FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Jonathan Proctor, Predator Conservation Alliance, (406) 543-8424
Sara Folger, Predator Conservation Alliance, (406) 587-3389
Jasper Carlton, Biodiversity Legal Foundation, (303) 926-7606
FEBRUARY 3, 2000
Warranted but Excluded
Black-tailed prairie dog deemed threatened, then shuffled to ESA waiting room
Bozeman, MT — The black-tailed prairie dog deserves to be listed as a threatened species, but won't receive federal endangered species protections due to a lack of money and staff, said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officials Thursday.
The agency ruled the prairie dog "warranted but precluded" for protection under the Endangered Species Act. This means the species is biologically imperiled and in need of protection and a recovery plan, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not proceed with a listing proposal.
This decision is in response to two petitions to list the black-tailed prairie dog for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The first petition was filed by National Wildlife Federation in July 1998, and the second by Predator Conservation Alliance (formerly Predator Project) and Biodiversity Legal Foundation in August 1998.
"We are glad the Fish and Wildlife Service has formally acknowledged that the black-tailed prairie dog is threatened with extinction. This confirms what we stated in our petition – that the species and its ecosystem are in dire straits," said Predator Conservation Alliance Executive Director Tom Skeele. "Unfortunately, the decision only establishes formal recognition of the problem, but it does nothing to address it."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated that since no formal listing process will occur at this time, the agency is eager to work with eleven states within the species' historic range to develop and implement a multi-state conservation plan to conserve the black-tailed prairie dog.
"Sounds great on paper. Nonetheless, we are concerned about when we will see actual improvements on the ground," said Jonathan Proctor, Grasslands Program Associate for Predator Conservation Alliance. "First and foremost, the conservation plan is not completed. We don't know when the states will get around to taking concrete action to protect this species. Unfortunately, all indications to date are that the states are not truly committed to improving the situation for black-tailed prairie dogs."
For instance, says Proctor, since the two petitions were filed in the summer of 1998, none of the involved states have changed the management status of prairie dogs from that of a pest to that of a wildlife species in need of special consideration. Nor have the states asked for any reductions in poisoning or recreational shooting of the species on federal and state lands.
Since U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it is unable to proceed with a listing proposal at this time, Predator Conservation Alliance and Biodiversity Legal Foundation are formally requesting the state wildlife agencies, the U.S Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management immediately implement the following actions to make sure the species recovers:
1) Change the management designation of the black-tailed prairie dog in all eleven states from a "pest" species to a "wildlife species of special concern";
2) End all poisoning on federal and state lands;
3) End all recreational shooting on federal and state lands;
4) Begin reintroductions in areas of suitable habitat on federal and state lands where the species has been extirpated.
5) Develop a long-term conservation and recovery plan with meaningful actions and concrete deadlines;
6) Institute a comprehensive program for researching and mitigating the impacts of sylvatic plague.
"Based on the states' lack of action to date, we will do all we can to make sure their future actions match their words," said Jonathan Proctor.
When asked if Predator Conservation Alliance and Biodiversity Legal Foundation will challenge this decision, Jasper Carlton of the Biodiversity Legal Foundation said, "We will evaluate all of our legal and administrative options, and will do whatever we need to do to make sure the black-tailed prairie dog gets the protections it needs and deserves."
Predator Conservation Alliance's Proctor stated that, "We remain committed to seeing prairie dogs occupy 10 percent of all suitable habitat on public lands throughout its historic range. This will benefit both the prairie dog, and all of the species that are associated with the prairie dog ecosystem – including the black-footed ferret, swift fox, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, and mountain plover."
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