GF& P Provides Extensive Prairie Dog Control

GF&P Provides Extensive Prairie Dog Control

The Department of Game, Fish and Parks treated over 32,000 acres of private and public land to provide prairie dog control in 2004.

The work was done in areas of heavy prairie dog infestations, and came on the heels of a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to not list prairie dogs as a threatened or endangered species. Prairie dogs populations have dwindled in much of their native range, primarily due to loss of habitat. However, portions of South Dakota continue to host large numbers of the animal that in turn has caused damage to private grazing lands.

"We made promises to private landowners affected by this severe encroachment of prairie dogs, and I'm proud to say we have fulfilled those promises," Governor Mike Rounds said. "The work accomplished by the Game, Fish and Parks field staff has been truly impressive. The work they accomplished in a short period of time. They were a tremendous asset to both private landowners and our state's natural resources."

GFP began taking the names of private landowners that were suffering severe problems from prairie dog depredation in mid-July. GFP provided treatment for 108 different private properties in Fall River, Custer, Jackson and Pennington counties.

Governor Mike Rounds announced implementation of an Emergency Prairie Dog Control Program in August. Poisoning of prairie dogs on private lands surrounding the Conata Basin in Jackson and Pennington counties, as well as private lands in Fall River County, began in early August and was completed in November. Nearly 18,000 acres of private land was treated in these areas.

A settlement was reached in early October to allow the control of prairie dogs on U.S. Forest Service land in the Conata Basin and Fall River Ranger District. Treatment on the estimated 7,000 acres began in early November and was completed by the end of the year.

"Inter-agency cooperation was a key to the success of this vital prairie dog control effort," according to GFP Secretary John Cooper. "In addition, we enjoyed some ideal weather conditions throughout the treatment period that certainly helped our efforts."

Final totals for the prairie dog control efforts included 24,255 acres of private land treated (cost $139,402), 7,685 acres of U.S. Forest Service land (cost $76,457), and 114 acres of GFP land (cost $1,097). Another $18,800 was spent for 10 tons of bait and pre-bait materials.

The total acres treated were 32,025 and the total program cost was $235,757.

"Despite our control efforts, citizens can rest assured that we still have ample acres of prairie dogs to keep within the goal targets offered in our draft state prairie dog management plan" said Governor Rounds. "What we observed on the ground is that many of the prairie dog acres treated were actually towns that had grown well beyond the original colony boundaries that were identified in a 2003 prairie dog inventory. The drought conditions of 2003 and again in 2004 created ideal conditions for prairie dog growth."

http://www.state.sd.us/governor/