It appears Cedar City golfers and the Utah prairie dog will tee off in federal court due to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by a coalition of environmental groups.

Members of the Forest Guardians, Utah Environmental Congress and others filed their suit in U.S. District Court against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The suit seeks to stop a federally approved program of trapping and relocating Utah prairie dogs from the Cedar City Municipal Golf Course, which spans 503 acres, and 48 acres of adjacent land that belongs to the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah.

The Utah prairie dog has been listed on the threatened and endangered species list since 1973 and is one of five species of prairie dog. Currently, this species is listed as "threatened."

According to the suit, Iron County contains about 65 percent of the total remaining population of Utah prairie dogs, and about 86 percent of Utah prairie dogs in Iron County are located on nonfederal land. Specifically, the Utah prairie dog colony at the golf course is considered among the four largest colonies in existence, the suit states.

Cedar City Mayor Gerald Sherratt said he has been patient with the growing problem but believes the federal numbers on the rodents are underestimated. "It's a real pain for us. They're running around everywhere," Sherratt said.

On just two holes alone, Sherratt said, more than 400 Utah prairie dogs were trapped. Golfers have complained that the animals have run off with their golf balls and taken the balls into their holes.

He said the prairie dogs are drawn to the course's green grass and plants. "They've made our golf course into their personal salad bowl," he said.

In January 2007, fish and wildlife officials approved the permanent trapping and removal of prairie dogs from the golf course and tribal lands and relocation to a 303-acre habitat called Wild Pea Hollow, which is surrounded by BLM lands.

But wildlife activists argue the land is not viable for use as habitat and will require years of rehabilitation. They also argue that "translocation" has only resulted in a 10 percent survival rate.

The groups are asking a federal judge to find that fish and wildlife officials violated the federal Endangered Species Act and Administrative Procedures Act.

Sherratt said the federal government is in a tight spot, with groups on either side of the issue poised to sue. "Anyway you look at it, the federal government will be sued by someone over this."

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E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com