Press
Release --
Black Tailed Prairie Dog Removed from Candidate Species List
For Immediate Release: August 12, 2004
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Contacts - USFWS Southwest Region: Larry Bell,
248-6285, Victoria Fox, 248-6455
Contacts -USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region: Pete Gober 605-224-8693, Seth
Willey 303-236-4257, Sharon Rose 303-236-4580
Black-tailed Prairie Dog Removed from
Candidate Species List
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.
"With new information regarding the range-wide impact of disease, chemical
control and other lesser factors and recent state estimates of occupied
black-tailed prairie dog habitat, the Service has determined that the
black-tailed prairie dog does not meet the Endangered Species Act's definition
of 'threatened'," said Ralph Morgenweck, director of the Service's
mountain-prairie region.
Until now, the best scientific and commercial information available to the
Service indicated that the impacts of disease, chemical control and other lesser
factors were substantial enough to warrant listing of the black-tailed prairie
dog as a threatened species. Since 2002, State agencies, Federal agencies,
Tribes, and other parties provided additional information regarding the
black-tailed prairie dog, which was considered by the Service in an evaluation
of the status of the species.
Previously, the Service focused attention on a few large black-tailed prairie
dog populations impacted by sylvatic plague and assumed that population losses
at these sites were indicative of losses across the species' entire range.
Based on new data, these assumptions no longer appear appropriate. Dramatic
fluctuations in the amount of black-tailed prairie dog occupied habitat at
specific large complexes may occur due to plague or chemical control, but they
do not appear to influence range-wide species persistence. Recent
information illustrates the prairie dog's resiliency to short-term,
site-specific population declines.
Since the prairie dog was first determined to be a candidate for listing, State
agencies have employed improved survey techniques and now estimate approximately
1,842,000 acres of occupied habitat in the United States. This represents
a substantial revision in the estimated abundance of black-tailed prairie dogs
from 2000, when the best available information indicated 676,000 acres of
occupied habitat. Estimates of black-tailed prairie dog density vary depending
upon the season, region, and climatic conditions, but typically range from 2 to
18 individuals per acre, with an average of 10 individuals per acre. If 10 is
used as an average number of black-tails per acre, the estimated population of
black-tailed prairie dogs in the U.S. would be 18,420,000.
New information also shows that the black-tailed prairie dog is more able to
persist over time in light of ongoing impacts. The increase in the Service's
knowledge of additional occupied habitat played a supporting role in the
decision to remove the species from the candidate list.
During the past few years some States and Tribes have made substantial progress
in initiating management efforts for the black-tailed prairie dog, including
completing surveys to provide more accurate estimates of occupied habitat.
Additional activities included drafting management plans, enacting laws
that change the status of the species from pest to a designation that recognizes
the need for special management, establishing regulations that allow for better
management of recreational shooting, and setting future goals for occupied
habitat that will address population management needs for disease and other
threats.
Prairie dogs are small, stout ground squirrels. The total length of an adult
black-tailed prairie dog is approximately 14-17 inches and the weight of an
individual ranges from 1 to 3 pounds. Individual appearances within the
species vary in mixed colors of brown, black, gray,and white. The black-tipped
tail is characteristic. Black-tailed prairie dogs are diurnal, burrowing
animals. They do not hibernate as do white-tailed, Gunnison's, and Utah
prairie dogs. The black-footed ferret, swift fox, mountain plover,
ferruginous hawk, burrowing owl, and numerous other species are dependent upon
prairie dogs to varying degrees.
For further information about the black-tailed prairie dog, visit the Service's
web site at: http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/btprairiedog/
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible
for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages
the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544
national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special
management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery
resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces
federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory
bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and
restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native
American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees
the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of
dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and
wildlife agencies.
For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
visit our home page at http://www.fws.gov
-FWS-
Victoria M. Fox
USFWS Southwest Region
OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Albuquerque, NM
Phone: 505-248-6455 FAX: 505-248-6915
Cellular: 505-235-3765
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Updated 19 July 2006 .