Feds say white-tailed prairie dogs not endangered

By The AP
Thursday, May 27, 2010

DENVER — White-tailed prairie dogs won’t be listed as an endangered species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the prairie dogs don’t merit federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The agency says that while the population of white-tailed prairie dogs is “likely below historical levels,” there are still plenty of them. The agency said Wyoming especially has a healthy population. White-tailed prairie dogs are also found in Colorado, Utah and Montana.

Late last year, the agency also declined to name black-tailed prairie dogs endangered.

Wildlife authorities said that future energy development in the West, such as oil and gas drilling or solar energy installations, is unlikely to significantly reduce habitat.