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People Fined for Shooting Prairie Dogs and Burrowing Owls (March 9, 2005 -- Burrowing Owl Listserv). An interesting note from Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Jo Ann Dullum (USFWS-CMR): Prairie dogs: Mapped PDs within Phillips Co. last year. 7300 ac on all of CMR in 2003; this is up 865 ac from 2000. PD colonies are mapped every 3rd year. There are 5035 ac only on the Phillips Co portion of CMR. There is suspected plague on the Veseth Easement, but this has not been mapped yet. We translocated PDs to 3 sites that had experienced plague (e.g. 1992 or 1995/6), but had not naturally recolonized in 9-10 years. 348 PDs were moved and seem to be taking to their new location. Manning Corral looks good - was 12.6 ac in 1997 (plague), and in 2003 was almost 413 ac with the help of translocation. 1997-2003 there was a 600 ac increase. 2 incidents of shooting on CMR: One group shot 6 PDs ($600) and 1 BUOW ($600) (within the BFF reintroduction area), and one group was caught south of the River and were fined $1100. Admitted that they knew that the area was closed.
South Dakota Bill Targets Prairie Dogs (March 8, 2005 -- Environmental News Network). PIERRE, S.D. — Gov. Mike Rounds has signed a bill giving South Dakota ranchers some extra ammunition in dealing with prairie dogs that invade from neighboring private property.
South Dakota Prairie Dog/Ferret Meeting (February 28, 2005 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). I'm forwarding this message from Tom Lalley at World Wildlife Fund: The meeting this weekend in South Dakota generated a lot of news coverage, especially from local TV. All three stations with newsrooms in Rapid City covered the event on Saturday and Sunday, and two came on a Friday field trip to the Conata Basin. The stories in this email are: 1. KNBN (NBC affiliate), 2. KEVN - (Fox), 3. Rapid City Journal (lead front page Sunday), 4. AP stories (papers from Casper, WY and Yankton, SD), 5. Rapid City Journal (Friday story in advance of meeting).
Montana Prairie Dog Bill Tabled (February 17, 2005 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). The Montana House Bill 286 to remove prairie dogs from the list of species in need of management (which would revoke the limited protections put in place since 2001) was tabled on Saturday! This means the seasonal shooting closures on federal lands will remain in place, as will the year-round closures for the south Phillips County ferret area and the few white-tails in the state.
P.D.
Pete, TML, Kim and Clark
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Managing Prairie Dogs and Black-footed Ferrets in the Conata Basin, South Dakota: A conservation landscape of global significance A technical workshop cosponsored by: The National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, South Dakota Wildlife Federation, and the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society (February 1, 2005 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Since adoption of the Back-footed Ferret Recovery Plan in 1988, ferret recovery efforts have achieved technical success in only one area – the Conata Basin in South Dakota. However, secure habitat protections for ferrets even in this area have not been secured. A need to find ways to ensure the continuing integrity of the Conata Basin ferret recovery effort, as well as strategies to develop additional recovery focal areas, are urgently needed. This workshop is designed to highlight the importance of the Conata Basin for ferrets, for other wildlife species, and for the economic development of this region, as well as to begin development of a template for cooperative efforts that can be successfully applied elsewhere. Registration information and form is at the bottom of this document.
AP Exclusive: Ranchers to Sue State over Prairie Dogs (January 25, 2005 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). by CHET BROKAW, AP. PIERRE, S.D. - Landowners in southwestern South Dakota are asking the state to compensate them for losses caused by black-tailed prairie dogs that moved from federal land onto the ranchers' private land.
Prairie Dog Empire: A Saga of the Shortgrass Prairie (January 24, 2005 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). A book by Paul A. Johnsgard. 244 pp, 9 maps, 12 tables, appendix, index. ISBN 0-8032-2604-7. 2005, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln. $29.95. A review of the natural and human history of the shortgrass prairie ecosystem with special reference to prairie dogs, bison, ferrets, coyotes, pronghorns, burrowing owls, and the other high plains species for which prairie dogs serve as a keystone species. About 200 shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie preserves in the U.S. and Canada are also described, with information on local prairie dog occurrence and abundance, and there are over 500 references.
Counties Support Prairie Dog Plan (January 24, 2005 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv / Rapid City Journal). By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer. Five West River counties have endorsed a legislative proposal for managing prairie dogs on national grasslands that its backers say would prevent individual counties from shouldering a disproportionate number of prairie dogs, protect the condition of federal rangeland and prevent large new prairie dog towns from springing up.
Conference on Ferrets/Prairie Dogs, Feb 26-27, Rapid City (January 20, 2005 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Technical Workshop Announcement: Managing Prairie Dogs and Black-footed Ferrets in Conata Basin, South Dakota: A conservation landscape of global significance. Feb. 26 (8:00am) through-27 (noon) Best Western Ramkota, Rapid City, SD. (605 343 8850, conf. rate rooms reserved until Feb. 4). Conference cosponsored by: National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, South Dakota Wildlife Federation, and the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Since adoption of the Back-footed Ferret Recovery Plan in 1988, ferret recovery efforts have achieved technical success in only one area -- the Conata Basin in South Dakota. However, secure habitat protections for ferrets even in this area have not been secured. A need to find ways to ensure the continuing integrity of the Conata Basin ferret recovery effort as well as strategies to develop additional recovery focal areas are urgently needed. This workshop is designed to highlight the importance of the Conata Basin for ferrets, for other wildlife species, and for the economic development of this region as well as to begin development of a template for cooperative efforts that can be successfully applied elsewhere. Registration is $25 until Feb. 18, $30 subsequently (registration includes lunch on Feb. 26 and breaks). To register, send your check (no credit cards please) and the completed registration form located at the bottom of the agenda on the above website to Sue Scaggs, National Wildlife Federation, 240 N. Higgins, Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59802 (406-721-6705, scaggs@nwf.org).
Senate Panel Rejects Plan to Declare Prairie Dogs as Pests (January 20, 2005 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). PIERRE, S.D. - A plan to designate the black-tailed prairie dog as a state pest was rejected by a South Dakota legislative panel Tuesday after officials said the measure could wreck the effort to control the critters.
South Dakota Releases Final Prairie Dog Plan (December 15, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). This is the worst state prairie dog plan of any state -- by a long shot. It represents a significant and very real new threat to prairie dogs and associated species. And it was signed by the state agency responsible for wildlife, a disgrace to that agency and all citizens of South Dakota, who overwhelmingly support protecting the prairie dog ecosystem.
Johnson Wants Park to Get Ranch (December 14, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Denise Ross, Journal Staff Writer. Nonprofit groups could help the federal government buy the 5,500-acre Casey ranch in southwest South Dakota, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said Tuesday. Striking a partnership with a group such as the Nature Conservancy or the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation could be one way to reach an agreeable purchase price between the National Park Service and the Casey family, Johnson said during a South Dakota Public Radio call-in show.
State Rule Prohibiting Prairie Dog Shooting Removed For Conata Basin (December 14, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). PIERRE, S.D. - The Game, Fish and Parks Commission has removed a state rule prohibiting prairie dog shooting in the Conata Basin. However, shooting prairie dogs in the Conata Basin is still prohibited by U.S. Forest Service rules. "With prairie dogs in such high numbers and with active prairie dog poisoning occurring, protection from sport shooting in the Conata Basin using state rules is not necessary," said GFP Assistant Wildlife Director George Vandel. "This action essentially defers responsibility for establishing shooting restrictions in the Conata Basin to the U.S. Forest Service, who is better suited to establish local shooting zones and/or open shooting areas." He added that overall, nothing will change regarding new opportunities for prairie dog shooting in the Conata Basin until the U.S. Forest Service completes an Environmental Impact Statement for prairie dog management activities. "Even when the Forest Service opens up all or parts of the Conata Basin for prairie dog shooting, the state season involving public land will remain in effect. There are no seasonal shooting restrictions on private land but most public lands, including US Forest Service lands, are annually closed to prairie dog shooting from March 1 to June 14. The Conata Basin is described as that portion of the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands east and south of Badlands National Park, north of the Pine Ridge Reservation and west of the Jackson County line.
Prairie Dog Management Plan Completed (December 14, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). PIERRE, S.D. -- After nearly six years of meetings, discussions and planning, the final draft of South Dakota's prairie dog management plan has reached completion. "The State of South Dakota has been participating in interstate prairie dog discussions and planning efforts since late 1998," said Game, Fish and Parks Secretary John Cooper. "The coordinated attempt has been to avoid any present or future need for prairie dogs to be listed under the authority of the federal Endangered Species Act. At the same time, the overriding goals of the planning effort have been to maintain state authority for the black-tailed prairie dog by providing a meaningful, long-term commitment to its conservation needs and to lessen potential negative impacts to private landowners." Two Prairie Dog Working Groups assisted the South Dakota Departments of Agriculture and Game, Fish and Parks in the controversial but critical task of drafting this state management plan. A draft plan was first released for public comment on Nov. 5, 2001 for a 30-day comment period. The comment period was extended for an additional two weeks and closed on Dec. 21, 2001. Following input from the second advisory group, an additional public comment period was held from May 25 through June 25, 2004. A total of 337 comments and 19 petitions were received and considered by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Game, Fish and Parks. "A significant commitment to protect landowners from undesired encroachment of prairie dogs on private land is incorporated in this plan," said Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Larry Gabriel. "My primary interest in the South Dakota Black-tailed Prairie Dog Management Plan is to protect landowners' property rights. And the plan accomplishes that while committing to sustaining a viable population of prairie dogs." The final step in the process is to present the plan to the South Dakota legislature during the upcoming session for their approval. Further details, as well as the entire completed South Dakota Black-tailed Prairie Dog Management Plan, can be found on the GFP website at www.sdgfp.info. Those who wish to receive the plan in the mail may call (605) 773-3387 to request a copy. CONTACT: George Vandel, 773-4192.
Officials Draft New Grassland Plan (December 9, 2004 -- Southwest Wyoming Bureau). By JEFF GEARINO. I predict this new plan will include/propose no actual protections for prairie dogs or any other species. Not a tough prediction since they say this point blank in this news story. They will make it more general, vague, a waste of time, money and paper. Add this to the list of prairie dog rollbacks.
Western Governors Press Release on the ESA Mentioning Conata Basin Prairie Dogs (December 6, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). One of PCA's board members attended and said that Gov Rounds of South Dakota was clearly the most anti-ESA of them all and focused his presentation on the prairie dog-created "devastation" in South Dakota that will never heal, grossly misrepresenting the situation. Our board member spoke with the Gov after his talk to discuss the facts of the situation (drought and livestock grazing playing a major role, black-footed ferret recovery area, and that after significant Sept rains grass is once again growing). SAN DIEGO, Dec. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Western governors will consider how to best protect and recover threatened and endangered species after reviewing recommendations they received during a two-day Executive Summit on the Endangered Species Act. The Western Governors' Association's summit, which concluded Saturday, involved representatives of agriculture, conservation groups, government and industry.
Scientist Says Prairie Dogs Appear to Have their Own Language
(December 3, 2004 --
Associate Press / Albuquerque Journal). Prairie dogs, those little pups popping in and out of holes on vacant lots
and rural rangeland, are talking up a storm. They have different "words" for tall human in yellow shirt, short
human in
green shirt, coyote, deer, red-tailed hawk and many other creatures. They can even coin new terms for things they've never seen before,
independently coming up with the same calls or words, according to Con
Slobodchikoff, a Northern Arizona University biology professor and prairie dog linguist.
Montana Bill to Remove Prairie Dog Protections (December 3, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Another attack from extremists to remove hard-won limited protections for prairie dogs, this time in Montana. Mass poisoning in South Dakota, no movement from the multi-state prairie dog team (in fact, NGOs are not allowed to attend their latest meeting, for the first time ever), and attempts to strip limited protections that do exist--all clearly because of dropping candidate status. When will those who fought so hard to remove the btpd from the candidate list--arguing that it will lead to better protections than the ESA can give--face reality?
Study Shows What Brings Tourists to Lubbock (November 22, 2004 -- KCBD News). If you're a Lubbock resident, you'll be pleased to hear tourism in the city two years ago saved 372 tax dollars from coming out of your wallet. We all know what a great place Lubbock is and the Convention and Visitors Bureau wants to bring even more tourists here, saving you even more money. Marcy Jarrett, Executive Director of the LCVB, says, "We found out they like prairie dogs, and that has been the most fun to watch residents' responses when they find out they like prairie dogs." Lubbock's history with the prairie dog may be a rocky one, but a new study paid for by the Convention and Visitor's Bureau shows tourists think they're cute, they'll come here to see them, and they'll leave money in the process. According to the study, prairie dog towns are among Lubbock's top five tourist attractions. Obviously, Texas Tech and Tech's museums are also in the top five, along with the Buddy Holly Center. The Depot District made the list as well, but a small name change is recommended. Jarrett says, "I like the idea of adding entertainment to the Depot District name because that does tell what it is and what you can do there. So many in our survey and meeting planners say they want entertainment but they didn't know we had it." The study found things people don't like about Lubbock too. It names dust and road construction as the main two. There's not much Lubbock can do about the dust, but the city can make the road work more livable. Jarrett says, "We're hoping the City of Lubbock will look at the signage. That's out of our hands. It's a city issue." Frustrated, lost drivers won't stay and they won't spend money. The average tourist in Lubbock spends over $300 a day; dining, shopping, staying in hotels but what's missing, they say, is an entertainment district with shops and restaurants. They also want a interactive West Texas experience. Jarrett says, "The closest way I can explain, the best example I can give of that is the Norman Petty Studio in Clovis. You go in and can actually sit in the chair that Buddy Holly sat in. Now that's an amazing experience." One way the Convention and Visitor's Bureau wants to bring memorable interactive experiences to Lubbock is by organizing day tours to the attractions of our neighbors like Clovis, Hobbs and Post. That way visitors see more, but still spend the night and their money in Lubbock. Lubbock doesn't have a visitors' center, but funds have been requested to build one. That should improve tourists' experiences as well. The Convention and Visitors Bureau is just waiting for city approval to bring a visitors' center to Lubbock. They want knowledgeable people guiding visitors to optimize their time here. The funds for that are ready and waiting, paid for by hotel occupancy tax, a tax customers pay at hotels.
Prairie Dog Poisoning Begins (November 12, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer. SCENIC - By this morning, there will be scores or even hundreds of dead prairie dogs in Conata Basin. That's just fine with rancher Sonny Huether. On Thursday, four state Game, Fish & Parks Department workers zipped around the federal rangeland south of the Huether ranch on all-terrain vehicles, dropping a pinch of poisoned oats near each active prairie dog hole.
Public Comment Wanted on Prairie Dog Prevention (November 11, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer. Public comment is being sought on a long-term U.S. Forest Service plan to prevent prairie dogs on federal grasslands from encroaching onto adjacent private land. The Nebraska National Forest, which administers the Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Fort Pierre National Grassland, is looking at three long-term alternatives to manage prairie dogs on the grasslands, according to Wall District ranger Bill Perry: * The first alternative is to continue non-lethal management practices under the current forest plan. * The second alternative is to amend the forest plan to adopt a South Dakota state prairie dog management plan now being developed that likely will include poisoning and shooting of prairie dogs. * The third alternative includes "adopting what we can legally adopt in the state plan under current federal law and regulations," Perry said. This alternative would include using all management tools including poisoning, shooting, buffer zones between federal and private land, vegetation management through changes in grazing, and continued land exchanges to consolidate federal land, he said. Perry said variations on these preliminary alternatives also could be adopted. Forest Service officials hope to have the forest plan amendment finished by next June, he said. The Forest Service, two other federal agencies and the state of South Dakota agreed in August to begin poisoning prairie dogs this fall in buffer zones on the national grassland to prevent them from encroaching onto private ranches in Fall River County and in Conata Basin south of Badlands National Park. A coalition of wildlife advocacy groups filed suit over that plan, and a federal judge in Denver last month allowed the initial poisoning to go forward. However, the Forest Service agreed in the settlement to conduct an environmental impact statement (EIS) before undertaking long-term prairie dog management efforts. It also put on hold plans to lift its ban on shooting prairie dogs. On Nov. 1, the Forest Service published its intent to prepare the EIS in the Federal Register. A copy is on the Web site. Copies also are available at Forest Service offices in Wall, Hot Springs, Pierre and Chadron, Neb. Comments must be sent by Dec. 1 to Donald Bright, forest supervisor, USDA Forest Service, 125 North Main St., Chadron, Neb. 69337. Meanwhile, the initial poisoning in buffer zones on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland is continuing. Crews were still poisoning this week in Fall River County. Poisoning has not yet begun in Conata Basin, Perry said. Contact Steve Miller at 394-8417 or steve.miller@rapidcityjournal.com.
Shannon Couny Ranchers Question Prairie Dog Plan (November 10, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). by Jack Siebold. To stop prairie dogs from competing for pastures with ranch livestock, the government is poisoning the rodents along a half-mile buffer zone where the Buffalo Gap National Grassland butts against private land. But some Shannon County ranchers along the Fall River County line appear to be on their own. After a call to the Forest Service in Hot Springs, Scott Cuny believes Shannon County ranchers are left out in the cold. ”Well, they told me they aren't going to do along the Shannon County border. They didn't give me a reason why or anything but just told me that was not in their plan,” Cuny said. “I was under the assumption that when they were going to do a half-mile buffer zone around their borders that it meant everywhere,” he added. The Forest Service claims it will poison prairie dog towns if they cross over onto private land. If the town doesn't cross over, no poisoning. But Cuny already has prairie dogs migrating from the national grassland, about 50 acres of fresh holes. “I've owned the land here for three years. And every year I come over and I poison it all out and every year they prairie dogs keep coming back twice as many numbers as there was before,” Cuny said. And he expects more if the government doesn't act. The Forest Service is still looking at a long-term management plan that includes a mile-wide buffer zone. But that doesn't help Cuny and other Shannon County ranchers today. ”The government's not doing its part to poison their dogs,” he said. KOTA Territory News has not been able to get an answer about the Shannon County line problem. After several phone calls, we were referred back to the first people called.
Bird Deaths Near Site of Poisoning Prompt Probe (October 20, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer. Federal law enforcement officials are investigating the deaths of three horned larks found near an area where a state contractor had placed prairie dog poison north of Badlands National Park.
Plan to Poison Prairie Dogs Challenged (October 5, 2004 -- National Public Radio). » from All Things Considered, Tuesday. Environmental groups file a lawsuit challenging a plan by government agencies to poison prairie dogs on federal land in South Dakota. The groups say the plan could harm an endangered species, the black-footed ferret. NPR's Greg Allen reports.
Prairie Dog Management Plan on Hold — For Now (October 2, 2004 -- Rapid City Journal, SD / Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer, and The Associated Press. Federal officials have agreed to hold off poisoning prairie dogs in western South Dakota's Conata Basin until at least Oct. 11 while they try to work out a settlement with environmental groups that sued to stop the poisoning plan, according to a spokesman for one of the groups.
The Truth about Prairie Dogs -- Understanding the Underdog (Fall 2004 -- The Nature Conservancy). The key to restoring the North American grassland may be right under our noses.
Prairie Dog Management Plan on Hold — For Now (October 2, 2004 -- Rapid City Journal, SD / Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer, and The Associated Press. Federal officials have agreed to hold off poisoning prairie dogs in western South Dakota's Conata Basin until at least Oct. 11 while they try to work out a settlement with environmental groups that sued to stop the poisoning plan, according to a spokesman for one of the groups.
Groups Sue over Poison Plan & Conservation Groups Seek Court Order to Halt Prairie Dog Killing (September 23, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv).
Advocates, USFS at Odds over Basin (September 20, 2004 -- Rapid City Journal). By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer. When U.S. Forest Service supervisor Don Bright looks over the parched prairie of eastern Conata Basin, denuded of vegetation and pockmarked with prairie dog holes, he sees devastation. When Jonathan Proctor of the Predator Conservation Alliance views the same scene, he sees a success story in the making for prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets and other wildlife.
Prairie Dog Counteroffer (September 19, 2004 -- Rapid City Journal). By The Journal Editorial Board. The day after Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced that the black-tailed prairie dog would be listed as a threatened species, the state and federal agencies agreed to a prairie dog control plan that includes poisoning and shooting. Immediately, a coalition of environmental groups opposed to poisoning prairie dogs filed an intent to sue notice to stop the plan.
Prairie Dog Policy Revision Criticized (September 7, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer. Lewis and Clark saw their first prairie dogs 200 years ago this Tuesday, and wildlife conservation groups are using the occasion to blast state and federal moves to kill prairie dogs on federal land in South Dakota. On Sept. 7, 1804, the Corps of Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, came across its first black-tailed prairie dogs in present-day South Dakota, about 25 miles above the Niobrara River.
1st Annual Prairie Festival Succeeds Beyond Expectations (September 1, 2004). The 1st Annual Prairie Festival in Lubbock, TX, on August 21 was an unqualified success! When our doors opened at 10:00 a.m., there were people waiting to get in and a steady stream of visitors enjoyed our wide range of exhibitors and engaging speakers the entire day. We kept an accurate count of participants and, at the end of the day when we had hoped to have maybe 500 visitors, we were astounded to find that over 700 people had come to see the Festival. There were many families with young children who were entertained by interactive booths with live animals and wildlife educational games. Adults could find anything from information on planting native species, grassland ecology restoration, wildlife research, environmental responsibility and much more. Speakers gave some very lively and well-attended presentations that covered a wide range of prairie topics.
Accredited Zoos Opposed to Planned Destruction of Prairie Dogs on Essential Black-footed Ferret Habitat in South Dakota (August 25, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) expressed concern over a new plan by the State of South Dakota, the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to destroy prairie dogs on habitat essential to the recovery of the endangered black-footed ferret.
South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture on Prairie Dogs (August 24, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Do you want the good news or bad news first? The good news is the Department of Interior says it will remove the black-tailed prairie dog from the federal endangered species candidate list. The bad news is Congress soon will be back in session. Their efforts bring to mind a Will Rogers quote, "This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer." If you didn't see any of the dozens of news stories about the feds changing their position on the prairie dog (the ground squirrel Cynomys ludovicianus), you may not know they simply decided their numbers were wrong. They previously guessed the prairie dog population to be around 6 million, but new data raised that estimate to 18 million. You may have also missed the reported "facts" about another number. The stories repeated the claim that prairie dogs once covered "100 million acres", and now inhabit only about one percent of that area. Man is blamed for the decline. As far as I can discover, that claim is wild speculation that has been repeated so many times everyone assumes it to be a fact. None of the reports I read bothered to cite a source for this claim. It may have originated with a 1984 article by an Englishman describing rodent pests of the Great Plains, wherein he guessed the former short-grass habitat to be 40 million hectares (100 million acres). Congressmen and "scientists" may not notice that saying there once were 100 million acres of short-grass prairie habitat is not the same thing as claiming there once were 100 million acres of prairie dog towns. You and I can tell the difference. Not everyone is fooled by gimmicks. A publication from the Cooperative Extension Service of Kansas State University says, "Originally, prairie dogs thrived only in places overgrazed by native animals." I believe that's true. However, I don't believe that bison "overgrazed" 100 million acres of short-grass prairie North America. The propagandists will tell you that humans are responsible for the prairie dog's decline. The truth is European settlement of the West probably caused a big increase in prairie dog towns, mostly through overgrazing in the 1800s. The "100 million acres" is a guess about conditions around the turn of the last century. Today's numbers are also just guesses. They may not be accurate, but they are certainly more accurate than any guess about what existed one hundred years ago. Ordinarily, Congress's concern about the welfare of a ground squirrel that has been here for 33 million years might be humorous, but I have been working with federal agencies on this subject for several years, and it is not funny to me. As Will Rogers also said, "Everything is funny, as long as it is happening to somebody else." By State Fair Week I will have back my humor and be reciting Will's most famous comment on Congress: "Every time they make a joke, it's a law and every time they make a law, it's a joke."
No Federal Shield for Prairie Dogs -- "Endangered" Consideration Rejected (August 13, 2004 -- The Denver Post). By Theo Stein. The black-tailed prairie dog has been removed as a candidate for endangered-species protection after new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates show that 18 million of the colony-dwelling rodents now inhabit broad swaths of prairie from Montana to Texas.
Conservationists Aghast at Removal of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog from Candidate Species List (August 12, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Conservation Groups Decry Removal of Black-tailed Prairie Dog from Candidate List -- Bush Administration Rejects Protection for Imperiled Prairie Dog. Denver, CO — August 12. In a move criticized by citizen groups as reckless and biologically unsound, the Bush administration today announced the removal of the black-tailed prairie dog from a "candidate" list of species awaiting protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Press Release -- Black Tailed Prairie Dog Removed from Candidate Species List (August 12, 2004 -- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). An updated evaluation of the best available scientific information has led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine that the black-tailed prairie dog is not likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future and no longer meets the Endangered Species Act definition of threatened. Therefore, the prairie dog will be removed as a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. A finding that the black-tailed prairie dog does not warrant listing was delivered today to the Federal Register.
California Cattlemen Joined "Industry Coalition" to Thwart BUOW Listing (August 7, 2004 -- Burrowing Owl Listserv). As you may recall, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the State of California for listing of the burrowing owl as a threatened or endangered species under the State Endangered Species Act. I fully and vigorously supported this petition and appreciated the outstanding work of the Center, which was backed by many of the state's top biologists working with burrowing owls. But, the petition failed. The State Fish and Game Commission were influenced by others, including the California Cattlemen's Association and a coalition of insiders of various California industries whose economic interests were perceived to be at risk from protecting burrowing owls.
Conservations Send Notice of Intent to Sue Feds over Gunnison's Prairie Dog (August 1, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Endangered Species Bottleneck Continues: Scientists & Conservation Groups Pressure Feds for Prairie Dog Petition Finding. Santa Fe, NM—July 29. Scientists and conservation groups today sent a Notice of Intent to Sue the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) over the agency's failure to issue a timely finding on the petition to list the Gunnison's prairie dog under the Endangered Species Act. A broad coalition of private landowners, realtors, homebuilders, military officers, scientists, religious organizations, conservation and animal protection groups submitted the petition to the Service in late February. Under the Endangered Species Act, the Service is required to determine within 90 days of receiving a petition whether there is sufficient information to merit a status review on the petitioned species. That finding was due in late May but has not yet been issued. Under the Bush Administration, the Service is routinely failing to meet petition deadlines.
Prairie Festival in Lubbock Aug. 21-22 (July 11, 2004 -- Llano Estacado Audubon Society). The 1st Annual Prairie Festival is scheduled for August 21 and 22, 2004, in Lubbock to celebrate the importance of the prairie and raise awareness of its critical role in the ecosystems of the West. Hosted by the Llano Estacado Audubon Society, the Festival will include two days of events: On August 21, the festival will preview indoor booths featuring merchandise and information, food, drinks and music, as well as speakers and displays on prairie science, ecology and restoration; the second day, August 22, will feature field trips to several sites around Lubbock to view the prairie and its inhabitants, such as Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, Burrowing Owls and Ferruginous Hawks. The Prairie Festival's purpose is to promote awareness and appreciation for the importance of a prairie and its associated species, with particular focus on Black-tailed Prairie Dogs and Burrowing Owls. The Llano Estacado Audubon Society's (LEAS) mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and habitat for the benefit of human heritage and the earth's biological diversity. LEAS members view the health of the prairie and its inhabitants as vital to the larger ecosystems. Contacts: Jill Haukos - a.m. contact: (806) 797-2012, haukos(at)aol.com, Ellen McBride - p.m. contact: (806) 785-1876, ellen(at)eroots.net.
Johnson Wants Prairie Dogs Off Protected List (June 23, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv / AP). S
ious Falls, S.D. - Sen. Tim Johnson has asked federal officials to remove the black-tailed prairie dog from consideration for the Endangered Species list. Four years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found the prairie dog deserved to be a candidate on the list. Johnson, D-S.D., told the Senate's Public Lands Committee on Wednesday that recent biological surveys show that prairie dogs do not need protection. The senator also wrote a letter on the subject to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Steven A. Williams.Wyoming Rancher Sentenced in Prairie Dog Killings (June 23, 2004 -- Billings Gazette [Montana]). By Clair Johnson. A Wyoming rancher who admitted illegally poisoning thousands of prairie dogs on federal land in Montana apologized in court Tuesday as he was fined and sentenced to probation. "I acknowledge this mistake,'' said Stanford M. Clinton Jr., 73, of Recluse, Wyo. Clinton owns the Three Bar Ranch in Wyoming and Montana. "This was not a malicious act. I'm genuinely sorry it happened.'' U.S. Magistrate Richard Anderson ordered Clinton to spend one year on supervised probation, fined him $1,500, ordered restitution of $3,500 and directed him to perform 200 hours of community service work in Montana. Clinton pleaded guilty in February through his attorney to a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized range treatment on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
candidate for an endangered classification on the federal Endangered Species
list. A group of environmentalists, biologists and landowners — known as
the Texas Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Working Group — hopes to prevent that by
conserving more than 293,000 acres of grassland habitat for the animals by 2011.Two Developments on the Struggle for Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (June 12, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Visit the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Online Learning Module just posted at www.prairiedogs.org. Also, if you're at all interested, we've posted on www.prairiedogs.org the document our pro bono attorneys issued to the Colorado Supreme Court asking the court to hear our case challenging the state's unmitigated allowance of wildlife poisoning on prairie dog colonies. Although the trial judge who heard our lawsuit some four years ago agreed that the State - including the governor, the Division of Wildlife, and the Agriculture Department - is doing virtually nothing to protect wildlife from poisoning on prairie dog colonies, he did not order the State to change its ways. The appeals court concurred that the judge was correct in not requiring any changes, but we do not concur and are therefore appealing to the state Supreme Court to hear the case. The document is in pdf format and is lengthy, but it provides a substantial amount of information on the case. David Crawford, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Animal Defense, 2525 Arapahoe, #E4-335, Boulder, CO 80302, 303-449-4422 / 720-565-9096(f), davec@rmad.org / www.rmad.org.
Plan Would Conserve Texas' Prairie Dog Habitat (June 10, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). State program seeks to maintain populations. By Shannon Tompkins. Driving through Lubbock a month or so ago, I found it hard to grasp that Texas has anything but a thriving population of prairie dogs. The telltale mounds of rich Panhandle dirt marking the main entrance of the social, ground-dwelling squirrels' underground complexes were visible here and there on the land around the city's airport, in vacant lots and even on the lawn of an elementary school. The mounds' pudgy occupants were evident, too. But having read accounts from people who explored the Llano Estacado before it transformed from an endless sea of short grasses into a giant patchwork of squares and circles marking, respectively, dry-land farmers and center-pivot irrigated land, I knew these were just shadows of what once was.
South Dakota Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Management Plan (June 1, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Departments of Agriculture and Game, Fish and Parks are inviting the public from May 25 through June 25 to comment on the most recent version of the South Dakota Black-tailed Prairie Dog Management Plan. A copy of the plan can be obtained by visiting the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks' website at: www.sdgfp.info/pdplan.pdf. The plan will be available on May 25, or it can be obtained by writing to Prairie Dog Plan, S.D. Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D. 57501 or by calling Karen at (605) 773-3387. Written comments must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, June 25. Written comments can be sent to the above address, faxed to (605) 773-6245 (please identify faxed comments by writing Prairie Dog Comments at the beginning of your comments), or submitted at the prairie dog plan web-site (www.sdgfp.info/pdplan.htm). Phone comments will not be considered during this comment period. The overall goal of the plan is to manage prairie dogs in South Dakota at a level where they can sustain themselves through the years. One of the chief goals of the plan is to avoid negative impacts on the state's landowners. Comments on this specific goal will be particularly useful. The State of South Dakota had hoped the state plan would help facilitate cooperative prairie dog control efforts on federal lands, particularly those managed by the U.S. Forest Service and adjacent private lands during 2004. The U. S. Forest Service recently determined that an Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared before the agency conducts prairie dog control on U. S. Forest Service lands, a process expected to take at least one year. The State of South Dakota is developing an interim, emergency process to address the need for prairie dog control on private lands adjacent to Forest Service property on the Fall River Ranger District and in the Conata Basin area of the Wall Ranger District. The interim process will be finalized, along with the state prairie dog management plan, on July 12. Jonathan Proctor, Grassland Program Associate, Predator Conservation Alliance, 2900 E. 23rd Ave., Gate 7, Denver, CO 80205-5735, Phone: 303-376-4982; Fax: 303-376-4806, http://www.predatorconservation.org.
Feds Pledge a Decision on Prairie Dog by August (May 27, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Interior officials have pledged to decide by August whether to remove the black-tailed prairie dog from the candidate list for protection under the Endangered Species Act, according to Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D. "I am pleased that the Department of Interior has given us a time frame in which they plan to decide whether the prairie dog will remain on the candidate list," Daschle said in a news release. The Interior Department promise came as a result of Daschle's meeting with Interior Secretary Gale Norton last week, Daschle spokesman Ted Miller said Tuesday. "Common sense tells us that the prairie dog should be removed from this list, so I am hopeful that's the decision the Department will announce in August," Daschle said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is under the Department of Interior, indicated earlier this month that it was continuing to review scientific data and population reports from states including South Dakota to determine whether the prairie dog should remain a candidate for the Endangered Species List. Daschle has written twice in recent months to the service requesting that the prairie dog be removed from the candidate list. "A decision to remove the prairie dog from the candidate list before this date would enhance the state's ability to manage and control prairie dogs. I urge you to encourage the Fish and Wildlife Service to expedite its consideration of this matter," Daschle wrote in a letter to Norton. "The state of South Dakota has accounted for more than 400,000 acres of prairie dogs … and other states are seeing similar results," Daschle wrote. The significantly high numbers of prairie dogs recently led the Forest Service to lift its moratorium on poisoning prairie dogs on national forests and grasslands, Daschle said. The Forest Service agreed to work with states to manage the prairie dog population, a move that Daschle said underscored the need for the Fish and Wildlife Service to take action. However, Forest Service officials said last week that any major prairie dog control efforts involving poisoning would be at least a year away, while an environmental impact statement is completed. Daschle is running for re-election against Republican John Thune. Thune also has called for removing the prairie dog from the threatened species candidate list, saying that prairie dogs are pests.
Feds Held off Updating Status of Prairie Dog (May 5, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, West River Editor. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has received so much new information about black-tailed prairie dog populations that it delayed its annual update on the animal's status as a candidate for the threatened species list. For now, the prairie dog remains a low priority for listing on the threatened species list, according to the service's report filed in the Federal Register on Tuesday.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog in Federal Register (May 4, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Black-tailed prairie dog was not evaluated in today's published candidate notice of review. However, it's "listing priority number" appears to have been dropped nonetheless from 8 to 11 (on a 1 to 12 scale). I'm not sure how they can drop it with no written explanation, but they did. From today's federal register: We reviewed the current status of and threats to the 42 candidates and 5 listed species for which we have received a petition and for which we have found listing or reclassification from threatened to endangered to be warranted but precluded. This includes 43 candidate or listed species for which we previously have published findings. For 42 of these 43 species, we have incorporated any new information we have gathered since the prior finding (for black-tailed prairie dog, see below) and, as a result of this review, we made continued ‘‘warranted-but-precluded’’ 12-month findings on the petitions for these species. There also are 3 new candidate species for which we have received petitions, and for which we are announcing initial ‘‘warranted-but precluded’’ findings in this CNOR. Additionally, for one new candidate species for which we have received a petition, we recently published a separate initial ‘‘warranted-but precluded’’ finding. Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)—We have not updated our finding with regard to the black-tailed prairie dog in this notice. In the 2002 CNOR, we found that a listing proposal for this species was still warranted but precluded by higher priorities, and we assigned the species a listing priority number of 8. We have since received significant new information about this species from the National Wildlife Federation, Forest Guardians, and the States of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. We are considering this information and, upon completion, we intend to publish a finding for this species in the Federal Register.
Daschle Takes Aim at Prairie Dog (April 12, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Senator again asks for animal to be dropped from the endangered list. By Steve Miller, Journal Staff Writer. WASHINGTON — Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., is again calling on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to drop the prairie dog as a candidate for listing as an endangered species. The Fish & Wildlife Service in 2000 found that the black-tailed prairie dog deserved listing as a threatened species, a sub-category of the endangered species list, according to a Daschle staffer. The service delayed listing, saying it had higher priority species to deal with. The listing was requested by wildlife and environmental groups.
Reservations Could hold Answer to Prairie Dog Conflict (April 2, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). PINE RIDGE - South Dakota's greatest wildlife controversy is hitting hardest on its Indian reservations, where poverty and bureaucracy deepen the impact. But the reservations might prove key to easing a conflict between conservation and ranching throughout the state. To many who live east of the Missouri River, black-tailed prairie dogs are a cute, scampering tourist attraction. Some even keep them as pets. Environmentalists see them as a keystone species that has lost at least 98 percent of its home range.
Coalition Secures Court Victory for the White-Tailed Prairie Dog Fish and Wildlife Service Must Respond to Endangered Species Act Petition (March 11, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Denver, Colorado – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must respond by October 31st to a citizen petition to protect the white-tailed prairie dog, according to a new court settlement announced today. The petition seeks Endangered Species Act protection for the white-tailed prairie dog, a species that has vanished from at least 92% of its historical habitat. White-tailed prairie dogs inhabit the "Sagebrush Sea" of central and western Wyoming, northwestern Colorado, northeastern Utah, and south-central Montana, and are critical to the health of the sagebrush ecosystem. Endangered black-footed ferrets depend on prairie dogs for food and on their burrows for shelter. Prairie dogs also provide food for badgers, ferruginous hawks, and golden eagles as well as crucial habitat for many other native plants and animals.
Protection Sought For Gunnison's Prairie Dog -- Diverse Coalition Petitions for Endangered Species Act Listing (February 23, 2004 [posted March 9] -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Santa Fe, NM — A coalition of scientists, realtors, homebuilders, private landowners, religious organizations, retired military officials, conservation and animal protection groups, and concerned citizens are filing a petition today to list the Gunnison's prairie dog under the federal Endangered Species Act. A press conference will be held announcing the petition filing.
Dog Fight (March 7, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, West River Editor. Oglala — Jim Glade of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and John Sidle of the U.S. Forest Service stand looking out over a prairie landscape pocked by thousands of prairie dog holes. They are on the edge of the largest single prairie dog town in the world, estimated at more than 25,000 acres. It stretches from Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 north of Ogllala on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation almost to the Fall River County line, about eight miles west.
LEAS Statement on the Poisoning of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs on the LLAS in Lubbock (March 6, 2004 -- Llano Estacado Audubon Society).
Prairie Dog Poison Ban Lifted (February 14, 2004 -- Black-tailed Prairie-dog Listserv). By Steve Miller, West River Editor. CHADRON, Neb. — The U.S. Forest Service says it is lifting its ban on poisoning prairie dogs on five national grasslands in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. Deputy Chief Tom Thompson, in a letter sent Thursday to three regional foresters, rescinded an earlier letter of direction that effectively banned poisoning of prairie dogs on national forests and grasslands, according to a news release from Nebraska National Forest supervisor Don Bright in Chadron. The decision opens the way to control the spread of prairie dogs onto private land from federal grasslands, including the Buffalo Gap and Fort Pierre national grasslands in western South Dakota, Bright said.
Burrowing owl report suppressed by fish and game comes to light, "Owlgate" incident suggests decision not to protect the species was improper. (February 2, 2004 -- Environmental News Network / Center for Biological Diversity)
Daschle Seeks to End ESA Review of Prairie Dogs (December 18, 2003 -- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department). WASHINGTON - Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., has urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to end a review of prairie dogs as potential candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Golf Firm to Give Local Prairie Dog Community New Digs (December 14, 2003 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). by P. Christine Smith. One Lubbock company has burrowed into its bank account to improve its neighbors' home. While the neighbors don't have the ability to understand the generosity, the city of Lubbock and a nonprofit group think the project is a terrific idea. Four Star Golf, which runs Meadowbrook Golf Course in Mackenzie Park, is giving $150,000 to improve the prairie dog habitat. Prairie Dog Town is bordered on three sides by the golf course.
California Game Commission Denies Listing Petition for Burrowing Owls -- State Says Burrowing Owl Not Qualified for Protection (December 6, 2003 -- Oakland Tribune). By Don Thompson, Associated Press. SACRAMENTO -- Development is stealing the habitat of the western burrowing owl, but not so much that the bird qualifies for protection under California's threatened or endangered species law -- at least not yet, state regulators have decided. The small ground-nesting owl is being driven out of urbanizing areas, but its population is stable in rural areas, wildlife commissioners said, unanimously agreeing with a finding by the Department of Fish and Game.
LLAS Prairie Dog Update (November 16, 2003 -- Llano Estacado Audubon Society). Recent requests for a prairie dog status update on the Lubbock Land Application Site prompted our Conservation Chairperson, Jill Haukos, to write up the following information.
Groups to Sue FWS for Foot-dragging, Failing to Protect Black-tailed Prairie Dog (October 15, 2003 -- Black-tailed Prairie Dog Listserv). Notice that Protection of Prairie Dogs Under ESA is Intended to Benefit Burrowing Owls, Ferruginous Hawks, and Other Critters. Santa Fe, NM — October 15. Forest Guardians and other conservation groups warned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today of their intent to sue the agency over its failure to list the black-tailed prairie dog under the federal Endangered Species Act. In February 2000, the Service concluded that the black-tailed prairie dog required Endangered Species Act protection but higher priority species needed to receive protection first. More than three and a half years after its "warranted but precluded" designation, the Service has still failed to even propose the black-tailed prairie dog for listing and it therefore remains an unprotected candidate species. After once occupying 11 states in the Great Plains and the Southwest within the U.S., today acreage occupied by the black-tailed prairie dog has dwindled by at least 98%.
Lubbock City Council Approves Plan for Prairie Dog Removal (December 20, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). By Brian Williams. Eventually, most of the prairie dogs at the city's wastewater pasture must uproot, but their lives will be spared. The City Council approved a plan Thursday to remove prairie dogs from the location east of Lubbock, which is used as an application site for sewage effluent. The city plans to plow the ground and remove the animals.
Prairie Dog Update from Lubbock (November 15, 2002 -- Llano Estacado Audubon Society). Meeting with City of Lubbock, LEAS, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
Lubbock to go out of Cattle Business, Into Farming (November 13, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). By John Fuquay. The city of Lubbock will head 'em up and move 'em out, but this time it won't be the prairie dogs. John Hindman, who manages Lubbock's 4,750 acres of farmland, said Monday the cattle will be removed from city pastures by March. He said the city will convert to row cropping in an effort to curb rising nitrate levels on pastures where the city discharges treated sewer water. An earlier plan in response to a state violation called for poisoning or blasting thousands of prairie dogs, which sparked a storm of protest from wildlife conservation groups across the state.
TCEQ's 60-Day Reprieve --
Letter to the Editor (October 23, 2002
-- The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal).
Naked City (October 18, 2002 -- Austin Chronicle). By Dave Mann. State environmental regulators granted Texas' most famous prairie dog colony a temporary stay of execution last week, rescinding the city of Lubbock's highly controversial plan to kill the animals that city officials claim are the cause of groundwater pollution. Early last week, seven environmental and animal rights groups filed a lawsuit in Travis Co. district court seeking to halt Lubbock's plan to exterminate up to 50,000 prairie dogs that live beneath the city sewage treatment plant's waste application fields. The city blames the rodents -- and not its own sewage handling -- for increased nitrate levels, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ, formerly the TNRCC) had blessed the eradication plan. But faced with mounting criticism, TCEQ backed off its finding that prairie dogs are the lone culprit, rescinded its approval, and gave Lubbock an additional 60 days to determine the pollution's certain cause and devise a solution. The TCEQ says it came to its decision before the lawsuit was filed.
Commission Clears City on Water Violation (October 15, 2002 -- University Daily). by Heidi Toth. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently rescinded its notice of violation against the City of Lubbock regarding the groundwater contamination and the prairie dog colony. Mayor Marc McDougal said the commission completely rescinded the violation, although he is not sure exactly what that means for the city.
Suit Challenges Plans to Destroy Prairie Dog Colony (October 14, 2002). LUBBOCK, Texas, October 14, 2002 (ENS) - A coalition of conservation groups has filed suit to block plans to destroy one of the largest black-tailed prairie dog colonies in the Southwest. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), Defenders of Wildlife, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and others charge that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) improperly approved a plan by the city of Lubbock to eradicate up to 50,000 prairie dogs in a misdirected effort to address the city's growing groundwater problems.
Prairie Dog Protectors say Rodents are No Threat to Water Safety -- Groups Want to Spare Animals (October 13, 2002 -- LUBBOCK – A worn-out pickup jerked a trailer across a pockmarked field, sloshing water out of the tank on the back. Lynda Watson dived quickly out of the passenger's side; driver Jerry Garcia followed her hand signals to slow, then stop. Silent, Ms. Watson dropped to her knees beside a mound of packed dirt, directed a short hose from the water tank and sprayed into a hole. A couple of pointed claws appeared, then the head of a prairie dog. With her bare hands, Ms. Watson held the rodent at the back of the neck and released it into a large plastic trashcan. Only her eyes registered excitement.
Prairie Dogs, Lubbock Handed Reprieve (October 8, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). By John Fuquay. In an apparent victory for wildlife conservation, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has given the city of Lubbock additional time to reconsider a groundwater protection plan that would have led to the poisoning thousands of prairie dogs. Margaret Hoffman, the TCEQ executive director, said her agency has amended an order issued in June that identified prairie dogs as part of a groundwater contamination problem at the city's wastewater application site. "We have determined that we need to give a fresh look at this issue and pull back from the notice of violation, and that would make that eradication plan ineffective," Hoffman told The Avalanche-Journal on Monday.
Suit Challenges Texas Plan to Exterminate Prairie Dogs -- (October 8, 2002 -- Washington Post). By Amanda Zamora. AUSTIN, Oct. 7 -- Several environmental groups filed a lawsuit against a Texas agency today in an effort to halt a state-approved plan to exterminate as many as 50,000 black-tailed prairie dogs living in the Panhandle. The suit contends that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality inappropriately approved a plan by the city of Lubbock to kill off a prairie dog colony occupying city-owned land as a "misdirected effort to address the city's growing groundwater problems."
Prairie Dogs get Reprieve -- State Repeals Order to Kill Animals in Lubbock to Allow Further Study (October 8, 2002 -- The Dallas Morning News). Citing a need for additional scientific study, the state's chief environmental agency has rescinded an order directing the city of Lubbock to exterminate thousands of prairie dogs at its wastewater disposal farm, the agency's director said Monday. The announcement came the same day that a coalition of environmental and animal rights groups filed suit in state district court in Austin challenging the agency's order and a related city plan to kill thousands of the animals this winter. Margaret Hoffman, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said officials reached the decision after meeting last week with the head of the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Decision to Kill Lubbock Prairie Dogs Met with Outrage -- Bad Day Down on the Farm (October 5, 2002 -- Dallas Morning News). By Lee Hancock. The same state agency that recently ordered extermination of thousands of prairie dogs at a Lubbock wastewater farm to prevent water pollution previously blamed the site's pollution woes on years of city mismanagement. The city has sprayed wastewater at the farm east of town for decades, and since the mid-1990s, state environmental officials have blamed poor management and noncompliance with state orders for the persistent and possibly worsening groundwater pollution.
Frustration Rises over Bid to Save Area Prairie Dogs (October 1, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). By John Fuquay. "These may or may not be the last ones taken out of there alive," Linda Watson said Monday. Surrounded by cages containing more than 300 of the wild animals, she said, "I have to do a great deal of soul searching." Watson, 48, has spent the past 15 years trapping prairie dogs from West Texas ranches as a means to control their population. But for the past three months, she has been involved in a more intense rescue mission, trying to save the lives of thousands of prairie dogs that stand to be exterminated this winter.
Another Bite at the Dogs (September 27, 2002 -- Austin Chronicle). By Dave Mann. The outlook for one of Texas' largest prairie dog colonies became a Good deal bleaker last week when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (formerly known as the TNRCC, or "Train-Wreck") approved Lubbock's controversial plan to exterminate the dogs, which city and state officials believe cause groundwater pollution beneath the waste-application field for the city's sewage-treatment plant. (See "Man Bites Prairie Dogs!" Aug. 30.)
Prairie Dog Burrows' Effects on Groundwater "Infinitesimal" -- Texas Tech Study Refutes Agency's Allegations in Lubbock (September 23, 2002 -- Llano Estacado Audubon Society). Press Release. Lubbock, TX -- Prairie dog burrows have virtually no impact on watershed pollution, according to a five-year old study highlighted today by the Llano Estacado Audubon Society. The study, written by Drs. Warren Wood, Ken Rainwater and David Thompson, all of Texas Tech University, and published in the scientific journal Ground Water, describe the transfer of water through 'macropores' or large holes, including prairie dog burrows, and their effect on the watershed. The scientists found that the amount of water reaching the groundwater through these holes was "infinitesimally small."
Official: Reconsider Killing Prairie Dogs -- Wildlife Director Wants Proof Animals Caused High Nitrate Levels (September 20, 2002 -- The Dallas Morning News / Associated Press). Lubbock -- A top Texas Parks and Wildlife Department official says environmental regulators who recently approved Lubbock's plan to kill prairie dogs did so without evidence that the animals are solely to blame for high nitrate levels. In a Sept. 13 letter to his counterpart at the Texas Commission on Environment Quality, Robert Cook, executive director of Parks and Wildlife, asked the commission to revisit its decision and "take a closer look at whether prairie dogs are indeed the problem, or whether other land management alternatives might be more effective in reducing potential pollution." Last week, the state's environmental agency approved the plan to move prairie dogs from the city's sewage treatment farm until the end of the year. A protected species -- burrowing owls -- use the prairie dogs' vacant burrows to lay their eggs.
Top
Wildlife Official Wants Regulators to Revisit Prairie Dog Plan (September
20, 2002 -- Abilene Reporter-News / AP). By Betsy Blaney. LUBBOCK,
Texas (AP) - A top Texas Parks and Wildlife Department official says
environmental regulators who recently approved Lubbock's plan to kill prairie
dogs did so without evidence that the animals are solely to blame for high
nitrate levels. In a Sept. 13
letter to his counterpart at the Texas Commission on Environment Quality, Robert
Cook, executive director of Parks and Wildlife, wrote to ask the commission to
revisit its decision and to "take a closer look at whether prairie dogs are
indeed the problem, or whether other land management alternatives might be more
effective in reducing potential pollution." The
prairie dogs inhabit acreage used by Lubbock to apply wastewater.
State Agencies Disagree on City Prairie Dog Plan (September 20, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). One state agency may have signed off on the city's plan to oust prairie dogs from its wastewater application farm, but a sister agency does not agree with the stated problem or the solution.
Lubbock
Plan to Eliminate Prairie Dogs Full of Holes (September 7, 2002). by
Scott Royder
Dogs in the Dirt (August 30, 2002 -- The Texas Observer). DIGGING A HOLE. Pity Lubbock’s poor prairie dogs. After years of being loathed by ranchers because of the broken legs of horses and cattle that step into dog-dug holes, the burrowing rodents are now being blamed for a half-century-old groundwater pollution problem. The state has instructed Lubbock to evict the prairie dogs, by any means necessary.
Threat
To Ground Water
(August 26, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal).
Burrowing
Owls At Risk
(August 26, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Letter
to the Editor
Poison
to be Lubbock's Solution to Prairie Dogs
(August 20, 2002 -- Lubbock
View the Lubbock land management proposal provided to the Mayor and the City Council on August 19, 2002, for city farms ground effluent and prairie dog extermination solution.
Update
from LEAS on the Lubbock Prairie Dog Extermination
(August 15, 2002).
We Don't Have to Sacrifice Prairie Dogs for Water Quality! (August 4, 2002 -- Llano Estacado Audubon Society and The Humane Society advertisement regarding proposed prairie dog extermination. The ad ran in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Click the icon below to see an enlarged version.
Homeland Security of TX Prairie Dogs in Question -- TNRCC Flip-Flops About Plans to Exterminate Lubbock Critters (July 30, 2002 -- Texas PEER). Austin, TX -- Eradicating the largest black-tailed prairie dog colony in the Southwest may no longer be the prescribed solution for groundwater contamination at the Lubbock Land Application Site (LLAS), according to the latest correspondence from the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC). This new determination, made in a letter released today by Texas Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Texas PEER), marks a complete reversal of the state's position in a mushrooming dispute in this west Texas community that is starting to attract national attention.
Prairie Dog Action Letter -- Send a copy to Lubbock's Mayor and City Council Members (July 19, 2002 -- LEAS). The City of Lubbock is planning a large-scale poisoning of prairie dogs on city land and the Llano Estacado Audubon Society (LEAS) has come forward in opposition of this plan. What LEAS opposes is the complete lack of science behind the decision to kill the prairie dogs. If you are unfamiliar with the history of this issue, read the “Background” section. The City of Lubbock and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission has, so far, ignored the concerns of LEAS and the wildlife management community (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD)). We have proposed the creation of a collaborative management plan that would recognize the importance of the prairie dog in a grassland ecosystem. This plan would include cost-sharing incentives (TPWD and USFWS shouldering some of the costs, thus saving the City money) and could serve as a model for similar situations across the county (putting a positive national spotlight on the City). So far, we had nothing but stony silence from the City.
Environmental Groups Seek Prairie Dog Protection (July 12, 2002 -- Environmental News Network / Reuters). Seven U.S. environmental groups Thursday urged the federal government to list the white-tailed prairie dog as threatened or endangered, saying plague, oil and gas drilling, and suburban sprawl are decimating the species. If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service takes up the cause, the white-tailed prairie dog would become the fourth of five prairie dog species to be listed or granted worthy of listing under the Endangered Species Act because so much of the animal's habitat has disappeared.
Prairie Dog Position Statement Released by the Llano Estacado Audubon Society of Lubbock (June 29, 2002 -- LEAS).
Audubon Society's Plea Fails to Halt Destruction of Lubbock Prairie Dogs
(June 29, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). By John Fuquay.
Wildlife Habitat Benefits: Letter to the Editor (June 17, 2002 --
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal).
Prairie Dogs Could be Killed in a Plan to Drastically Thin the Population at the City's Wastewater Application Farm. (June 12, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-JOURNAL). By John Fuquay. Lubbock's booming prairie dog population has earned the city a violation at its wastewater application farm, a state environmental inspector said Tuesday. The city has already sought bids for a prairie dog eradication plan that likely will involve poisoning the animals, which are often seen as a symbol of the Great Plains and sell for $100 apiece in local pet stores. An inspector with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission cited the city last week after determining that over-grazing and burrowing by prairie dogs was threatening to contaminate soil and groundwater. John Hindman, land application manager at the farm, said the city has been fighting the prairie dog population at the site for two years. He said the prairie dogs are too numerous to count and estimates their population to be in the thousands. Cooke said the city has until Aug. 6 to submit a plan to resolve the violation. The most common method to control prairie dogs is by grain, pellet or chemical poison. Poisoning is legal and often used by farmers and ranchers. A city official said grain poison will not be used by the city for fear of killing geese that graze on the same land. Under regulations, poison also cannot endanger predators, which could eat poisoned prairie dogs, or threaten burrowing owls, which are protected under federal law and live in abandoned prairie dog burrows.
Prairie Dogs Were Here First: Letter to the Editor (May 11, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). I think that Lubbock should not destroy the prairie dogs because they were on the land first. Instead of killing them, Lubbock should relocate them because they are trying to survive by eating grass, and it's just Mother Nature. Also, I think that they should not be used as pets because they are wild animals. I am going to be a veterinarian when I grow up, and I will save the prairie dogs from this day on. MALLORY PRESTON/Lubbock, Age 8
Prairie Dogs: Letter to the Editor (April 19, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). The world is made up of all kinds of people, and we wish that more of them were like Glenn Staley. Mr. Staley is from Wyoming but has visited Lubbock for three weeks every spring since 1996 to catch prairie dogs. His annual visit is particularly significant this year, when a huge population of the furry critters on city land east of Lubbock has prompted city leaders to consider poisoning them. Some of the prairie dogs he captures end up as pets, others are relocated to prairie dog towns in other places and some are used for research. Animal lovers will not like the latter possibility, but they probably will agree that saving some of the dogs is better than blanket poisoning of them. Spring has come, and prairie dog babies have been born and are beginning to make their way through the burrows. A population that is already too large and in a location where the animals are considered pests has gotten even bigger. Moving out prairie dogs is a far better alternative than killing them. We wish that all of them on city land where they are not wanted could be captured and relocated. Mr. Staley is doing the city — and the prairie dogs — a favor.
Prairie Dogs Destructive: Letter to the Editor (April 13, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). I have been reading in The A-J how cute the prairie dogs are. When I think how much of a pest the prairie dog is and how much damage they do to good farming land, it makes me very unhappy. We have so many hungry people who we could feed from the good producing land that is being wasted to raise prairie dogs instead of feeding the hungry. I cannot see that anyone would even think of wanting to raise prairie dogs. They are not just here in Lubbock. They are all over the state. I am not opposed to having Prairie Dog Town for kids to watch and feed. But when you have them at Prairie Dog Town make sure they are where they cannot spread everywhere. I hope you think of those hungry people we could feed. I have chased prairie dogs out of my yard, and that's no fun. PAULINE SCHOPPA/Rt. 1, Lubbock
Prairie Dog Facts: Letter to the Editor (April 5, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). If people want to see them in their natural habitat, they only need to drive 20 minutes west of Lubbock and start watching the ranchland all the way to Roswell. I have been watching the same colony for 17 years and there has never been a disease to slow down their population. There was an attempt 10 years ago to poison and only a dozen or so survived, but they have come back with estimates of over 100,000 prairie dogs now living in this colony. They have crossed county roads, blacktop highways, and right into people's yards. One dog in a cage might be cute but this colony has ruined yards and caused thousands of dollars of damages to valuable ranchland and lawns. There is no danger of them becoming an endangered species. These are just the facts. GERY FRANKLIN/Lubbock
Prairie Dog Relocation or Eradication (March 2002 -- Plainsman Press, South Plains College Newspaper). Relocation efforts are under way to save thousands of prairie dogs from extermination at the Lubbock city farm on Route 1 near E. 19th street. Phostoxin, a nerve-attacking pellet will eliminate the animals unless conservation efforts are authorized. Lubbock uses waste water to grow crops which feed independent cattle ranchers' herds instead of dumping it into local lakes. Because prairie dogs only eat plants and are in extremely high numbers, acres of vegetation are being stripped bare. Without plants to use the nitrate, levels become high and may possibly soak through pipes that carry drinking water. The problem with the dogs occurs when the center irrigation systems' tires get caught in the holes and halt irrigation. The city uses filters and micro-organisms at the waste water treatment plant to remove organic material from the water, and what's left is a concentrated irrigator\fertilizer. This concentration of nutrients creates a lush food source which feeds an "exploding population" of prairie dogs. "We'd just like to get them down to a manageable number," said John Hindman, manager of the farm. Alternative solutions include using border grass as a visual barrier. "If they can't see it, they won't go over there," said David Lucia, Texas Parks and Wildlife. Because the land is city-owned, the idea of extermination has attracted attention from conservationists. "Prairie dogs are wild and should stay that way," said Robert Skinner, head of the local chapter of the Sierra Club, the largest conservation group in the states. The Sierra Club is acting against the extermination. They also oppose selling the animals as pets. Several area residents catch the animals to sell to pet stores. In recent years the rodents have been commercialized as pets locally for roughly $100 dollars and abroad for over $1,000. The club is in touch with relocation sites in Hobbs, N.M.; Denver, Colo. and San Angelo, Texas. Each site will accept 25 to 50 dogs. Unfortunately there are thousands of animals in need of attention, which means the effort requires many people willing to collect. The topic must be voted into a public hearing before going to the city council on February, 28. The council meets bi-weekly. The city will hear reports from two Texas Tech students who are studying endangered species on the farm. The city can poison the dogs only if they can prove that no endangered animals will be harmed or killed. "There are ferruginous and red-tail hawks, burrowing owls, and even badger out there," said Phil Zwank, a professor for the Wildlife Department at Texas Tech. All migratory birds are endangered, so they must also protect those animals that visit the site. "Prairie dogs play an important role in a healthy ecosystem by providing food and habitat for many wildlife species whose diminishing numbers are of concern," said Ellen McBride, of the Llano Estacado chapter of the Audubon Society. Anyone interested in collecting the animals may contact Robert Skinner at (806) 785-5040.
Don't Poison Prairie Dogs: Letter to the Editor (March 17, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). After living in Lubbock for almost two years, I am under the impression that there is a great desire to improve the quality of life factor to a degree matching Dallas or Denver. I can tell you, as a former resident of both Dallas and Denver, that nobody would think of poisoning prairie dogs in either of those two cities. As one very well-informed letter writer recently pointed out, there are certain desirable consequences regarding the ecosystem that are enhanced by the presence of prairie dogs. On the other hand, there are many negative consequences of poisoning them. The whole idea is so nonsensical, boorish and inhumane that Lubbock could never live down such an image. Don't poison the prairie dogs! Surely, Texas Tech can come up with a more civilized and humane solution (such as relocation), if, indeed, there is a problem. MARY GUINN/Lubbock
Prairie Dog Solution? -- Letter to the Editor (March 8, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). I have a solution to the prairie dog problem. Shoot them! I am not kidding. There are probably a lot of sportsmen or women who would like to do some target practicing. Shooting them would eliminate the poison problems of destroying other wildlife and possibly leeching into the soil and ground water. The city might offer a bounty on each one shot like some counties used to do for coyotes. When enough have been eliminated, stop the bounty payments. Some sportsmen might even be willing to pay for a permit to shoot them. Again, when enough have been eliminated, revoke the permits. Naturally, adequate safety requirements would need to be in place before turning the hunters loose. JOY PERRY/Lubbock
Wrong To Kill Prairie Dogs: Letter to the Editor (March 8, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). I am writing this in response to the city of Lubbock's plan to kill the prairie dogs. In my opinion, and with all due respect, that's wrong. I have a pet prairie dog in my home. I could never hurt him in any way. They are amazing animals. It's like a man said in the article, they are an important species to our native land. I have lived in Texas for 3 1/2 years. I didn't even know what prairie dogs were before I came here. You need to take into consideration capturing them and bringing them to prairie dog town, not harming them. All that I ask of you is: Please think about how many animals you are going to kill and come up with an alternative plan. TAMMY SHUEMAKE/Shallowater
Prairie
Dogs Due Respect: Letter to the Editor (
Prairie Dog Editorial (March 2, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: The editorial "Prairie Dog Plan" (A-J, 2-21). The editorialist implies that the only reason some people are opposed to poisoning the prairie dogs on the Lubbock water farm is that the rodents are "cute," and claims that if the cuddly lil' prairie dogs were icky ol' fire ants, all right-thinking Lubbockites would want to stomp 'em. Item: Prairie dogs are native to the area; fire ants are an introduced species. It would be wrong to wipe out the last fire ant in its own ecosystem, even if it wasn't cute. Item: Poisoning the prairie dogs will also poison the raptors, and will affect the owls (a protected species). Item: If nitrates percolating into the water system are bad, how much worse would it be to have prairie dog poison (mixed with rotten prairie dog, owl, and hawk) percolating into the water system? There are many good examples of what happens when we try to fix a complex problem (nitrates in waste water) with a simple solution (poison all the prairie dogs). The Aswan High Dam is one such disaster. The problem is not prairie dogs. The problem is not cattle falling into holes or a lack of grass. The problem is a water treatment system that does not handle nitrates well. We should remember the tale of the old woman who swallowed a fly. FRED HINTZE/Lubbock
Prairie Dogs Beneficial: Letter to the Editor (March 1, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: The editorial "Prairie Dog Plan" (A-J, 2-21). Your editorialist is mistaken about the effect of prairie dogs on grassland. Prairie dogs eat grass and forbs by clipping them short, not destroying the entire plant. It takes 429 prairie dogs to eat as much grass as one cow. Furthermore, new research shows that prairie dogs' burrowing and digging actually improve the soil by aerating it and mixing in fecal matter and dead grass. This increases the land's production of shortgrass and increases plant diversity. Prairie dogs eat older leaves off plants, which results in higher nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the soil. They eat mesquite beans and young mesquite plants, which helps control the growth of mesquite. The number of prairie dogs has already been reduced by 98 percent. If they become extinct, an entire ecosystem that depends on them will also be disrupted. Forty species of mammals (including the endangered black-footed ferret that preys on prairie dogs), 10 species of amphibians, 90 species of birds, 15 species of reptiles, 29 species of insects, and about 80 species of plants live in cooperation with black-tailed prairie dog towns. (All this information comes from "The Prairie Dog: Sentinel of the Plains" by Russell Graves, 2002 Texas Tech University Press.) All this damage is in addition to the dangers of poison, which will inevitably affect everything else in the area and very likely get into ground water. It would be dangerous and short-sighted to poison prairie dogs around Lubbock. VIRGINIA DOWNS/Lubbock
Prairie Dogs Harmful: Letter to the Editor (March 1, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: "City's plan to kill prairie dogs rocks boat" (A-J. 2-1). I support the city of Lubbock farm's wanting to control prairie dogs. These little animals that look so cute can cause a great deal of economic damage. The burrows are large holes in the ground that cattle and horses step into and injure themselves. Often these animals have to be destroyed because of these injuries. These little animals also have fleas. These fleas carry disease that can be harmful to humans. Prairie dog population can multiply quickly, which causes them to spread out or move to new areas. I wonder how many people want these animals close to their homes and small children? I, for one, would not want to put a child at risk around these animals. JAY DAJI/Rt. 1, Lubbock
Prairie Dog Cook-Off? -- Letter to the Editor (February 23, 2002 --
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Lubbock should sponsor a "Prairie Dog
Cook-Off'' -- at least annually -- much the same as Louisiana has done with
nutria, a big rat-like critter that threatens the integrity of levees with their
burrowing. The premise is that if people develop a taste for them, their
numbers will be controlled, new industries will be spawned, the levees will be
saved, and everyone would be happy (except preservationists, which, if they had
their way, all humans would vacate the landscape). Which reminds me, I
have noticed a pod of carp in Lake Ransom Canyon that seems to be suffering.
Every now and then one goes belly-up, and the others look a little pale.
I'll bet they are a unique population endemic to that lake only -- DNA-testing
could prove it -- and should be protected. My proposal is to either open
the flood gates and drain the lake or raise the dam and inundate a larger area,
depending upon which action is more likely to create better habitat. Of
course, raising the water level would probably ruin some homes, and either
method is likely to lower property values, increase taxes, and make the lake
off-limits. But who cares? The "Ransom Canyon carp'' must survive!
And what difference does it make whether or not I'm a resident of the Ransom
Canyon community, pay taxes there, or if the lake management is any of my
business? I feel sorry for the carp, so something should be done!
RAY CRAGAR/Lubbock
(Editor's Note: Humor is not always obvious in the printed word. Lest any reader
misunderstand, Mr. Cragar is only joking. "I'm merely trying to make a
point,'' he wrote in an attached note. "The whole letter is
tongue-in-cheek.'')
Don't Poison Them: Letter to the Editor (February 23, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: The editorial "Prairie Dog Plan'' (A-J, 2-21). When I saw the headline on the editorial on prairie dogs, I thought, "Great, The A-J realizes how terrible the idea of poisoning prairie dogs is.'' Needless to say, I was quite disappointed once I read the piece and found out that The A-J actually SUPPORTS the plan. I sincerely hope that with or without the support of the local newspaper, the very BAD idea to poison prairie dogs will be reconsidered. MAGGIE DURHAM/Lubbock
Prairie Dog Plan: Letter to the Editor (February 21, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). IF THE CITY OF Lubbock had a problem with fire ant beds infesting the grassland on its City Farms east of Lubbock, there would be little discussion before a decision to get rid of them with poison. And there would be no protests about it. But the problem on that land is not with insects but with the black-tailed prairie dog, a rodent that is considered by some people to be a cute and lovable critter but by others to be nothing more than a burrowing, tan rat. In truth, the prairie dog is much more of a pest on that city land than fire ants would be. The grassland is needed by the city to neutralize nitrate that is in effluent, which is city sewer water that has been treated to remove most contaminants. About half an inch of effluent is applied to the land every 24 hours, and the grasses absorb and dissolve the nitrate. However, prairie dogs are turning grassland into... land. They eat the plants to the point of turning the ground bare. Little or no grass is there to absorb the nitrate, and a risk is present that groundwater could be negatively affected. The prairie dogs therefore need to go, and city officials are logically considering poisoning them to get rid of them. That has shocked and offended many animal-lovers. No good solution exists. Poisoning the prairie dogs not only would offend many people, it could also hurt burrowing owls, which live in abandoned prairie dog burrows, and could kill raptors such as hawks and owls that eat the prairie dogs. But the prairie dogs are pests. They may look harmless, but they are causing harm. They are not going to leave on their own, and it is not practical to catch them and move them elsewhere. We wish it were not the case, but the best solution seems to be getting rid of them the hard way — by poisoning them.
Prairie Dog Damage: Letter to the Editor (February 17, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: The letter "Prairie Dog Plan" (A-J, 2-6). I live in the area where the prairie dogs are. They are fully destroying our property over here. I have lived in my home for 28 years, and I have never been so disappointed about my yard and surroundings. I think if Mr. Moldal or Mr. Skinner lived in this area, they would definitely feel different. BERNICE JARMON, Lubbock
Relocate 'Dogs' -- Letter to the Editor (February 14, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). I, like so many, am appalled at even the notion of killing our prairie dogs! There needs to be a public outcry to help protect our animals and wildlife. They are the ones that cannot speak for themselves, so we must! These animals can be relocated with some effort and, after doing some research, there is funding to be had! After all, they were put on Earth to do their jobs, just as we were! Spell dog backward! MARILYN ROYAL, Buffalo Springs Lake
Prairie Dog Menace: Letter to the Editor (February 11, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: "City's plan to kill prairie dogs rocks boat" (A-J. 2-1). The prairie dogs east of Lubbock are a menace. Obviously, Mr. Moldal or Mr. Skinner do not live close to prairie dogs. They carry diseases that can be harmful to humans. When they dig their burrows, they eat through buried electric lines and plastic water lines. Livestock step in holes dug by prairie dogs and break their legs. Prairie dogs dig up yards around homes. These rodents are a menace that causes economic damage. I support Mr. Hindman in his effort to control the prairie dog population. PAULINE SCHOPPA, Rt. 1, Lubbock
Prairie Dog Pests: Letter to the Editor (February 11, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: The letter "Prairie Dog Plan" (A-J, 2-6). I fully support Mr. Hindman in his effort to control the prairie dogs, to protect our farm land. The prairie dog is a rodent and very destructive. I think if you believe they are not, you should pick up a few and take them home with you, and see how long it takes them to destroy your yard. MARIE JONES, Rt. 1, Lubbock
Protect Wildlife: Letter to the Editor (February 9, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: Wildlife extermination. Has it occurred to anyone that if the hunters who have slaughtered the natural predators were stopped, there would not be an overpopulation of prairie dogs? What happens to the scavengers that eat the poisoned animals? Who is profiting from the grass that these prairie dogs are consuming? Who has to smell the Lubbock stench? If a prairie dog comes into your back yard, do whatever you think is necessary, but leave our wildlife alone. BRITT NICHOLSON, Ransom Canyon
Prairie Dog Plan: Letter to the Editor (February 6, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). Re: "City's plan to kill prairie dogs rocks boat" (A-J. 2-1). It is unbelievable to me that anyone associated with the city of Lubbock would be attempting to kill one of the city's most beloved mascots. As any intelligent resident would notice, we are no longer surrounded by buffalo, armadillos, coyotes or horned frogs. Our human population continues to encroach on wildlife habitats with no respect for the balance of nature nor humanity's responsibility to preserve native wildlife. I would like to know if Mr. Hindman holds an elected or appointed position with the City Farms? In my opinion, he seems most willing to abuse his position. I applaud Mr. Lee's suggestion to seek state or federal funds to maintain a prairie dog colony. How much better to create something worthwhile, rather than kill innocent wildlife as a quick-fix solution. MICHAEL J. DUNN, Lubbock
City's Plan to Kill
Prairie Dogs Rocks Boat (
Prairie Dog Poison: Letter to the Editor (January 29, 2002 -- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal). I recently became aware of Lubbock Farm's plan to poison all prairie dogs on city-owned lands east of Lubbock. Lubbock Farms consist of approximately 6,000 acres that is primarily used for surface application of municipal wastewater. Prairie dogs currently share these irrigated rangelands with cattle. Why we have to poison these animals is a mystery to me. I acknowledge that they compete with livestock for forage, but few data support proponents' second claim — i.e., that cattle break their legs in prairie dog holes. In their defense, prairie dog towns provide hones and food for a myriad of other species and have been an integral part of prairie lands throughout history. Generations of control by humans is the main reason that prairie dogs were recently proposed for listing under the federal endangered species act. While we still have sizable populations around Lubbock, prairie dogs are currently found on less than two percent of the lands that they historically inhabited. The federal government determined that listing as "threatened" was warranted, but other species were in more dire straits, thus precluding listing at this time. Based on this finding, some land managers reason that eliminating prairie dogs now might forgo future problems because, once listed, management options are greatly reduced. This is faulty reasoning, because eliminating prairie dogs now will only hasten the listing process. In conclusion, I, for one, think that trying to eliminate this important component of the western landscape is an inappropriate use of my tax dollars. MARY ELLEN ZWANK, Ransom Canyon
RMAD's Lawsuit Against the State of Colorado (January 14, 2002 -- ). ROCKY MOUNTAIN ANIMAL DEFENSE PREVAILS IN LAWSUIT CHALLENGING WILDLIFE POISONINGS. Boulder, Colo. -- Colorado District Court Judge Frank Dubofsky issued an opinion today in Rocky Mountain Animal Defense v. Colorado Division of Wildlife et al. stating that the defendants have “done little to ensure that only the incidental taking of protected species occurs” when prairie dog burrows are poisoned. Amendment 14, an initiative passed in 1996 by Colorado voters, outlawed the trapping and poisoning of most Colorado wildlife species. Although the Amendment’s protections do not apply to prairie dogs, they do apply to salamanders, snakes, rabbits, badgers, and other animals who inhabit prairie dog burrows. RMAD asserted that the poisoning of prairie dog burrows kills these members of these species, and is therefore in violation of the state’s constitution. We claimed that the DOW, the state Department of Agriculture, and Gov. Bill Owens were shirking their constitutional responsibilities by not enforcing Amendment 14 when prairie dog burrows are poisoned.
Rocky Mountain Animal Defense Sues State over Prairie Dog Poisonings (March 14, 2000). Boulder, Colo. -- Rocky Mountain Animal Defense (RMAD) filed suit against the State of Colorado last Wednesday for failing to prevent prairie dog colonies from being poisoned. The suit was filed in Boulder County District Court and included a request for a temporary restraining order (TRO), aimed at preventing state wildlife officials from continuing to refuse to enforce the statewide ban on poisoning. The TRO was not granted, but the case was set for trial in late March.
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Updated 19 July 2006 .