Private Lands Prairie Dog Control Continues

PIERRE, S.D. - Game, Fish and Parks and Department of Agriculture officials want to assure South Dakota ranchers and producers that control work on prairie dogs that have encroached onto their lands from adjacent public lands will continue.

Recent appeals on the Nebraska National Forest Service’s amendment to its forest management plan that would have allowed prairie-dog poisoning on the lands they manage now will be delayed at least until late November. However, that delay will not affect Game, Fish and Parks’ private lands control work.

"Both the Forest Service and GFP would prefer to perform control work on both sides of the fence at the same time," said Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Damage Management Program Administrator Art Smith. "But, instead of waiting until late November and risk weather preventing any control work, GFP staff and contractors will start controlling prairie dogs on private lands adjacent to public lands as soon as they can be scheduled."

If a landowner has a complaint regarding prairie dogs invading from public grounds, they needed to have contacted Game, Fish and Parks before Oct. 1. The state prairie dog management plan is based on the "good neighbor policy" and has a no tolerance standard for prairie dogs moving onto lands where they are not wanted.

"Rain or snowfall prevents the rodenticide zinc phosphide from working," continued Smith. "Betting on dry weather two months from now is a risk we simply do not feel comfortable taking. Consequently, we will perform private lands control work well before the U. S. Forest Service will be allowed to use poison on their lands. In effect, the appeals to the U. S. Forest Service plan will have a minimal impact on private lands treatments."

The South Dakota Prairie Dog Management Plan may be seen by visiting www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/PrairieDog.htm or by calling the Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Damage Program at 773-5913.

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