|
Click on the underlined ARTICLE TITLES below to read more about recent developments regarding prairie dogs. February
16, 2005 December
10, 2004 December
3, 2004 November
15, 2004
The district court judge found that the state (Bill Owens, the DOW, Ken Salazar, the Dept. of Agriculture and others) has not been adequately protecting protected wildlife from poisoning, but he failed to order any changes to administrative procedures.
The appellate court confirmed the judge's findings, so we petitioned the State Supreme Court to hear the case.
RMAD does not know why the Supreme Court denied review of the case. The state's high court can refuse cases for any number of reasons. Thus ends RMAD's four and a half year legal battle.
Many people donated their time and expertise to this lawsuit. Our sincere and deep gratitude especially to attorneys Jennifer Melton and Ty Gee for their substantial pro bono contributions.
October
19, 2004 September
22, 2004 September
22, 2004 “This back-room deal to destroy critical black-footed ferret habitat is a breach of the public trust,” said Jonathan Proctor, Northern Plains Program Director for Predator Conservation Alliance. “Our lawsuit is a last-ditch effort to bring some sanity and justice to this situation.” The new plan set forth in July by the Bush Administration and South Dakota’s Governor excludes public participation, requires the Forest Service to violate its own management plan, and includes no analysis of impacts to ferrets and other wildlife. Public opposition to the illegal destruction of ferret habitat has come from South Dakota landowners and Tribal members, conservationists, and the American Zoological Association. “The state and federal agencies aren’t considering common sense alternatives; there is a common ground solution, if people can see with their hearts that wild animals have a spirit and a purpose alongside humankind.” said Doris Respects Nothing, an Oglala Lakota from South Dakota. “The prairie dogs have been here longer than anybody and our lands used to be so full of life because of them.” “By poisoning prairie dogs, we are killing black-footed ferrets, eagles, swift fox, and many other native wildlife," added Rosalie Little Thunder, also of the Lakota Tribe in South Dakota. The plan to poison and shoot prairie dogs on federal lands in South Dakota is the result of political pressure to force federal land management agencies to conform to a new state prairie dog plan, due out September 25, that calls for prairie dog eradication within one mile of any adjacent private lands. Over 50% of the prairie dog colonies on Buffalo Gap National Grassland are within a mile of private land and will be subject to poisoning and shooting. (map available at http://maps.bigsky.org/pca/buffalo_gap.jpg). The state plan will also apply to private landowners, who could be forced to poison wildlife on their property against their will. “This is an outrageous plan, what right do they have to make me poison wildlife on my land?” asked Ray Keale, a ranch owner who lives near Buffalo Gap. “I might as well be turning over the keys to my property.” The black-footed ferret was nearly lost to extinction in the 1980s. In 1996 South Dakota’s Conata Basin once again became home to the ferret, one of the world’s most endangered species. “Ferret recovery in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland illustrates that with America’s strong commitment to our natural heritage we can recover imperiled species—even from the brink of extinction,” stated Lauren McCain of Forest Guardians “Conata Basin is unique, a showcase for wildlife recovery in South Dakota and the United States.” Ironically, South Dakota’s planned mass poisoning effort comes exactly 200 years after Lewis and Clark provided the first descriptions known to western science for the black-tailed prairie dog and black-footed ferret. The explorers came across the animals in South Dakota; impressed with the prairie dogs’ colonies, they immediately ordered the Corps of Discovery to pursue a specimen to send back to President Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson received a live prairie dog several months later, describing it to friends as a “most harmless and tame creature.” The groups bringing
the suit include: Biodiversity Conservation Alliance (WY), Center for Biological Diversity (CO), Center for
Native Ecosystems (CO), Forest Guardians (NM), Great Plains Restoration
Council (SD), The Humane Society of the U.S. (DC and MT), Prairie
Hills Audubon Society (SD), and Predator Conservation Alliance (MT). Jonathan Proctor, Predator Conservation Alliance, 303-376-4982 Dr. Lauren McCain, Forest Guardians, 303-780-9939 Doris Respects Nothing, Great Plains Restoration Council, 605-867-6106
August
13, 2004 August
3, 2004 It
is a tremendous relief to know that birds and prairie dogs will
be legally protected for the next four months while RMAD's attorneys
and city attorneys, under direction from Council, work together
to create a strong wildlife ordinance. July
21, 2004 February
24, 2004 January
26, 2004 January
14, 2004 January
8, 2004 RMAD and other prairie dog advocates in the room were successful in getting the board to somewhat relax the overly strict guidelines proposed by staff. For example, we were able to strike a clause that would limit future relocation sites to areas that already have existing burrows. Pending council approval, the board's action will mean that Open Space lands will not, for the foreseeable future, be available for relocating prairie dogs from imperiled colonies within city limits. This paints
a bleaker picture for prairie dogs on the city's privately held
lands. Under the temporary ordinance in place until February 17,
these animals are indeed vulnerable to the lethal whims/intentions
of landowners.
We also believe the city should challenge the state's effort to overturn the city's prohibitions on poisoning and, perhaps most important, that Governor Bill Owens be challenged at every opportunity for leading an administration that places wildlife last among its priorities. ARCHIVED NEWS ARTICLES 2003
Prairie Dog News
Home
• Keystone Species •
Threats • Myths
• News |
