RAPID CITY - Black-footed ferrets are wily creatures.

Tom Farrell wants people to remember that when they take the Wind Cave National Park ferret tour, because despite the tour's name, hikers may not even see a ferret.

"I just don't want people to come down expecting to see a ferret, because it is a wild animal," he said. "They're very rare animals and not every hike is going to be able to see a ferret."

Fortunately, people will see plenty of other cool things on the nighttime hike through a prairie dog town, says Farrell. On the very first night, hikers saw a rattlesnake. "Just the sights and sounds you get regardless whether you see a ferret make it worthwhile," he said.

Farrell, chief of interpretation at Wind Cave National Park, said the park created a ferret tour on the one-year anniversary of the reintroduction of black-footed ferrets to the park. The Wind Cave ferret habitat is the most easily accessed ferret reintroduction area in the country, he said. Park employees saw the ferret habitat as a perfect educational opportunity for visitors. The ferret tour begins at 9 p.m. each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 16. Hikers meet at the Elk Mountain Campground, located a half-mile north of the park visitor's center entrance. The tour begins with a 20-minute presentation. Then hikers caravan in their vehicles to the nearby prairie dog town. The hike itself will last about one hour.

Hikers will be guided through the prairie dog town with a ranger carrying a spotlight. Discussions might include the constellations, the sounds of the night - including nearby bison - as well as the grasses and plants of a mixed grass prairie eco-system.

"Ferrets are just one part of the program," Farrell said. "You definitely want to go with a ranger because there's an awful lot out there to experience than just looking for ferrets."

The program is free to the public and safety precautions are taken to ensure people's safety, Farrell said. And whether or not people get to see a black-footed ferret, he's sure they will enjoy it.

"It's just a great place to take a walk in the evening time," he said.

Contact Lynn Taylor Rick at 394-8414 or lynn.taylorrick@rapidcityjournal.com.