CASE EXAMPLE: Logan County, Kansas

Update: May 2010

Issue: Introduction of Black Footed Ferret and control of Prairie Dog

Coordination Summary:

Over two years ago, the Commissioners in Logan County Kansas learned that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would be introducing the endangered black footed ferret onto private property within Logan County that was infested with black tailed prairie dogs, a rodent the county was obligated by the state of Kansas to control.

Logan County immediately passed a resolution opposing the introduction of the ferret and sent notice to the Service of their position.  Fish and Wildlife ignored the County and placed the first group of ferrets on the infested property.  They had three more introductions planned.

Logan County immediately scheduled a coordination meeting with the Service.  During this first meeting, the Fish & Wildlife Service insisted that the County discontinue using the more effective Rozol poisoning for the prairie dogs and instead use the less effective zinc-based bait.  They also insisted that the poisonings be pre-approved by the Service, and that no poisoning occur on the property where the ferrets had been released.

The County refused and made clear that state law required they continue to control the prairie dogs in the most effective manner – Rozol poison.  They also made clear that any future releases of the ferret would be in violation of their local policy.

A second meeting occurred with the Fish & Wildlife Service several months later after the County demonstrated they would continue controlling the prairie dog according to county policy.  The Service came in with a letter from the regional supervisor that threatened any county employee with criminal charges involved in poisoning that resulted in the taking of an endangered ferret.

Still, Logan County refused to back down and instead agreed only to inform the Fish & Wildlife Service of where and when they would be poisoning and if the Service did not control the rodent on the property where the ferret was introduced, the County would be compelled to do so.  The County then prepared their poisoning schedule and mailed letters to all the appropriate authorities informing them in advance of their action.

A third coordination meeting was held, and this time the tone was remarkably different.  The Service informed the County they were negotiating an agreement with the landowner where the ferrets had been introduced that would allow the Service to control the prairie dog in a manner acceptable with the County.  They also offered to control the rodent on the county roads that bordered the ferret introduction site.

The County also learned that the Service was not pursuing any more ferret releases until they had gathered more data on the ferret’s ability to survive in Logan County.  To date, the County continues to poison the rodent as necessary and no additional releases have occurred.

Logan County will need to remain vigilant to ensure USFWS follows through on their commitments, but today they can celebrate a great victory.

If Logan County had not stepped in and required coordination, there would be no rodent control efforts taking place today.  The productive farm and grazing lands would be destroyed by an overpopulation of the prairie dogs, employees would be in fear of federal criminal charges, and Logan County would be in economic decline.

Instead, the County has lost nothing, the landowners have gained a local government that will stand up and fight for them, and the remarkable elected officials led by Chairman Carl Urlich now have command of a strategy that can help them protect their County from virtually any destructive federal issue – all because they behaved courageously.