Black-tailed Prarie Dogs in Danger

[Cherish Moondancer]

Black-tailed prairie dogs are in trouble. And that could spell disaster for the health of America’s grasslands.

After decades of decline due to disease, habitat destruction and poisonings, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is considering protections for black-tailed prairie dogs. But federal officials need to hear from you before the February 2nd deadline.

Take action now -- write to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and urge them to protect black-tailed prairie dogs.

Now, federal officials are considering protection for the black-tailed prairie dog under the Endangered Species Act as a terrible plague continues to wipe out vast numbers of the remaining prairie dog colonies, and as federal agencies continue to poison prairie dog colonies on our public lands.

Black-tailed prairie dogs are important characters on the American Plains. Burrowing owls, rabbits, snakes and other ground-dwelling creatures all make their homes in prairie dogs’ elaborate underground communities. And prairie dogs are a staple for endangered black-footed ferrets and other Great Plains predators.

Black-tailed prairie dogs were once abundant across the Great Plains, from Canada to Mexico. But after decades of habitat loss, poisonings and disease, these furry creatures have declined more than 95% in the last 150 years -- and are gone completely in large parts of their range.

Please urge federal officials to protect black-tailed prairie dogs -- and the health of the Great Plains.

Thanks for all you do to protect wildlife and the places it lives.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Proctor
Rocky Mountain Region Representative
Defenders of Wildlife




P.S. If you'd like to do more to support Defenders' work to save prairie dogs, bison, wolves and other wildlife, please consider a tax-deductible Wildlife Gift Adoption. As a special thanks, you can take 15% off all Wildlife Adoptions and Defenders Gifts and Gear by using promotion code