Dear Defender of Wildlife,

The US Forest Service wants to pave the way for poisoning and shooting prairie dogs in the last small patch of land where they’re still protected in Wyoming’s Thunder Basin National Grassland.

By allowing the killing of prairie dogs, the Forest Service is threatening the health of this grassland and jeopardizing the recovery of the black-footed ferret—one of the most endangered animals in North America.

Tell Forest Supervisor Russell Bacon: Don’t strip away protections for Thunder Basin’s prairie dogs – a species essential to the grassland ecosystem and to the endangered black-footed ferret!

Shooting and poisoning of prairie dogs is already permitted across 90% of Thunder Basin. With its new prairie dog-killing proposal, the Forest Service is going against its legal obligation to protect native wildlife.

The Forest Service is caving to pressure from ranchers who graze their cattle on this public Grassland and view prairie dogs as pests.

But the science is clear: prairie dogs are essential for the grassland ecosystem and wildlife of the Great Plains. Endangered black-footed ferrets completely depend on prairie dogs – and only about 300 of these ferrets remain in the wild.

Tell the Forest Service: Don’t strip the protections for Thunder Basin’s prairie dogs!

Defender of Wildlife, the Forest Service’s cruel proposal risks any hope of preserving prairie dogs, ferrets and other grassland wildlife.

That’s why we need you to stick up for Thunder Basin’s wildlife and tell the US Forest Service: Don’t destroy this vulnerable ecosystem by allowing more prairie dog poisoning and shooting!

Thank you for standing up to protect vulnerable species without a voice of their own.

Sincerely,

Chamois Andersen Senior Representative, Rockies & Plains Defenders of Wildlife