ENVIRONMENTALISTS PETITION GOVERNMENT TO LIST PRAIRIE DOG AS "THREATENED"

The public comment period is open until May 24.

Black-Tailed Prairie Dog

      The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) filed a petition with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS) to list the black-tailed prairie dog as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The petition listed unregulated recreational shooting as contributing to the decline of the species, along with poisoning, conversion of grasslands to farmland, urban development, and disease. USF&WS declined the petitioner's request to suspend normal rulemaking procedures and issue emergency regulations.

      However, the Service found that the petition contained enough information to suggest that listing may be warranted, which means that USF&WS, by notice in the March 25 Federal Register, is taking the next step of conducting a status review to determine if listing the animal is warranted. The public comment period is open until May 24. Data, personal observations, technical critiques, comments, or questions should be sent to the...

Field Supervisor, Ecological Services US Fish and Wildlife Service 420 South Garfield Avenue, Suite 400 Pierre, SD 57501-5408

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