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JULY 6, 2001

The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society of Denver is part of a coalition of environmentalists and some private ranchers who are seeking federal funds to protect the black-tailed prairie dog.

The group has met with lawmakers and the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, hoping for $115 million to protect 830,000 acres of private and tribal land for prairie dog recovery over 10 years. Most of the funds would be used to pay landowners not to poison or shoot the dogs, which are considered by some to be a pest.

Mike Fox of the Native society has managed a prairie dog program on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana. Parts of the the reservation are being used as a black-footed ferret recovery area. The ferret feasts on prairie dogs.

Get the Story:
A Sea Change Ripples Across the Sea of Grass (The Washington Post 7/6)

Relevant Links:
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society - http://www.nafws.org

Related Stories:
Prairie dog colony to be vacuumed (6/14)
Ferret area changed to satisfy drillers (5/21)
Prairie dog shooting banned (4/24)
Ban on prairie dog shooting sought (3/30)
Rare ferrets find new home (10/9)