FWS reconsidering prairie dog status

Posted by egable on August 29th, 2007 filed in Endangered species

The Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting an additional review of information on the status of Gunnison’s prairie dog, officials said Tuesday. The service is accepting public comments on the prairie dog’s taxonomic status, distribution, population, and the effects of sylvatic plague until Oct. 29. The Gunnison’s prairie dog is found in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.

The status review comes as a result of a court-ordered settlement in a lawsuit filed by Forest Guardians after the agency rejected the group’s petition to list Gunnison’s prairie dog and designate critical habitat. The settlement agreement requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to submit a decision on the prairie dog to the Federal Register by Feb. 1, 2008.