Prairie Dogs Spared By Judge

According to an article in today's New York Times, a federal district judge in Kansas declared that the federal Endangered Species Act trumps a Kansas state law dating from 1901, that would have allowed county officials to poison the thousands of prairie dogs that live on a private ranch owner's property without his permission.

Now Parental Unit and I think this decision was a good one for a variety of reasons, but...we do understand that this issue is very contentious in certain areas of the country.

We sure did we learn some interesting information, though. Consider the following, if you will:

1. The Prairie Dog is a "highly social member of the squirrel family, known for burrowing elaborate tunnels and emitting a warning call similar to a dog's bark." (Yes, I added the emphasis to those hideous words, "member of the squirrel family")

2. Note to self: So that's why they're called prairie "dogs"!

3. This particular colony of prairie dogs (numbering around 25,000) is a prime sources of food for one of the most endangered mammals in the world, the black-footed ferret.
In fact, in 2007, this same rancher "...allowed the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to release endangered black-footed ferrets on his property as part of a program to increase their population."

Check out the full article (and see a picture of one of those glorified rats prairie dogs), right here:
www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/us/23prairie.html?_r=1&ref=us

Meanwhile, I'm intent on stopping real squirrels from invading my yard and patio, like this bold varmint siting on my fence.

P.S. Look for some really fun news tomorrow!    

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