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Groups to Sue FWS for Foot-dragging, Failing to Protect Black-tailed Prairie Dog

Date
October 15, 2003
Contact
WildEarth Guardians
In This Release
Wildlife  
#EndTheWarOnWildlife, #ProtectPrairieDogEmpires
Santa Fe, NM – October 15. WildEarth Guardians and other conservation groups warned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today of their intent to sue the agency over its failure to list the black-tailed prairie dog under the federal Endangered Species Act. In February 2000, the Service concluded that the black-tailed prairie dog required Endangered Species Act protection but higher priority species needed to receive protection first. More than three and a half years after its “warranted but precluded” designation, the Service has still failed to even propose the black-tailed prairie dog for listing and it therefore remains an unprotected candidate species. After once occupying 11 states in the Great Plains and the Southwest within the U.S., today acreage occupied by the black-tailed prairie dog has dwindled by at least 98%.

The “warranted but precluded” designation for the black-tailed prairie dog provides no formal protection. The groups challenge this designation, pointing to a mandate from Congress that it not be used as a shield for the “foot-dragging efforts of a delinquent agency.” The groups believe that the Service is refusing to make politically controversial, but crucial wildlife decisions that are required under the Endangered Species Act.

“Black-tailed prairie dogs continue to be assaulted with numerous threats, including poisoning, shooting, urban sprawl, and oil and gas development. In the background of all of these threats is the devastating non-native disease, sylvatic plague,” stated Dr. Nicole Rosmarino, Endangered Species Director for WildEarth Guardians. “It’s time to protect this keystone mammal under the Endangered Species Act,” Rosmarino added.

All prairie dog species are considered keystone species, providing food and creating crucial habitat for many other native wildlife species. Dramatic prairie dog declines are causing increased imperilment of a host of other Great Plains wildlife, such as the black-footed ferret, mountain plover, swift fox, ferruginous hawk, and burrowing owl. The Endangered black-footed ferret and the mountain plover, in particular, are struggling for survival. For example, many millions of dollars have been spent on the black-footed ferret reintroduction program, but that effort has faltered due to a lack of large, healthy prairie dog colonies. Over 200 types of wildlife have been observed on or near prairie dog colonies. Well over 140 of these species are considered likely to benefit from flourishing prairie dog colonies.

“By stalling on prairie dog protection, the Service is making ferret, plover, ferruginous hawk, and burrowing owl recovery even more difficult,” said Erin Robertson, Staff Biologist for Center for Native Ecosystems. “When prairie dog colonies disappear, other animals that depend on them pay the price, and for the Service to permit this to drag out for years is unacceptable.”

Jonathan Proctor, Grassland Program Associate for Predator Conservation Alliance said, “It is our hope that this notice prevents litigation by convincing the Service to promptly list the black-tailed prairie dog under the Endangered Species Act.” He added, “We have worked with the eleven state wildlife agencies over the five years since we first petitioned to list this species to get adequate protection implemented, but the states have done little to nothing on the ground. It’s time for federal protection.”

The groups advocating black-tailed prairie dog protection have also pushed for protection of other prairie dog species, including the white-tailed and Utah prairie dogs. Center for Native Ecosystems filed a lawsuit over the failure of the Service to issue a determination on its petition to list the white-tailed prairie dog under the Endangered Species Act in February 2003. Also in February, in celebration of Groundhog Day, WildEarth Guardians filed a petition to upgrade the Utah prairie dog from threatened to endangered status under the law. Utah author Terry Tempest Williams joined in both of these actions.

“The FWS continues to find excuses for failing to list the black-tailed prairie dog.?But that’s all they are, excuses. No amount of arm waving will change the reality that the species is imperiled, meets the criteria for listing, would benefit from listing, and if protected under the Endangered Species Act would help conserve other dependent species such as the burrowing owl and black-footed ferret,” stated Jeff Kessler, Conservation Director for Biodiversity Conservation Alliance in Laramie, WY.

The Center for Biological Diversity has tracked the Bush Administration’s refusal to enforce the Endangered Species Act and has documented that George W. Bush has listed fewer species under the Act per year than any other administration since Reagan. Only 24 species have been listed under Bush, and all of those listings were ordered by the courts. In contrast, in their first two years in office, the Clinton Administration listed 211 species and George H.W. Bush listed 80 species. Though the present administration cites underfunding as its excuse for failing to protect imperiled species, for years it has been asking Congress to chronically starve the program of funding.

The alliance of conservation groups advocating black-tailed prairie dog protection includes WildEarth Guardians (Santa Fe, NM), Biodiversity Conservation Alliance (Laramie, WY), the Center for Biological Diversity (Denver, CO), Center for Native Ecosystems (Paonia, CO), and Predator Conservation Alliance (Denver, CO and Bozeman, MT).

For more information, see WildEarth Guardians Black-tailed Prairie Dog webpage

Go here for a copy of the Notice of Intent to Sue