7/11/09
~~ ACTION ALERT ~~
Please help the prairie dogs of Santa Fe.
Santa Fe, New Mexico is home to a small population of Gunnison’s prairie
dogs, a species listed on the International Conservation Union’s red list of
threatened species. Because several animals have been found in Santa Fe carrying
plague, the city has removed protection from the animals and is allowing them to
be poisoned in an effort to stop the spread of plague.
Experts with the Centers for Disease Control, The World Health Organization,
U.S. Fish & Wildlife, the New Mexico Department of Health, the Colorado
Department of Health, and other city and state agencies in Colorado, Arizona and
South Dakota have concluded that the best way to halt the spread of plague is to
address the vector species for the disease, which in this case is the flea.
These experts also advise against removing or eradicating the host species for
fleas, since doing so will cause fleas to seek other hosts, most likely domestic
dogs and cats. If fleas are drawn to domestic animals rather than wildlife, the
chance of the human population being infected by plague increases substantially.
***For more information please contact Denise Saccone of the Prairie Dog
Advocacy Watch Group (505) 989-1233 or deniseone@netzero.net. Ms. Saccone is the
organizer of the effort to protect Santa Fe’s prairie dogs. ***
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Please contact the mayor of Santa Fe, the city councilors, and the city
manager and request that they reinstate protection for the city’s population of
Gunnison’s prairie dogs and concentrate their efforts on controlling fleas
through systematic dusting and public education instead of killing animals who
are the victims and not the cause of this disease outbreak.
Contact:
David Cross, Mayor
City of Santa Fe
200 Lincoln Ave.
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Also, please contact:
Galen M. Buller, City Manager
City of Santa Fe
200 Lincoln Ave.
PO Box 909
Santa Fe, NM 87504
And city councilors Patti Bushee, Chris Calvert, Miguel Chavez, Carmichael
Dominguez, Matthew E. Ortiz, Rosemary Romero, Ronald S. Trujillo, and Rebecca
Wurzburger at the same address: City of Santa Fe, 200 Lincoln Ave., PO Box 909,
Santa Fe, NM 87504.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Mayor Cross:
As you are aware, several animals within the Santa Fe city limits have tested
positive for plague. While this is indeed cause for concern, removing
protections from Gunnison’s prairie dogs so they can be poisoned will not only
impact the survival of this threatened species, but will likely further endanger
the human population of the city.
Experts from The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The World Health
Organization, and state and local health and wildlife agencies concur that
controlling fleas and not killing host animals is the best way to address the
presence of plague. Flea control measures, including controlled dusting and
public use of flea control products for domestic dogs and cats should play a
significant role in minimizing any risk posed to the public by plague-carrying
fleas.
According to the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, “killing the
prairie dogs, predators, and other wildlife species found in and around a
plague-infected colony (is) impractical, costly, ineffective, and potentially
dangerous in terms of spreading plague more widely” (South Dakota’s Prairie Dog
Management Planning, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Progress
Report 3, February 2003, p.3.).
Mr. Mayor, please reinstate protections for Gunnison’s prairie dogs within
Santa Fe’s city limits and instead of killing them focus the city’s attention
and resources on responsible flea control measures. Your response to my concerns
will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, .
