RMAD’s
Prairie Wildlife Program mission statement: RMAD protects prairie
wildlife primarily by stopping the killing and injury of prairie
dogs and the destruction of their homes. The program focuses on
the black-tailed prairie dog in Colorado and strives to serve as
a model for prairie dog advocacy efforts elsewhere. Largely through
the efforts of its volunteers, RMAD educates the public about prairie
wildlife issues, mobilizes people to prevent killings, facilitates
relocations, and advocates for humane laws and policies.
RMAD continues to pursue its lawsuit against the Colorado Division
of Wildlife and State of Colorado, in which a district court judge
has agreed that the state’s unmitigated approval of poisoning
of prairie dog burrows violates the state’s constitution. Although
the constitutional ban on traps, poisons, and snares does not protect
prairie dogs, it does protect animals associated with prairie dogs
– animals who die when poison is applied to burrows. We are
appealing the weak remedies suggested by the judge in the case.
Fall
2003 RMAD
participates in and sponsors a table at the annual Rangenet conference,
at the University of Colorado. The conference joins activists from
around the country interested in the issues and impacts of public
lands grazing (http://www.rangenet.org).
Spring/Summer
2003
RMAD oversees the effort to produce the 2003 Prairie Dog Summit
and helps orchestrate the strategic planning for the Prairie Dog
Coalition (http://www.prairiedogcoalition.org).
Fall
2002
RMAD delivers more than 4,000 signatures to Colorado Governor Bill
Owens, urging him to provide protection for the black-tailed prairie
dog.
Spring/Summer
2002
RMAD volunteers succeed in getting the Boulder Valley School District
to cancel planned poisonings at four district locations and then
relocate the prairie dogs to safer homes. RMAD volunteers also prevail
in stopping the live burial of prairie dogs as Nova Soccer builds
a parking lot for soccer fields on a prairie dog colony just north
of Boulder city limits.
Spring/Summer
2001 RMAD
leads the effort to produce the Colorado Prairie Dog Summit and
helps form the Prairie Dog Coalition (http://www.prairiedogcoalition.org).
Winter
2000/2001 RMAD
continues to pursue its lawsuit against the State of Colorado in
which we contend that the state’s approval of poisoning of
prairie dog burrows violates the state’s constitution. Although
the constitutional ban on traps, poisons, and snares does not protect
prairie dogs, it does protect animals associated with prairie dogs
— animals who die when poison is applied to burrows. Hence,
we contend that poisoning prairie dog burrows is unconstitutional.
Winter
1999/2000
RMAD creates the Prairie WatchDog Program to inventory colonies
along the Front Range, identify threats facing them, and establish
WatchDogs (guardians) to monitor human activities on them.
Spring
1999
In May, popular tea-maker Celestial Seasonings poisoned prairie
dogs on its property in Boulder, Colorado. RMAD announced a boycott
of Celestial Seasonings products upon learning of this incident.
We subsequently met with representatives of Celestial Seasonings
to discuss the situation. We reached a satisfactory agreement with
Celestial Seasonings and lifted the boycott. The only issue of contention
regarded development. RMAD agreed to the relocation of prairie dogs
from one portion of the land to another to make room for impending
development on the property. Celestial Seasonings committed to providing
permanent protection for the remaining 15–20 acres — land
that represents fully one-third of the remaining privately held
prairie dog colonies in Boulder.
Fall
1998
RMAD and local citizens in Lakewood, Colorado, successfully challenged
that city's plan to exterminate prairie dogs on open space. RMAD’s
lawsuit resulted in the first ever injunction of prairie dog poisoning
in Colorado. The city of Lakewood will now manage prairie dogs on
its open space non-lethally. RMAD continues to work with prairie
dog advocates in Lakewood to push for prairie dog protection in
Denver metro.
Summer
1998
RMAD was actively involved in starting the Southern Plains Land
Trust, an effort to acquire land in southeastern Colorado to restore
the prairie dog ecosystem. There will be no hunting or lethal control
of animals in any way on this reserve. Other groups involved in
this project include the Great Plains Restoration Council.
March
1998
Working with local animal rights and environmental activists, RMAD
organized several protests and civil disobedience in response to
the extermination of a 30+ acre colony in Lafayette. Out of this
tragedy came tremendous awareness of the importance of protecting
prairie dogs, as television, print, and radio media covered the
story extensively. In addition, several citizens groups advocating
wildlife protection were formed.
Winter
1997/98
RMAD activists fought charges lodged against them after disrupting
a prairie dog shooting contest (see next entry). One activist was
acquitted on the most serious charge, criminal trespass. Another
activist's case ended in mistrial. The last trial ended in acquittal
on trespass charges. By going to trial for their arrests, RMAD activists
have gained extensive media coverage and are now challenging Colorado’s
hunter harassment law.
July
1997
RMAD activists, along with the director of the Great Plains Restoration
Council, took to the fields in a non-violent action to end Colorado’s
largest annual prairie dog shoot, conducted in Kit Carson County,
Colorado. The activists succeeded in interrupting the shoot for
several hours. The action attracted both local and national media
coverage. Seven activists were arrested, five of whom remained in
jail for four days until they were released on personal recognizance.
The activists saw their cases through the court system so as to
maximize awareness on the need to protect prairie dogs now.
Spring
and Summer 1997
RMAD spoke on several occasions to the Colorado Wildlife Commission
on behalf of prairie dogs and other animals who suffer from the
senseless slaughter involved in killing contests. RMAD is not satisfied
with the restriction on contest killings that was passed on July
10, as it continues to allow contest killings of animals for whom
there are no bag limits, and contest killing of up to five animals
per participant. RMAD will continue to work for a categorical ban
on contest killings.
May
and June 1997
RMAD led protests in Fort Collins, Colorado, over that city’s plan
to poison 1100 prairie dog burrows on Fort Collins open space. RMAD
activists canvassed neighborhoods near the areas slated for gassing,
spreading awareness and gathering hundreds of signatures to oppose
the city’s plan. RMAD also spoke in front of the city council, and
discussed the need to protect prairie dogs with city management
and city council members. Extensive coverage in the local paper
helped spread awareness on the issue. As a result, Fort Collins
has adopted a largely non-lethal prairie dog management plan.
Winter
1996-97
RMAD activists began working on a plan to establish a prairie dog
reserve. RMAD also formed the Prairie Dog Coalition, which has attracted
local and national groups, and hundreds of individuals.
August
1996
An RMAD activist traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to instruct a
local group of prairie dog supporters on how to rescue prairie dogs.
We have maintained our correspondence with Santa Fe activists, one
of whom has established a wildlife sanctuary on which prairie dogs
and other animals reside.
June
1996
RMAD traveled to Wray, Colorado, to protest the state’s largest
prairie dog shoot. In an effort to hide their gruesome sport, prairie
dog shooters tried to avoid leading the protesters to shooting sites.
RMAD therefore delayed the shoot several hours and received local
coverage.
Summer
1996
RMAD established a partnership with prairie dog relocators in the
Denver metro area to rescue prairie dogs on sites slated for development.
This partnership now includes a Boulder-area group, The Wild Places.
April
1995
RMAD led a protest of the largest prairie dog shoot in the state
in Brighton, Colorado. Activists took to the fields and managed
to shut several shooting sites down for the day. Extensive newspaper
and television coverage was gained from the action.
