The species has been eliminated in Arizona. Remaining animals are scattered across an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 acres of rapidly disappearing grassland habitat, much of it in fragmented parcels too small to sustain viable prairie dog populations. The isolation of remaining prairie dog colonies makes it impossible for the species to repopulate areas that are affected by disease or environmental catastrophes. That means even relatively large populations are susceptible to local or even widespread extinction. Saving the species and its habitat will require changes in attitudes and activities by governments and private citizens alike, starting with the elimination of official policies that treat prairie dogs as vermin to be exterminated.
Some states actively promote unregulated and unlimited prairie dog shooting for sport.
And in many areas, development proceeds without regard to the impact on prairie dogs or their habitat. An ESA listing of the black-tailed prairie dog would put an immediate stop to both unregulated shooting and poisoning. Under a designation of threatened, Fish and Wildlife officials would have great flexibility to allow population control and other activities on private land to resume, if needed, as long as conservation objectives can be met and the species can eventually expand its populations across the West. Building or development on private lands with large tracts of prairie dog habitat would require a permit. But the flexibility of a threatened designation would give officials latitude in allowing most plans to proceed, and in creating incentives for expanded habitat conservation by private landowners.