| LOCAL
Yes, I want to contact local officials. Working with officials and agencies at the city and county level of government is, in some regions, the most effective way to help the black-tailed prairie dog. City council members and county commissioners need to be educated and urged to take action about the dire situation facing prairie dogs. The following are goals to work for at the local level: • Cities and counties within the range of the black-tailed prairie dog need to develop a sound management plan that will provide protection for the species and conservation of its habitat. Currently, most cities and counties in the state of Colorado have no policies in place to help prairie dogs. Yet prairie dogs are constantly threatened by the urban and suburban growth occurring in Colorado. We need to put management plans in place that preserve some of their habitat from development, allow time for relocation when development is imminent, and provide open space land for relocation purposes. Often, developers are more than willing to pay for relocation (which is often less expensive than poisoning) but are thwarted by the unavailability of land for relocation. Developing a sound management plan for prairie dogs works to reduce the conflicts that invariably arise between urban growth and wildlife conservation. The city of Boulder has established a model management plan that includes policies for the conservation of existing prairie dog habitats, the monitoring of areas with colonies that have potential for development, and the relocation of colonies, whenever possible, from land that is designated for development. Under this plan, prairie dogs unfortunately may still be poisoned or killed but only after officials have exhausted all other alternatives. Boulder's management plan is the best example we have of how cities can balance the needs of wildlife with urban growth. • Cities and counties need to set aside open space and park land for the preservation and relocation of prairie dog colonies. Even if city and county governments don't have a protective prairie dog management plan in place, they can still be urged to designate land on open space and in parks for the relocation of displaced prairie dogs. As mentioned above, lack of land for relocation is the primary reason many developers choose to poison or bulldoze colonies instead of relocating. City council members, county commissioners, open space advisory boards, and other key officials need to hear from their constituents that this is a priority issue. In cities or counties (e.g., Jefferson County, City of Boulder) that have passed open space bond issues, residents can pressure key officials to use those monies toward direct protection of natural areas with prairie dogs on them. • Cities and counties should enact ordinances that prohibit poisoning, bulldozing, or other acts of destruction against prairie dogs without making efforts to relocate them first. Local city council members and county commissioners need to enact ordinances against the rampant killing of prairie dogs. Existing colonies need to be protected and colonies facing imminent threat of destruction need to be relocated. Currently, hundreds of prairie dogs are poisoned or bulldozed alive every week as development devastates the last remaining colonies in urban areas. To write your local city or county government officials about prairie dogs, click here for sample letters.
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