February 27, 2004
Feb. 27, 2004 -- Associated Press reported this week that the U.S. Forest Service has decided to lift its ban on poisoning prairie dogs on five national grasslands in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming.
Nebraska National Forest supervisor, Don Bright, said this move will help control the spread of prairie dogs onto private land from federal grasslands. Some western South Dakota ranchers say the animals are streaming from federal lands onto their property, ruining grazing land, causing erosion and damaging roads.
Fall River County State?s Attorney Lance Russell said he is skeptical about the new ruling?s effect. Most of the prairie dog control restrictions included in the ban are now part of revised management plans in the states. The Forest Service has deferred to its new management plan, which is contingent on the states adopting a state prairie dog management plan.
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