Comparison of Population Structure of Black-tailed Prairie Dog Towns in Southwestern North Dakota. An Evaluation of Shooting and Habitat Alteration for Control of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs. Impacts of Recreational Shooting on Prairie Dog Colonies. All of the above cites are from wildlife and conservation biologists. They include government publications and are all sound science.
All scientific indicators point to protection of the prairie dog.
The moral imperative of protecting one of Colorado's most persecuted animals is equally clear.