Campaigns

Prairie Preservation Alliance needs volunteers to help with several projects, including our newsletter. Please call us at 303.638.4672.

Is Buckley Air Force Base Poisoning Prairie Dogs?

PPA learned that Colorado air force bases might be using fumigants to poison the black-tailed prairie dogs. This action would be a violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before taking action of this type.

On November 19, 2004, PPA sent letters of inquiry to Buckley, Peterson, and Shriever Air Force Base Commanders, urging them to "immediately hold a scoping session with the public so both the government and the public can discuss what impacts fumigation will have in the environment and on people."

Peterson and Shriever responded, saying that no prairie dogs live on their property. Buckley Air Force Base is compiling a list of all documents pertaining to prairie dogs. When we receive the list, we will be able to determine the next action. If an air base is poisoning prairie dogs without following the NEPA process, it may be a violation of the policy and punishable by law. The results will be posted after they are received. Please check back on a regular basis to find out how you can become involved in this process.

StorageTek, Louisville

Help identify land that provides suitable habitat for the prairie dogs that will be impacted by future onsite development.

Ball Corporation, Westminster

Help locate land suitable for relocation of prairie dogs in Adams County.

Aurora Public Schools

Help school district adopt a non-lethal approach to prairie dog management on school property.

Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)

CDOT projects can endanger prairie dog colonies. To participate in CDOT campaigns, please contact Kerry McNab at 303.359.2883, 303.690.8284, or at kmcnabb@cyberconcorp.com.

Shalom Park Project

Shalom Park, located on East Belleview in Aurora, is a combined nursing home and senior residence. The Park includes three small, undeveloped parcels of land across the street from the main campus. During the summer of 2004, the director decided to force the prairie dogs who lived on one of these parcels to leave by scraping away all the burrows and vegetation. He was afraid the prairie dogs could cause problems for the people who lived at Shalom.

PPA responded to the outcries from local citizens and began working with the Park's director to find a solution that everyone could live with. PPA agreed to build a barrier around one of the three properties and relocate all the prairie dogs to that site. Shalom agreed to allow the prairie dogs to live in peace on the single property.

Barrier construction will begin in the spring of 2005, and relocation will take place in the summer. If you would like to help the prairie dogs now, or if you would like to help with the barrier or relocation projects, contact Kathleen Whittier at 720.840.3996.

Denver International Airport

Help establish an area that encourages visitors to and from the airport to view native prairie plants and animals.