Prairie Dog Coalition Urges Colorado to End Recreational Prairie Dog Shooting on Public Lands

Defenders of Wildlife and partners at the Prairie Dog Coalition are calling on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission to adopt a year-round prohibition on recreational shooting of prairie dogs on public lands. The Commission, which will meet on November 4-5 in Fort Morgan, received a citizen petition submitted by the Prairie Dog Coalition in April of this year. The petition seeks to protect black-tailed, white-tailed, and Gunnison's prairie dogs on federal public lands and CPW-managed properties and does not propose banning hunting on private lands or legal take on agricultural property.

"Continuing to allow recreational shooting of this keystone species on public lands is simply out of step with responsible wildlife management. This is especially true as CPW is a recognized leader in protecting prairie dogs to support recovery efforts of the endangered black-footed ferret." says Chamois Andersen, senior field representative for Defenders of Wildlife. "This petition offers a sensible approach that supports Colorado's efforts to manage wildlife for healthy grasslands. Shooting mortalities of prairie dogs on public lands is preventable and necessary to sustain already declining populations; Colorado should listen to the concerns of citizens across the state and protect this vital species."

"Colorado has an opportunity to protect the prairie dogs that sustain our grasslands and the wildlife that depend on them," said Pam Wanek, PDC steering committee member, who filed the citizen petition. "Our public lands should be spaces for all people to enjoy wild places and wildlife unfettered by practices that are disruptive and harmful to our most endangered wildlife."

Prairie dogs are a keystone species that provide food and habitat for more than 120 wildlife species, including the endangered black-footed ferret. Public grasslands in eastern Colorado, like the Pawnee and Comanche, provide important, connected habitats where colonies can persist and support diverse plant and wildlife communities.

Research has found that recreational shooting can affect prairie dog colonies beyond the animals killed. In one study, shooting was followed by a 50% decline in pregnancy rates and an 82% decline in reproductive output the following year - a significant impact for prairie dogs, which produce only one litter each year.

"Colorado's public lands should be places where both wildlife and Coloradans can thrive-not places where a keystone species is treated as a recreational target and where hikers and bird watchers need to watch for flying bullets," says Lindsey Sterling Krank, senior program director for prairie dog conflict resolution at Humane World for Animals and PDC Steering Committee member. "Prairie dog colonies are vital to healthy grasslands and support a remarkable diversity of wildlife Coloradans want to conserve. They should not be treated as targets for recreation on lands that belong to all of us."

Healthy prairie dog colonies are essential to recovering the endangered black-footed ferret. Ferrets depend on prairie dogs for food and their burrows for shelter, and Colorado's reintroduction efforts for black footed ferrets demonstrate the importance of maintaining healthy prairie dog colonies.

Prairie dogs have declined substantially from their historic range in Colorado. Black-tailed prairie dogs have lost approximately 92% of their previously occupied habitat in eastern Colorado, based on CPW's 2020 acreage estimate and historical data.

Threats to survival for prairie dogs include exotic sylvatic plague, lethal control/loss, and degradation. Recreational shooting is an avoidable source of mortality that can be addressed directly through sound and science-based wildlife regulation.

Prairie dogs are typically shot with lead-based ammunition and are not disposed of after being killed. This means that highly toxic lead enters the food chain when predators like hawks, eagles, badgers and coyotes scavenge on those prairie dogs.

"Prairie dogs are too important to Colorado's grasslands and wildlife to be used for recreational target shooting on public lands. The Commission has an opportunity to act now to protect prairie dogs and help prevent further declines," Wanek says.

CPW identifies prairie dogs as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need under Colorado's State Wildlife Action Plan, requiring urgent conservation efforts before their populations are too low to recover.

PDC is urging the Commission to adopt the petition to help prevent further declines.

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