The prairie dog poisoner.Though some prairie dog prairie dog, short-tailed, ground-living rodent, genus Cynomys, of the squirrel family, closely related to the ground squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots. There are several species, found in the W United States and N Mexico. exterminators enjoy the "thrill" of blasting the critters to pieces (see "Open Season on Varmints," cover story, July/August 2004), others choose less-bloody methods to "manage" populations. On June 23, Wyoming rancher Stanford M. Clinton was sentenced for poisoning colonies on Bureau of Land Management (BLM BLM n abbr (US) (= Bureau of Land Management) → les domaines ) land. "Systematic poisoning programs over the last century have been implicated im·pli·cate tr.v. im·pli·cat·ed, im·pli·cat·ing, im·pli·cates 1. To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly: evidence that implicates others in the plot. 2. as a primary cause of the prairie dog's decline," according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance. "I really don't think I should talk about it at all," Clinton told E. In court Clinton said the spraying was an accident due to unclear boundary markings between his property and BLM land that he leases for grazing grazing, n See irregular feeding. grazing 1. actions of herbivorous animals eating growing pasture or cereal crop. 2. area of pasture or cereal crop to be used as standing feed. See also pasture. . "Frankly, I didn't believe that and I still don't," says Assistant U.S. Attorney Lief Johnson, who prosecuted Clinton. The rancher's sentence includes a $1,500 fine and $3,500 to fund a survey of prairie dog towns and their ecosystems. He will also perform 200 hours of community service, some of which will likely include boundary-marking duties between Wyoming and Montana. CONTACT: Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, (307)742-7978, www.biodiversityassociates.org. |
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