- Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, the variety found along the Front Range of Colorado, in year 2000 were found to warrant listing as a Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act, but were precluded. This meant that other species with greater need had been listed first. Sadly, due to pressure from 11 western states that make up the prairie dogs' range, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has now dropped them from consideration. Although, they cannot say the species is recovered, they do state 'the black-tailed prairie dog is not likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future'. Environmental groups, including the National Wildlife Federation who first petitioned the USFWS for the listing, have criticized this decision as reckless and biologically unsound.
- Prairie dogs inhabit less than 1% of their former range. We have lost about 50% of remaining towns since 1995. In Colorado, we now have less than 0.35% of original prairie dog numbers
- Prairie dogs are known as a ‘keystone species’. Over 160 vertebrates alone are associated with prairie dog colonies, and over 80 on towns from 3-30 acres.
- It is impossible for the world’s most endangered mammal, the Black-footed Ferret, to live without prairie dogs. Some other federally protected species are nearly as closely dependent on prairie dog towns. These include the Ferruginous Hawk, the Burrowing Owl, the Swift Fox, and the Mountain Plover. All raptors, terrestrial predators, reptiles, grazing wildlife, and rodents of the prairie benefit from prairie dogs. They are important as a food source, they build homes for many animals, and their effect on vegetation and soil promotes optimum grazing conditions.
- Prairie dogs are annual breeders. About half of the females over two years of age will give birth to 3-5 pups in the spring. The overwhelming majority will not live six months.
- Prairie dogs are highly social. ‘Kissing’, hugging, and grooming are regular pastimes. Burrows are much like homes possessing front and back doors, toilets, listening posts, sleeping quarters, and storage rooms.
- Poisoning prairie dogs is unacceptable. The primary poison used induces a slow, painful death that may take up to 72 hours. Other residents of their burrows suffer the same fate. Poisoning for population control may be counter productive since a mature colony, left alone, tends to expand about 2% per year. Whereas, a poisoned colony expands at the rate of about 70% per year.
- Shooting definitely has a significant impact on prairie dog populations. One heavily shot area was reduced by 10,000 acres in just a couple of years. Shooting promotes disease and discourages other species from hunting and living in the colony.
|
