Governor Bill Owens
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792

Dear Governor Owens:

I am writing to express my concern over the plight of the black-tailed prairie dog. This keystone species of the prairie ecosystem is biologically threatened and needs protection by the State of Colorado.

I urge you to take measures to protect black-tailed prairie dogs from the multiple threats of poisoning, bulldozing, and shooting that occur every day. Current strategies, like Colorado’s Memorandum of Understanding for Prairie Dog Management, do nothing to provide protection for the species. We are long past the point of collecting data on prairie dogs and instead urgently need proactive measures to ensure their survival.

Allowing the destruction of black-tailed prairie dogs to continue also severely jeopardizes the survival of the 170 other species who depend on them. Many people choose to live in Colorado because of the wonderful abundance of wildlife. Failing to protect the black-tailed prairie dog means failing to protect the foundation of an entire ecosystem that is Colorado’s heritage. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,