Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate

Proposed Amendments to “Take” Rule Do Not Go Far Enough
Contact: Taylor Jones (303) 573-4898 x1159

Washington, D.C.–June 2. In today’s Federal Register, the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService (Service) proposed a revision of a special rule allowing “take” (whichincludes killing, disturbance, and harassment) of the Utah prairie dog, whichis listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The announcement follows a federalcourt ruling that the Service must reconsider its refusal to upgrade the speciesto endangered status. Ifreclassified as endangered, the take rule would be illegal.

The proposed amendments would limit take of Utah prairiedogs to 10 percent of the current annual population count, with 7 percentallocated to agricultural lands and 3 percent to private lands within 0.5 milesof Utah prairie dog conservation lands. The Service would maintain 6,000 prairie dogs as the maximum allowabletake per year.

“We’re heartened that the Service is setting clearer limitson take of Utah prairie dogs,” said Taylor Jones, Endangered Species Advocatefor WildEarth Guardians. “However, these proposed amendments don’t go farenough. No matter how you dress itup, the rule would still allow shooting of a highly imperiled, ecologicallyimportant species, which is indefensible. Rather than continue to cast this keystone species as a nuisance, theService should promptly return them to endangered status under the ESA.”

The majority of the species’ habitat occurs on private ornon-Federal lands. The Servicemaintains that allowing control of the species under certain circumstances willlead to a net benefit for the Utah prairie dog by reducing conflict withfarmers and ranchers. However, thespecies has not yet recovered from the 87 percent reduction in range brought onby historic habitat loss and coordinated extermination campaigns. The Utah prairie dog remains threatenedby sylvatic plague (a non-native disease against which prairie dogs have almostno immunity); habitat loss from oil and gas drilling, livestock grazing,off-road vehicles, and urban sprawl; drought and climate change; illegalpoisoning; and both legal and illegal shooting. The proposed amendments would not sufficiently mitigatethese myriad threats.

“I’m concerned that the Service will use this rule change asan excuse to avoid upgrading the Utah prairie dog to endangered status,”continued Jones. “Even if thisrule is finalized, it does not provide the level of protection that theseanimals need to escape extinction. It also continues to send a message that any animal perceived asinterfering with agricultural interests is disposable, even if they happen tobe endangered. It’s time to changeour priorities and focus on coexistence rather than on appeasing specialinterests that want to wipe out wildlife.”

WildEarth Guardians is a west-wide conservation groupdedicated to protecting and restoring wildlife, wild rivers, and wild places.

For more information, including photos of the Utah prairiedog and background documents, email tjones@wildearthguardians.orgor call 303-573-4898 x 1159.