The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is currently taking public comments on a proposal to allow prairie dogs to be massacred in the Thunder Basin National Grassland in Wyoming. Prairie dogs are inquisitive and social animals who live in close-knit family groups, and their burrow network colonies—also called “towns”—are essential to the ecosystem. In fact, this keystone species creates a distinctive environment that offers sustenance and shelter to at least 158 other species, including the endangered black-footed ferret and the swift fox. Sadly, prairie dogs occupy only a tiny percentage of their historic range because of human encroachment and habitat loss.
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Please take a moment to fill out the USFS comment form and urge the agency to leave the prairie dogs alone! Make sure to fill out all the fields in order to ensure that your comment will be considered:
Personalized comments carry more weight with decisionmakers, but feel free to draw ideas from our sample text:
I understand that the U.S. Forest Service is considering a proposal that would allow prairie dogs to be shot and poisoned in the Thunder Basin National Grassland in Wyoming. The prairie dog is a keystone species. These inquisitive, family-oriented animals create a distinctive environment that offers sustenance and shelter to at least 158 other species, including the endangered black-footed ferret and the swift fox. Furthermore, no animal, regardless of species or circumstance, should be forced to endure a cruel death under the misnomer of ecosystem “management.”
Prairie dogs occupy only a tiny percentage of their historic range. Please scrap the misguided plan to kill them!
