Status and History of Prairie Dogs in Colorado and at Sand Creek NHS
Sovell J, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University. 2008. Status and History of Prairie Dogs in Colorado and at Sand Creek NHS. Fort Collins, Colorado
The policy of the NPS for managing animal populations relies upon allowing natural processes to maintain them and to conserve and recover the black-tailed prairie dog wherever possible (NPS 2006). Control of prairie dogs on NPS property is allowed only for purposes of human health and safety, good neighbor relations, to reduce conflicts with other park objectives such as the preservation of cultural resources, to protect property when it is not possible to change the pattern of human activities, or when removal meets specific park management objectives (NPS 2006). When removal does occur the NPS will work to ensure that it does not cause unacceptable impacts on native resources, natural processes, or other park resources. Whenever the size of a park animal population is reduced, the NPS will use scientifically valid resource information obtained through consultation with technical experts, literature review, inventory, monitoring, or research to evaluate the identified need for population management (NPS 2006). This need must then be documented in an appropriate park management plan (NPS 2006).
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Sovell, John; Colorado Natural Heritage Program; Colorado State University
- Date of Issue
- 2008-03
- Units
- SAND
- Keywords
- Barriers, Changes, Conservation, Cultural Resources, federal and state status of the black-tailed prairie dog, Grazing, Management, objectives, plan goal, population densities, rodenticides, shooting, Trapping, Vegetation, wildlife resources