SALIDA WORKSHOP TO ADDRESS PRAIRIE DOG CONSERVATION
SALIDA WORKSHOP TO ADDRESS PRAIRIE DOG CONSERVATION
SALIDA, Colo. — Conservation of Gunnison’s prairie dogs will be the subject of a one-day workshop in Salida on Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds (10165 County Rd. 120, Salida).
The Colorado Division of Wildlife workshop will address Gunnison’s prairie dog management within portions of Chaffee, Teller, Fremont, El Paso, Park, Custer, Huerfano, and western Las Animas counties.
According to Seth McClean, a senior wildlife conservation biologist with the DOW, the purpose of the planning effort is to ensure conservation of Gunnison’s prairie dogs to avoid the species from being listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
"This workshop is not designed to be a forum at which people will simply give their opinions about prairie dogs," said McClean. "The all-day session is designed to develop specific plans for each of the local areas where Gunnison’s prairie dogs are known to exist. By working with local stakeholders we can identify conservation solutions unique to each area and develop cooperative on-the-ground management plans."
There are three species of prairie dogs found in Colorado: the black-tailed, the white-tailed, and the Gunnison’s. Black-tailed prairie dogs are the most common and a found mainly east of the foothills. Gunnison’s and white-tailed prairie dogs are less numerous and found in mountain valleys and parks in western and central Colorado.
The focus of the Salida workshop is on Gunnison’s prairie dogs.
The DOW has been working on a prairie dog management plan for more than a year. Last year, the Division released the draft strategy document for comment. The public submitted more than 1,000 comments so far.
The day-long workshop in Salida is open to anyone interested in participating in a group discussion to develop local conservation solutions and strategies. Local citizens interested in prairie dog management will be briefed on options for conserving prairie dogs and identify specific management actions that will be most effective at the local level. Discussions will focus on issues unique to each area, rank proposed conservation strategies, and develop an outline for a local action plan.
Prairie dogs play a key role in the environment. They provide an important food source for predators such as hawks, badgers, coyotes, and foxes. Their burrows provide cover for a variety of other species.
Private landowners, conservationists, concerned citizens, and representatives of local, federal, and state agencies are invited to attend.
The DOW requests that anyone who would like to attend the one-day workshop RSVP to Raquel Stotler by Oct. 23 via email at: raquel.stotler@state.co.us, or by calling (719) 530-5526.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
