[Forwarded] Posted by: "Pam" [log in to unmask]
Wed Jul 4, 2007 12:45 pm (PST)

North America's Most Important Prairie Dog Colony Up for Poisoning.

While every prairie dog colony is important, the recovery effort of
the endangered black-footed ferret would argue that Conata Basin is
the most critical prairie dog colony to recovering North America's
most endangered mammal.

The black-footed ferret depends on large prairie dog towns for food,
shelter and raising its young. About 250 ferrets live in the basinn
the largest wild population among the 13 sites where reintroduction
of the species has been attempted.

The plan stems from more complaints from the ranchers who graze their
cattle on the public land. Even though the U.S. Forest Service
generates a mere $3,300 a year from these grazing permittees, the
government is again bending to political pressure by even considering
this heinous poisoning plan.

Not only does this plan kill prairie dogs with poison, it jeopardizes
the entire prairie dog ecosystem the prairie dogs support including
hawks, ferrets, foxes, burrowing owls and more.

You can help by writing Nebraska National Forest Supervisor, Don Bright
and telling him you want priority given to our native prairie dogs and
black-footed ferrets.

 Email: [log in to unmask]

 Subject line: 2007 Black-tailed Prairie Dog Comments
or mail to
 125 N. Main St. Chadron, NE, 69337.

[Posted in FML 5661]