Prairie Dog Control Programs Available

PIERRE, S.D.—Officials of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks and Agriculture departments are asking South Dakota ranchers and producers to contact these agencies if they have prairie dog complaints.

“With the passage of the state prairie dog management plan in 2005,” said GFP Wildlife Damage Management Program Administrator Art Smith, “prairie dog control guidelines and annual funds have been made available to answer complaints from landowners who have prairie dogs moving onto their lands where they are not wanted.”  The plan, which is jointly funded by the departments of Agriculture and Game, Fish and Parks, is based on the “good neighbor policy” and has a no tolerance standard for prairie dogs moving onto lands where they are not wanted.

There are three components to the program: (1) control where prairie dogs are coming off public lands, (2) control where prairie dogs are coming off private lands, and (3) incentives where prairie dogs are coming off public or tribal lands.

If a landowner has a complaint regarding prairie dogs invading from public grounds, Game, Fish and Parks must be contacted at (605) 773-5913 to request control.  Once encroachment has been verified, GFP field staff or an approved contractor will come in and control the invading colony on the private land.  These calls must be received by Aug. 15, 2007, to allow for adequate time for scheduling.

If the colony is encroaching from private grounds, a formal complaint must be signed (available by calling (800) 228-5254 or on the Department of Agriculture Web site at www.state.sd.us/doa/das/) and sent to the S.D. Department of Agriculture and the landowner with the invading colony. The mailing address for the Department of Agriculture is 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501.  Notices of encroachment may be sent in throughout the year.

Depending on location, two different incentive programs are available to landowners adjacent to public or tribal lands. These programs replace controlling encroaching prairie dogs with a per-acre payment for areas where prairie dogs would be allowed to remain.  Grazing and shooting will be allowed on lands under these programs, but the use of rodenticides, fumigants or other toxicants would not be allowed. Landowners interested in incentives need to contact Game, Fish and Parks at (605) 773-5913 by Oct. 1, 2007, to be considered for this program.

The South Dakota Prairie Dog Management Plan may be seen by visiting http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/PrairieDog.htm or by calling the Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Damage Program at 773-3387.

- GFP, DOA -