January 21, 2008

Comments are Due February 4, 2008

Please comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Thunder Basin National Grassland Prairie Dog Management Strategy and
Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment #3

THE TRUTH ABOUT PRAIRIE DOGS

PRAIRIE DOGS…

• …are an essential part of our western heritage, one most Americans want to preserve
• …are seen by scientists as the linchpin of the prairie ecosystem
• …are a "keystone species," upon which rare wildlife ranging from the swift fox to the burrowing owl, the Endangered black-footed ferret to the ferruginous hawk, depend for their survival
• …are indicators of the health of the prairie, a reliable “canary in the coal mine.” An abundance of prairie dogs is a sign of a healthy prairie, while prairie dog declines are a symptom of ecological collapse
• …have declined in population by 95 percent over the last century
• …occupy less than 2% of their historic range
• … do not significantly reduce livestock forage unless livestock are being forced to overgraze in the first place.
  A study found no difference in weight gain of steers grazing in prairie dog concentration areas over cattle in pastures with no prairie dogs. O'Meilia, M.E., F.L. Knopf, and J.C. Lewis. 1982. Some consequences of competition between prairie dogs and beef cattle. Journal of Range Management 35:580-585.
• …are highly vulnerable to outbreaks of non-native sylvatic plague: entire prairie dog towns can be wiped out quickly

PRAIRIE DOG POISONING

• The proposed Thunder Basin Plan slightly limits poisoning in some areas but radically expands the use of poison overall.
• Zinc phosphide, a commonly used poison, causes internal bleeding in the digestive tract, and prairie dogs that eat the poisoned oats die a slow, painful death over the course of two to three days.
• A similar but even more potent poison, called rozol, is beginning to be used to kill prairie dogs. The use of this poison is illegal in many places ,but not on your public land!
• The Western hemisphere’s rarest land mammal, the black-footed ferret, is struggling to survive and depends on prairie dogs as food. If prairie dogs are poisoned and then consumed by ferrets, poison can build up to sicken and possibly kill black-footed ferrets.

The release of prairie-dog dependent black-footed ferrets on private land in Kansas elicted this wonderful reaction in someone who witnessed the release.
"It was an amazing experience," said Brenda Pace, daughter of a couple on whose land the ferrets were released. "They are beautiful animals and have incredible markings -- black masks, black feet and a little saddle across their back.... They weren't terribly enthusiastic about getting out of their cages. They barked at our encouragement." Pace hopes the return of the ferrets will also mark a comeback for the prairie. "It is the first step for us in learning to take care of the prairie better than we have in the past," she said. "I think this will be an economic benefit for Logan County . It will open the door for ecotourism and agrotourism. It's a wonderful thing."
Source: The Wichita Eagle at: http://www.kansas.com/196/story/263344.html

RECREATIONAL PRAIRIE DOG SHOOTING
Under the proposed plan there are 4 categories of prairie dog management. In 3 of 4 categories recreational shooting (exploding or "misting") of prairie dogs will be allowed.

• Most hunters practice responsible and humane sportsmanship…but not prairie dog shooters. Many recreational prairie dog shooters prefer to explode the tiny prairie dog with fragmenting ammunition. It’s called “prairie dog misting” by this group of so-called sportsmen.
• Prairie dogs killed by shooters become lead-poisoned baits on public lands. University of Wyoming researchers have found levels of poison in prairie dogs to be high enough to kill raptor chicks and possibly adult raptors such as the ferruginous hawk.
• This form of so-called recreation should be banned, but until this happens bullets used in this barbaric practice should be required to have full metal jackets, meaning the bullet will not explode and fill its victim with lead that can then be consumed by prairie dog predators and scavengers. University of Wyoming researchers have found that full metal jacket bullets are far less likely to poison other wildlife.

Please tell the Forest Service that prairie dogs are an essential part of the grassland ecosystem, and should not be poisoned or slaughtered on public land, but encouraged to survive and expand. Including your own personal stories about prairie dogs is encouraged. Submit written comments by

February 4, 2008
via mail to:
Responsible Official: Mary H. Peterson, Forest Supervisor
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland
Douglas Ranger District
2250 East Richards Street
Douglas, WY 82633
Attention: Marilee Houtler

Fax comments to: 307-358-7107
Submit written comments via email

comments-rocky-mountain-medicine-bow-routt-douglas-thunder-basin@fs.fed.us
or online at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/projects/forestplans/in_progress/index.shtml

For more information contact duane@voiceforthewild.org or call 307-742-7978.

THANK YOU FOR USING YOUR VOICE FOR THE WILD!

Jay Lillegraven, Casper Star-Tribune article March 8, 2008: Thunder Basin: Who’s watching the store?