The November/December 2009 edition of AUDUBON magazine features an excellent article by Ted Williams about the heroic efforts of two western Kansas landowner families who are standing on the front lines for wildlife conservation in the 21st Century. These landowners have stood their ground to protect the rights of landowners to have Black-tailed Prairie Dog colonies on their property and all of the associated wildlife species that depend on the presence of this “keystone” species. The habitat created and prey base that prairie dogs provide is important for Burrowing Owls, Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagles, Swift Foxes and absolutely vital for the survival of Black-footed Ferrets in the wild.

Audubon of Kansas has been in partnership with these courageous landowners and working side-by-side with them and/or on their behalf in every forum since September of 2005. We were contacted because Logan County Commissioners were pressing to force them to eradicate the prairie dogs on their 10,000-acre ranch complex. It was apparent on the first visit that this property was the best prospect for reintroduction of the federally endangered Black-footed Ferrets in Kansas. Working together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the first ferrets were reintroduced a week before Christmas 2007. However, the Logan County Commission, urged on by the Kansas Farm Bureau, has made many attempts to poison the prairie dogs and force removal of the ferrets. This has involved numerous court actions, with the next trial set for late April 2010.

The threat of secondary poisoning of raptors and other predators that feed on prairie dogs that are dead or dying from Rozol poisoning is also outlined.
Logan County purchased 92,160 pounds (just over 46 tons) of Rozol in 2008, but we didn’t have that information until after the article went to press.

Ted Williams has done a great job capturing the urgency of the issues facing shortgrass prairie wildlife in this part of our country, with an insight on what Audubon of Kansas is doing to help. Audubon of Kansas has been at the forefront of this issue and we're proud of the media attention this tragic issue is garnering.

[P.S. The only statement in the article, a quote, that may need clarification is the phrase about income received by Gene Bertrand from prairie dog shooters. The income, approximately $25,000 in one year, was about the same as the income he had from cattle grazing on the same 1,800 acres (not “per acre”). Prior to being forced by the Logon County Commission to exterminate the prairie dogs on his ranchland, cattle grazing and controlled shooting occurred on the same property—and the prairie dogs continued to thrive. Gene also wanted to host reintroduction of Black-footed Ferrets.]

Click here to read the full Audubon Magazine Article

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