Modified Friday, April 2, 2004

Prairie dogs receive protection in Utah

Prairie dog Photo by Lynn Chamberlain

Editor's Note: A news release in the March 25 Utah Wildlife News caused some confusion regarding the ability of private landowners to take prairie dogs that are damaging their private lands. Hopefully this revised news release will help clear up some of the confusion (landowners can take prairie dogs that are causing damage but are encouraged to contact the Division of Wildlife Resources to make sure they understand the regulations.)

PRICE — With the addition of an April 1 to June 15 shooting closure on white-tailed prairie dogs, all three species of prairie dogs living in Utah will receive protection this year.

White-tailed prairie dogs, the most abundant and widespread prairie dog species in the state, are found throughout much of eastern and northern Utah. Both the distribution and number of white-tailed prairie dogs have declined due to disease and changing land use, including conversion of rangeland to agriculture and suburban development.

The white-tailed prairie dog shooting closure occurs during their reproductive period and will promote the survival of young prairie dogs. The shooting closure applies to public lands only and does not preclude control of white-tailed prairie dogs that are damaging private lands.

The Utah prairie dog, found in southwestern Utah, has been protected under the federal Endangered Species Act for more than 25 years. Utah prairie dogs are protected from shooting year-round on both public and private lands. Since 2001, the shooting of Gunnison prairie dogs, which occur in Grand and San Juan counties in southeastern Utah, has been prohibited on public lands from April 1 through June 15. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been petitioned to place both Gunnison and white-tailed prairie dogs on the federal endangered species list.

Before they begin control operations, landowners who have agricultural and private lands that are being damaged by prairie dogs should contact the Division of Wildlife Resources for a clarification of regulations.