Fish and Wildlife Service won't reclassify prairie dog

After reviewing a petition to reclassify the Utah prairie dog from threatened to endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded the petition does not contain substantial scientific data indicating that a reclassification is warranted.

The Wildlife Service does not believe the present destruction or modification of habitat warrants reclassifying the Utah prairie dog. Although factors cited by the petitioners denote small, localized impacts on specific prairie dog colonies, the population number continues to be stable and within the range of historic fluctuations.

The petition was filed by Forest Guardians and the Center for Native Ecosystems in February 2003. Last year, the petitioners filed a complaint against the Wildlife Service for failure to issue a timely finding on the petition. According to the settlement agreement, the Wildlife Service agreed to make a petition finding by Feb.17.

The Utah prairie dog is currently found in three designated recovery areas in southwestern Utah, which include the Awapa Plateau, the Paunsaugunt region along the Sevier River and the West Desert region of eastern Iron and Beaver counties. The animal was first listed as an endangered species in 1973 following a significant population decrease due to disease, poisoning, drought and human-related habitat alterations resulting from cultivation and poor grazing practices.