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Resolution a Mixed Bag but Long-Term Benefits for Wildlife
For Immediate Release DENVER—A coalition of conservation groups, including Laramie-based Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, reached a settlement yesterday with a set of federal agencies over the government’s plan to eradicate black-tailed prairie dog colonies in South Dakota’s Buffalo Gap National Grassland, home of the only successful black-footed ferret recovery program. The deal saves about 3,000 acres of prairie dog habitat crucial for the endangered ferrets’ survival and lays the foundation for resolving a long-term conflict with private landowners adjacent to the National Grassland. “The settlement is a real mixed bag,” said Jonathan Proctor, Northern Plains Program Director for Predator Conservation Alliance. “We hate that wildlife will be killed and ferret habitat destroyed on our public land, but the settlement will save more wildlife and habitat in the long run.” Drought and overgrazing in South Dakota have forced prairie dogs to expand in search of forage. As a result, ranchers and South Dakota politicians applied extreme pressure on the federal government to kill prairie dogs on public lands. "The settlement moves this debate from a backroom deal cut with the governor to a public forum where it belongs," said Jay Tutchton, Director of the University of Denver Environmental Law Clinic. The coalition criticized the original deal because South Dakota and the federal agencies crafted the plan in secret and under intense political pressure from the governor and other politicians. “We can’t allow our government to punish wildlife as the scapegoat for other problems, such as drought and overgrazing,” stated Lauren McCain, Deserts and Grasslands Program Coordinator of Forest Guardians. “The settlement will help ensure that killing native species isn't the only option for resolving private and public land management conflicts.” The coalition sought a Temporary Restraining Order in Denver Federal Court to stop prairie dog poisoning, which is scheduled to begin October 11. The settlement reached yesterday significantly reduces the width of the proposed "kill zone" in many places, especially key ferret breeding areas. The deal also includes the creation, on a voluntary basis, of several "no grazing" buffer zones to allow taller vegetation growth between private and public land. Prairie dogs avoid tall vegetation in order to get a better view of potential predators. The government agencies agreed to prepare a full Environment Impact Statement, including full public participation and a serious consideration of non-lethal alternatives, before conducting any additional prairie dog killing efforts. “APHIS will begin poisoning prairie dogs next week, and that's still illegal,” stated Jacob Smith, Executive Director of Center for Native Ecosystems. “APHIS has a long history of ignoring environmental laws, and our settlement will help bring this rogue agency under control." The coalition is critical of APHIS' habit of killing native wildlife across public lands without regard to most environmental laws that otherwise apply to those lands. In this lawsuit, for example, APHIS claimed that the National Forest Management Act, which governs management of National Forests and National Grasslands, did not apply to their plans for prairie dog poisoning and ferret habitat destruction. “We saved 3,000 acres of critical black-footed ferret habitat,” said Smith. “More importantly, the settlement lays the foundation for a long-term, balanced solution." The coalition was represented by attorneys Jay Tutchton and Robin Cooley, both of the University of Denver Environmental Law Clinic.
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