Fw: Tens of thousands of prairie dogs could be poisoned

[Guest guest]

Defenders of Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife

 

Tens of thousands of prairie dogs could be poisoned under a new Forest

Service plan -- take action now to stop it.

 

On the American Plains, prairie dogs are essential to the entire community

of life...

Several creatures depend on these burrowing creatures for their

livelihood -- including the endangered black-footed ferret.

 

Please forward this message on to friends and family who care about

wildlife.

 

Twenty-five years ago, the black-footed ferret was thought to be gone

forever.

 

But with a Forest Service plan to poison prairie dogs -- their main prey --

in the most important recovery area for the black-footed ferrets, their

journey back from the brink of extinction could be in jeopardy.

 

The prairie dog is an important character on the American Plains. Burrowing

owls, rabbits, snakes and other ground-dwelling creatures all make their

homes in prairie dogs' elaborate underground communities. And prairie dogs

are a staple for endangered black-footed ferrets and other Great Plains

predators.

 

Now, the Forest Service wants to poison and kill tens of thousands of these

furry critters.

 

Take action now -- urge the Forest Service to stop the prairie dog massacre.

http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=GOgJ8sHOpStc1351vNim3g..

 

Tens of thousands of prairie dogs could be poisoned and killed -- but it's

not only these tunneling critters that stand to suffer.

 

Because so many other creatures depend on prairie dogs for survival -- from

burrowing owls to badgers, swift foxes to snakes -- the entire grassland

ecosystem is at risk.

 

Help stop a harmful Forest Service plan to poison and kill tens of thousands

of prairie dogs -- and harm the balance of life on the American Plains.

 

Last year alone after a similar rule change, nearly 70,000 prairie dogs were

killed on National Grasslands bordering private land.

 

Now, the Forest Service is proposing to make it easier to poison and kill

prairie dogs on three more public grasslands including the Buffalo Gap

National Grassland -- key habitat for the recently reintroduced swift fox

and the most important recovery area for the endangered black-footed ferret.

 

Don't let this dangerous proposal see the light of day -- write to the

Forest Service now!

http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=GOgJ8sHOpStc1351vNim3g..

As always, thank you for all you do to protect our wildlife and wild places.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rodger Schlickeisen

President

Defenders of Wildlife