Prairie Dog/public domain

Arizona Wildlife Update from Animal Defense League of Arizona (ADLA)

Instead of finding ways to coexist with Gunnison’s prairie dogs, the city of Flagstaff has hired an exterminator to poison a colony in the public Foxglenn Park. According to an article in the Arizona Daily Sun, a resident near the park is concerned about her service dog consuming the poison, Zinc phosphide. In addition to potential secondary poisoning, Zinc phosphide is an inhumane method of killing prairie dogs. The death is a painful one involving abdominal pain, convulsions, nausea, vomiting and paralysis.

Prairie dogs are a keystone species necessary to healthy ecosystems.  They contribute to the lives of the animals by providing habitat and food. And according to Northern Arizona University professor Dr. Con Slobodchikoff, prairie dogs “have one of the most advanced forms of natural language known to science”.  You can watch his video here.

Despite their importance, prairie dogs have been widely eridicated by ranchers over the past century, reducing their population by over 95 per cent.  It is unconscionable that the city of Flagstaff is using dangerous poison to kill prairie dogs in a public park.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Please contact the Flagstaff Mayor and City Council today and ask them to stop their plan to poison prairie dogs in Foxglenn Park, and instead consider nonlethal management methods.

Points to make:
–The city of Flagstaff should not be poisoning wildlife on our public lands.

–Poisoning prairie dogs is cruel and inhumane. The animals suffer a long and painful death.

–There is a risk of secondary and non-target poisoning of wildlife and companion animals.

–Only nonlethal management should be used for prairie dogs, which are a keystone species important to healthy ecosystems.

You can reach Mayor Jerry Nabours and all City Council Members at (928) 213-2015, or email Mayor Jerry Nabours at jnabours@flagstaffaz.gov and all City Council Members at  council@flagstaffaz.gov.  If you want to email the mayor and council members individually go to the Flagstaff Directory.

Animal Defense League of Arizona is a member group of the Prairie Dog Coalition. Please visit their website for more information on prairie dogs.