we'll see ads for 'Clairol Natural Insticts - Blackfooted Ferret Brown'.
Would love to hear/read more stories on the BFF.
I wish I could have such an interesting job.
I am glad to see this work continue.
PWR is doing great work. I always love hearing their story.
Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your life and efforts. Thank you for all you do!
Very accurate! I used nylon pantyhose to contain heron while they were being weighed.
I am so jealous! This was what I was going to help with, the Government end, before we moved. I am so glad to see these little guys getting the help they need!
I am so jealous! They offered the Goverment end of the job to me right before we moved....years ago! I am so glad that these guys are being very well taken care of. Thanks!!!!
I am so jealous!! They offered the Government end of this job to me before we moved...years ago. I am so glad these little guys are being taken care of! Thansk!
Hair club for ferrets? You never know, it may catch on. Not only could you be the president, you could also be a member.
Hair club for ferrets? You never know, it could catch on. Not only could you be the president, you could also be a member.
Having volunteered with Prairie Wildlife Research - with dye stains to prove it! - I can attest to Travis' dedication and hard work. He does this work on a shoestring. As another volunteer once said, "Sometimes the ferrets ought to win." Thanks to Travis and others like him, this is one battle it appears they just might!
An excellent account of a day in the night of a spotlighter in the Badlands.
Good job Trav! Here's to many more nights weasel-watchin'
This is rockin'.
I want my hair died. But first you have to chase me in the night!
That is rockin.
I want my hair died ... but first you have to chase me into the night!
An EXCELLENT look into the work you do w/ PWR, helping to save one of America's most endangered species! Travis & PWR simply ROCK!!!
Travis, I just wish I could do what you do. Great job and thanks from their cousins.
I think what Travis is doing for these creatures is wonderful!!
Very interesting -- it's great to know that there are people out there who care and I thank you for what you do for the black footed ferrets. In this day and age there aren't many people as dedicated as you are.
Do "bottle blondes" really have more fun...on the prairie?
Great story, Travis... Keep up the great work!
Great story, Travis. Hope you win!
What wonderful work you do! Thank you for being there for the BFFs. I loved this story and appreciated the plug for QuickBooks!
Ferrets Rule! Travis keep doing what your doing.....how awesome is it that your work involves your passion. It must make going to work so much fun.
Travis - keep up with good work and keep the stories coming.
I am the accountant that recommended Qucikbooks to Travis, and would recommend Travis and his non-profit, Prairie Wild Life Reseach to all those would want to help an endangeded species and a dusty Biologist.
keep up the great work
This is great. I love ferrets and we need to keep the BFF established in the wild.
much enjoyed!
Thanks for sharing! Great story!
What a great job you do, Travis. We are inspired especially by the work you are doing in western Kansas to preserve the prairie dog towns that the BFFs need to survive.
My son Jeffrey would love to come and work for you (still to young).
Keep up the good work, we need people like you.
Such dedication!! What a wonderful way to live! Love to hear more Travis...keep up the cause!!!!
Way to go Travis! I would really love to witness what you do in person. Thank you for caring so much! Great story!
BTW... we have been using quickbooks for our shelter 3 years now. A little tricky till you learn but it has made out record keeping so much easier. Hope you win so the BFF's reap the rewards!
Diane Campbell
Ferret Guardian Rescue Haven, Inc.
Great for the fuzzys ,I hope the $5,000 helps.
I see Hair Salon for Prairie Fuzzies in your future! Your work to help save our ferret friends is inspiring. Thanks for telling it like it is.
It's so great to know that the black-footed ferrets are still being taken care of, so to speak. Thanks for your hard work Travis!
Awesome Travis - Now my question is what your fiance thought about the purchase of one case of women's hair dye? Lol.......I can just see her scratching her head at that one and thinking......"hummmmm, what have I gotten myself into?"
Great story! Sounds like some long nights drinking diet mt dew and nerds candy!
After just completing ferret spotlighting is Arizona, I can completely relate to the 3:40am hour. good story.
Great story!
Great work Travis! I hope you win!
Great image of the essential work you do in the field for our beloved black- footed ferrets. Thank you for your ongoing intervention efforts on their behalf.
Travis, you the man! I am inspired to adopt a black-footed ferret through PWR and possibly dye my hair.
Very well written - it was like I was there :) Thanks for sharing this story!
Travis is a dedicated researcher - keep up the good work!
I do wonder where they hide if they have no carpets to hide under :P
**proud mother of 2 domestic ferrets**
Keep up the fuzzy hunting. They are such beautiful creatures, who must be protected.
It is funny not many consider this story "funny". I think it is !!!Necessity is mother of invention- way to go!
Keep up the good work.
Thank you Travis. I especially love the photography, those once in a lifetime shots. A visit to your blog always makes my heart happy.
I think what Travis and all the others in this program are doing to help the Black Footed Ferret come back from the brink of extinction is one of the most inspiring stories I've ever heard. I had the chance to meet Travis at the Ferret Symposium in Portland, Oregon and his commitment to the program is incredible. Without him the Black Footed Ferret would most likely be extinct by now. He's a hero to ferret owners everywhere! Thanks Travis!!!
Thank you Travis for your dedication to these wild cousins of our companion ferrets. Keep up the good work.
As a mild mannered bookkeeper by day I use Intuit products and they do make the job easier.
I'm proud and honored to have met Travis and learned of his work. I wish I was young again and could participate in his project! Incredible man!!
Go Travis... only their hairdresser knows for sure!! :) Great job! Proud to know you!
Keep up the good work, Travis!
Thank god for hair dye and Quickbooks so Prairie Wildlife Research can get out in the field and save more BFFs!
Travis - I admire your efforts on making sure this wonderful species survive - I envy you - I'd love to travel along with you on one of your night jaunts and photograph what you do.
Keep up the good work Travis!
It's amazing how even a job like "ferret chasing" needs to deal with the fundamental tasks involved in running your own business. They don't show that part on the Discovery channel.
It's amazing how even a job like "ferret chasing" needs to deal with the fundamental tasks involved in running your own business. They don't show that part on the Discovery channel.
What Travis is doing to help the Black Footed Ferrets is one of the most inspiring stories I've ever heard. I have met Travis at a couple of Ferret Symposiums and seen some of the CRAZY things he will do to raise funds, his commitment to the program is incredible. Without him the Black Footed Ferret would most likely be extinct by now. He's my hero! Thanks Travis!!!
Brilliant! Great job Travis.
What a great way to think outside the 'hair dye box'!
Do you use a conditioner after applying the hair color? No self-respecting ferret wants to have a frizzy coat or split ends. By the way, how's Peanut doing? We sure would like to see more about him not that he is a grown man - uh, ferret.
This is a totally wonderful project, and needs to be continued. Travis, you have all my support. I'd love to see a dyed-in the fur fert.
Many thanks for all the work you do to protect the Black-footed Ferret species and our prairies! In addition to donating, what can I do to help? Keep up this important work!
Thinking outside the box skills are important for problem solving. The issue sometimes is boxes come in all sizes. Love the story.
Thanks for making it possible for BFFs to be someone's BFF. I'm happy to hear that you got to the point in your life where you could be INTUITive!! BestBFF wishes!
Having been "country" raised, with a healthy respect for all creatures, I appreciate the interest you have in looking after one of the species that makes this world so incredible. Many posters here I recognize as ferret ranchers and rescuers. It appears we all have a special interest in ferrets, wild or domesticated. Our "business" supports your business with love. We know you are dyeing to keep all our ferrets alive and well. Dook Dook!
Having been "country" raised, with a healthy respect for all creatures, I appreciate the interest you have in looking after one of the species that makes this world so incredible. Many posters here I recognize as ferret ranchers and rescuers. It appears we all have a special interest in ferrets, wild or domesticated. Our "business" supports your business with love. We know you are dyeing to keep all our ferrets alive and well. Dook Dook!
This was very interesting. Keep up the good work. I hope that the black-footed ferret will be around for generations to come.
This was very interesting. Keep up the good work. I hope that the black-footed ferret will be around for generations to come.
Travis, thanks for the great story! I love to hear updates of your work!
I can see a black footed ferret running around with a blonde streak down the back or maybe even pink if the ferret is a punk rocker. LOL
OK, I just HAVE to know . . . what tracking software do you use for monitoring when the female ferrets are due for their next 'touch up'? I mean, heaven forbid they are forced to roam around with dark roots showing! That's a HUGe fashion faux "paw" (pun intended!) Or what if people unfamiliar with the BFF markings hear about the hair dye and begin thinking that you're dipping the ferrets in black dye (hence their black feet) to mark them? How to explain THAT? You're doing great, Travis!!!
Travis, we will echo the words of ferret lovers everywhere....thanks for keeping our cousins safe & healthy! Hobbes & Beef, two domestics dying to be wild
Keep up the good work!As all ways!I understand that the mens version of hair dye only takes 5 min. to work! I have never understood why us women have to leave it on 20 to 30 min!Have an excellent Day,or should I say night?
Travis, you've been a constant inspiration to the Ferret Community because of your dedication to the BFF. Ferret owners have learned to think outside the box, probably the first time their ferret(s) POOPED outside the box! Unique problems solved by unique solutions requiring unique ways of thinking ...... yep ... FERRETS!!
back fro the brink when only 18 were found this is a success story of epic proportions. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for sharing Travis! Let's hope someday you will need Quickbooks to count all the thousands of BFF's that have returned to our Praire's! And don't let them get a hold of the dye, or you'll be chasing polka-dot black foots.
I have a great amount of admiration for all those working to save this important part of the native prairie-land BFF. What an amazing program to care for an amazing species. Thanks for all you do!
marmx2
I love reading about all kinds of ferrets. You should read the book ''Zucchini Out West". I hope to be a vet someday and be able to work with ferrets of all kinds. I really am thankful for people like you that help the B.F.F.'s
Thank you for all you do for us! Now I want to get the software!
I believe the Hair Dye would be listed under Operating Supplies :) Great job please keep up the work!!
I believe the Hair Dye would be listed under Operating Supplies :) Great job please keep up the work!!
Great Story
A big thank you to Travis and all of the people who work a labor of love at Prairie Wildlife Research. We owe you a debt of gratitude.
You are heroes...
A funny story. Keep up the good work for our ferrets' cousins.
Thanks for choosing your profession! We all appreciate the work you do for our funny, gentle, and wonderful fur footed friends.
Great job Travis! We'll do anything to support your cause and I am proud that Quickbooks is offering some help both through their great software AND this contest. Good Luck!
Thanks for everything you do to help these wonderful critters. They are very lucky to have a champion like you on their side. Keep up the good work.
Great job to Travis and his Team, including our very special Veterinarian, Dr. Murray from Farmers Branch, Texas! We appreciate all your hard work and dedication to save this endangered species.
Beautiful! I am going to donate and adopt! Best story ever!
Absolutely Fabulous!
I think it can be filed under Operating Supplies :) hehe
Incredibly well written and entertaining story Travis. I hope you get to the next stage. Prairie dogs look pretty good in women's hair dye as well!
Travis, what you do for Black Footed Ferrets is nothing short of amazing. The domestic ferret community loves their pets' wild cousins, and you too! Keep up the good work my friend!
You Rock, Travis! Really hope you win! The ferrets and prairie dogs need you!!
Do you use Men's hair dye on the male ferrets?
Great story, keep up the good work.
Great story, keep up the good work.
Great story, keep up the good work.
Keep chasing!
What a wonderful job you are doing. And remember anything for the BFF that doesn't fit under a category - misc. always work!
Thank goodness for Travis and his team
What better way to spend money than on an endangered species? Once they are gone there is no getting them back.
I loved this story. Thanks for saving BFFs for posterity.
I loved this story. Thank you for saving BFFs for all of us!!!
Ferrets are the best companion animal you can get, in my opinion. Their antics when playing together is outstanding. They are so much fun when hand wrestling. They should not be endangered or classified as dangerous. Please protect them. Thank You,
Philip
Thank you.
Love the story! :D Thank you for all that you do in helping out the black-footed ferrets.
I have to be honest, I only read this because I thought it somehow strangely related to Paris Hilton and her new Best Friend Forever (BFF!). In the end it looks like I found a new best friend in the Black-Footed Ferret! Thanks for all the work that you and your colleagues do to protect us and the world around us!
Out there in the dark of night, pursuing the elusive BFF, you must see alot of other interesting wildlife. If I were you, I'd keep my eyes wide open for Big Foot too, you just might score. Then you could sell your story and pics to The Enquirer, and donate that mil back into the BFF fund.
Continued success, and thank you for all you do!
Loved the story. Always impressed by your work.
As a former ferret owner, I love this stuff! I did a report on black-footed ferrets in school. I actually got to hold one :)
Very interesting and cute story. Obviously lots of work goes into keeping a watchful eye on our little wild friends. Thank you for all you do!!
Hi Travis,
I personally know how hard you work on helping the Black-Footed Ferret survive from become extinct. Keep up the great work you do!
Hugs from...Mark & Debbie
P.S. Tell April Hi and give her a hug also... :-)
Great story!!
This is a great little story for people who may be interested in wildlife conservation but not know anything concrete about it or about opportunities that may be out there for them.
the author has put his finger on some of the wry antics that we conservation folks get up to in the course of field work. many people would not consider the fact that it is pretty hard to tell Harriet from Bonnie while they are porpoising across the prairie.
Travis- I hope you win!
Quickbooks makes quick work of the boring stuff so you can get about the business of saving the ferrets! Kudos to you and to Quickbooks!
Rock and roll punk Ferrets love it.
Chasing Endangered BFF may not be as strong a vocation as Eng. or Dr. I think it is more important. They are a Thing of Beauty. We need all of the Beauty we can get in this world.
Travis, Great story and update on the BFF. Thank you and the others for all the work that you do on a daily basis. Cindy
Very good story - and thanks for all your work in promoting, protecting & maintaining BFF's in SD!!!
I agree with Skweezeme. I wish I could work in the field. I sure am glad you guys are doing so much.
I wonder if the ferrets prefer one brand of hair dye over another? I bet the ferrets look at it as accessorizing, to match thier feet!