The Home Range: Colorado implements recreational shooting ban on prairie dogs

THE HOME RANGE

Colorado implements recreational shooting ban on prairie dogs
Montana and South Dakota consider similar restrictions

As a result of Predator Conservation Alliance’s petition to list the black-tailed prairie dog as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, the Colorado Division of Wildlife Commission voted to ban all recreational black-tailed prairie dog shooting in Colorado, with an exemption for private landowners. This is a monumental change in philosophy for any state wildlife agency, and places Colorado at the forefront of state-implemented prairie dog conservation. While we are elated that Colorado has taken this step, we caution against too much optimism yet, because the ban will not take effect until September 2001. Until prairie dogs are actually protected on the ground, the new regulation means very little.

Nonetheless, Colorado has now raised the bar by which prairie dog conservation is measured. Predator Conservation Alliance has pushed for the same action in Montana, but state agency personnel considered it too radical. Now that a conservative state wildlife commission has approved this action, we will work even harder to ensure that the other nine states with black-tailed prairie dogs follow their lead.

In justifying its decision, Colorado said that a strong message was needed to convince federal biologists that states are serious about protecting prairie dogs, and that this decision will "[u]ltimately prevent [prairie dogs] from being listed as a federally threatened species." Regardless of their motivation, the prairie dog ecosystem will benefit come September.

Two other states are considering shooting restrictions. As mentioned in the Fall 2000 issue of Predator Conservation Alliance's newsletter The Home Range, Montana has indicated that it will close prairie dog shooting on all public lands from March 1 to July 1 each year, beginning next March. This is the time of year when prairie dogs are most vulnerable to losses from shooting. South Dakota has also indicated that it is considering seasonal shooting restrictions.

In Montana, the state’s non-game species coordinator, Dennis Flath, noted that although recreational shooting may be the least significant cause of prairie dog losses, it is the easiest threat to address, and that the nation is watching. If the states can’t reduce this threat, then society certainly can’t count on the states to protect prairie dogs from any of the other threats they face (including plague, poisoning and habitat loss). Without state action, society will turn to the federal government for action (this is the goal of Predator Conservation Alliance's petition to list the species as a threatened species, as it would transfer authority from the state to the federal government).

Predator Conservation Alliance wants all prairie dog shooting eliminated on public lands. At a minimum, the most important prairie dog areas, or core areas—such as places suitable for black-footed ferret recovery—must be protected from shooting year round. Therefore, state proposals for only seasonal bans are not adequate in our opinion. We must have these core habitat areas fully protected.

Predator Conservation Alliance will make sure that all eyes are on the remaining nine state wildlife agencies to implement shooting protections by this spring. The talk sounds promising, but history sheds doubt that talk will lead to action. We will keep you updated.

Late breaking news:

As this article is being published, we have learned that Montana will not implement any recreational prairie dog shooting restrictions in 2001. Apparently, this is due to Montana’s Governor-elect, Judy Martz. She is already having a negative chilling effect on wildlife management decisions, as the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is afraid to propose anything even slightly controversial for fear of political repercussions.

What you can do:

Please call or e-mail Greg Walcher, chief of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Colorado Wildlife Commission, and thank them for banning prairie dog shooting: greg.walcher@state.co.us or 303-866-3311; Commission e-mail is wlcomm@state.co.us. Then call Jeff Hagener, chief of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and ask him to follow Colorado’s lead and ban prairie dog shooting in Montana: jhagener@state.mt.us or 406-444-3186. Thanks for your help!

Jonathan Proctor
PCA's Grassland Predator Protection Program associate
January 2001

Predator Conservation Alliance (PCA), founded in 1991, is dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring native predators and their habitats in the Northern Rockies and High Plains. In short, PCA is saving a place for America's predators. To become a member or get on PCA's mailing list, e-mail pca@predator conservation.org. To become a Voices for Predators Activist, e-mail angie@predatorconservation.org. PCA action alerts are available by clicking here.

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Predator Conservation Alliance
http://www.predatorconservation.org
P.O. Box 6733 | Bozeman, MT 59771
Phone: (406) 587-3389 | Fax (406) 587-3178
E-mail: pca@predatorconservation.org