The federal government has officially acknowledged that America's black-tailed prairie dogs are in serious peril due to a lack of sound management. But we're very encouraged by the official recognition that the prairie dog is in trouble and needs the kind of recovery help that the Endangered Species Act is designed to provide.
Populations continue to be decimated by loss of habitat, poisoning and unregulated shooting.
In many areas the killing is encouraged and even required by state or federal agency policies that treat prairie dogs as pests to be exterminated. Yet the lesser degree of peril connected with a designation of threatened rather than endangered also indicates a need for action before things get worse. Because these animals reproduce rapidly, prompt action can help the species recover quickly and with little impact on human activities. Under a threatened designation, federal officials could work with states, communities and individuals to craft flexible recovery plans for the species, while also addressing the needs and concerns of local people. Several states and scientific groups have also acknowledged the prairie dog's peril and the need for a change in management practices in the wake of the NWF petition.