Big news for Arizona's wildlife and grassland habitats in southeast Arizona. After 50 years of extirpation, black-tailed prairie dogs were reintroduced in Arizona this week. So many groups supported this effort, including Animal Defense League of Arizona (see October 4 Blog).
In an e-mail message, Bill Van Pelt, Grassland Coordinator of Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies said
I am pretty confident this will not be a lead story on the front page of any newspaper. Today [October 7], at 11:17 a.m. after nearly 50 years absence on the Arizona landscape, 73 black-tailed prairie dogs were placed in release cages on the Las Cienegas Grasslands near Sonoita, Arizona. This has been a project in the making since 1965, when the first discussions about re-establishing this species began in Arizona. While part of the success story today is the return of the prairie dog, the other part is the number individuals, and entities working together for grassland conservation...
Bill may be right, but this is front page news for Animal Defense League of Arizona!
In an e-mail message, Bill Van Pelt, Grassland Coordinator of Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies said
I am pretty confident this will not be a lead story on the front page of any newspaper. Today [October 7], at 11:17 a.m. after nearly 50 years absence on the Arizona landscape, 73 black-tailed prairie dogs were placed in release cages on the Las Cienegas Grasslands near Sonoita, Arizona. This has been a project in the making since 1965, when the first discussions about re-establishing this species began in Arizona. While part of the success story today is the return of the prairie dog, the other part is the number individuals, and entities working together for grassland conservation...
Bill may be right, but this is front page news for Animal Defense League of Arizona!
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Last week I attended the release of black-tailed prairie dogs in Southern Arizona. The animals were brought in from New Mexico to start a colony in the area where the species once thrived prior to being extirpated.
ReplyDeleteThe first prairie dog whose paws touched the ground of the new site was unaware of the significance of that moment. But for the conservationists, biologists, and wildlife advocates who witnessed the release, it was an important victory.
Watching the prairie dogs interact and explore their newly built tunnels was especially rewarding to volunteers who helped dig and level the ground for the site.
The black-tailed prairie dog once lived in the grasslands of southeastern Arizona, but was exterminated by poisoning and shooting. Attempts to reintroduce prairie dogs to Arizona began fifty years ago, but were continually impeded by land use opponents including ranchers.
It was only through the cooperation of agencies, land users and advocacy groups that this keystone species has been returned to its rightful place.