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NEWS RELEASE November 16, 2009 Thunder Basin National Grasslands plan protects and poisons black-tailed prairie dogs Laramie—Poisoning and protecting black-tailed prairie dogs on the Thunder Basin National Grasslands is the plan adopted on November 12th by Medicine Bow-Routt Supervisor, Mary Peterson. Peterson oversaw the management of black-tailed prairie dogs and reintroduction of black-footed ferrets when she was Supervisor of the Nebraska National Forest. During a poorly attended public meeting in October, Peterson expressed confidence that her prairie dog management plan would likely result in black-footed ferret reintroduction beginning in 2010. The black-tailed prairie dog makes up about 95% of the black-footed ferret's diet. The black-tailed prairie dog is being reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine if it needs protection under the Endangered Species Act. Fish and Wildlife is slated to issue its review decision in December. Black-tailed prairie dogs currently occupy only about 2% of their historical range. Currently their population numbers in Thunder Basin are far below that needed to support black-footed ferret reintroduction. Black-footed ferrets remain one of the most endangered mammals in North America. Sylvatic plague, which is linked to climatic conditions, can wipe out entire prairie dog colonies. Changing climate conditions make predictions of prairie dog and ferret survival rates virtually impossible. After years of failure to increase the black-tailed prairie dog population in the Grasslands—enough to support the reintroduction of ferrets—the promise of this happening in 2010 is welcomed by conservation organizations. The management plan will allow prairie dog poisoning only when human health concerns and damage to private property and cemeteries warrant. Also, poisons can be used only when specified target populations of prairie dogs are met. Other, more complicated, guidelines restrict use of poison but do not prohibit its use entirely. “We believe that translocating prairie dogs recovery sites and implementing other non-lethal alternatives provide a better alternative to using poisons, said Lindsey Sterling Krank, director of the Prairie Dog Coalition- a program of the Humane Society of the United States.” Short noted, "Poisoning and protecting prairie dogs at the same time could actually occur under this plan. We always oppose the use of poisons to control wildlife on public lands; but this is a compromise we think we can live with. We have high hopes that Supervisor Peterson's expressed intent to minimize the use of poisons, substantially increase black-tailed prairie dog populations and to reintroduce black-footed ferrets on the Grasslands next year will be effective.” With successful ferret reintroduction as the goal, Biodiversity Conservation Alliance is working with the Forest Service, World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Prairie Dog Coalition, to help secure funding, expertise, and volunteers that will help increase and manage (without using poisons) the Thunder Basin's prairie dog population. Short said, “Supervisor Peterson has stated that poisoning will be a last resort after all other management methods, such as prescribed burning or moving the animals [prairie dogs] to other locations have failed. We don’t approve of poisoning wildlife on public lands but with the promise of black-footed ferret reintroduction in 2010 and use of poison only as a last resort we are willing to compromise on this specific plan.” Contact information:
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Biodiversity Conservation Alliance P.O. Box 1512, Laramie, WY 82073 (307) 742-7978 - carmi@voiceforthewild.org |