The Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) was federally listed as endangered in 1973 and down-listed to threatened in 1984. A Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Plan (Recovery Plan) outlining strategies for delisting Utah prairie dogs was approved by the USFWS in 1991 and was revised in 2012. Identified threats to the species include habitat loss and fragmentation from urban expansion, cultivated agriculture, and predation. Urban expansion was one of the factors that resulted in the listing of the species under the ESA and continues to be a primary, top-tier threat to the species. Approximately 56% of all known Utah prairie dogs occur on private lands, which are often prioritized for residential and industrial development. Many of these private lands are also in agricultural production and conflicts can arise with farmers. To address these threats, Utah prairie dogs are trapped from private lands and moved to protected land through a process called translocation. These translocations help to establish new colonies to meet recovery objectives, reduce agricultural conflict, and mitigate the impacts of development activities. The Recovery Plan for the species lists implementation of translocation of Utah prairie dogs as a number two priority action for the species. In 1972, the UDWR initiated the Utah prairie dog translocation program and by 2008, 23,359 Utah prairie dogs were translocated from private to public lands. Translocation initially had low success but has steadily increased throughout the years due to new research and modification of translocation methods. Research to improve translocation efforts is listed as a number two priority action in the species' Recovery Plan. In the 1980s, survival studies of translocated prairie dogs identified badgers (Taxidea taxus) as the primary cause of failure at transplant sites. Predation, specifically at new translocation sites, is listed as a threat in the species' Recovery Plan. Despite improvements to translocation methods over the life of the program, predation continues to be a threat at translocation sites; warranting further research into improving predator control efforts. Improved predator deterrence at translocation sites can improve success by allowing transplanted Utah prairie dogs to become established and self-sustaining while they are highly vulnerable to predation. Predator deterrence is a temporary measure to give Utah prairie dogs time to build their own network of burrows, which is their main method of escaping predation in established colonies.

The goal of this project is to assist in the conservation of the Utah prairie dog throughout the species' range by enhancing the persistence of Utah prairie dogs at sites where they are translocated. The primary objective of this proposal is to deploy temporary electric fences and cellular camera traps at Utah prairie dog translocation sites to deter predation and allow for a rapid response to any threats facing the translocated population. Monitoring will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the fencing compared to non-fenced sites. If successful, the improved translocation methods will be incorporated into the species translocation protocols and the acquired equipment will be re-used for future translocations of Utah prairie dogs across the species' range.

For the first time in the species' history, Utah prairie dogs met the recovery goal of 1,000 spring-counted adult animals present in each recovery unit within protected habitat in 2023 (Table 2). The recovery goal states that this progress needs to be met over five (5) consecutive years. Recovery efforts, such as translocation and sylvatic plague prevention, are likely responsible for the success that Utah prairie dogs have enjoyed. To maintain the progress that has been made, additional efforts will be needed to help keep up the current success. Use of electric fencing at Utah prairie dog translocations sites, paired with faster monitoring provided by cellular trail cameras, are expected to further increase the success of Utah prairie dog translocations. A literature review of prairie dog translocations in 2001 by Truett et. al. found that electric fences enclosing translocation sites can be used to repel predators. A 1998 study by Truett and Savage used electric wire to repel both badgers and coyotes from translocated prairie dogs. They observed no sign of badger infiltration into their exclosures over 1-2 years. Work by Matchett et al. (2013) on using electrical fencing on prairie dog colonies to protect black footed ferrets from predators also showed promise for prairie dogs. They found that electric fencing effectively decreased coyote activity and saw some evidence of deterrence with American badgers. The review authors concluded that even when electric fencing is not 100% perfect in deterring predators, it is beneficial in sufficiently reducing predation to allow prairie dog colonies become established enough to defend themselves. Increased translocation success would mean increasing the number and area of occupation of Utah prairie dogs on public or protected land. This would aid Utah prairie dogs in continuing to meeting the Recovery Goals, Objectives, and Criteria listed in the Recovery Plan, and potentially lead to a delisting of the species.

All activities in this proposal are done in support of the Utah Prairie Dog Revised Recovery Plan. The applicable objectives of the recovery plan are to establish and maintain viable Utah prairie dog populations in each Recovery Unit. To achieve this objective, translocation of Utah prairie dogs, as well as research to improve translocation efforts are listed as number two priority actions for the species.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

All aspects of the Utah prairie dog recovery program maintain compliance with ESA standards. When applicable, NEPA and cultural resources surveys are conducted as required, primarily by the federal land management agencies.

The Division coordinates annually with our wildlife conservation partners, including the BLM and Iron County to install Utah prairie dog translocation sites on protected lands. Translocation sites are comprised of multiple clusters of artificial burrows, with 10 artificial burrows per cluster (10 Utah prairie dogs per artificial burrow, 100 per cluster). With assistance from this grant, we plan on installing approximately 2,000 feet of electric fencing (Premier1 Supplies, Washington, IA, USA) around 5 newly installed artificial burrow clusters. Each fence will be powered by one solar energizer (low/wide impedance intermittent pulse to prevent fires) augmented with a 3 foot grounding rod. Fencing will be spaced approximately 150 feet from the center each artificial burrow in each cluster to provide the released animals with a protected foraging area. Fences will be erected approximately 1-2 weeks prior to translocation taking place, and removed no later than the end of October. At least one cellular trail camera will be placed inside the perimeter of each fence to monitor for predators. Between the initial fence install and start of translocations, sites will be monitored to ensure no predators were inadvertently enclosed. Estimated personal services for setting up the fence over two days were calculated based on a $17.50 per hour technician pay rate and a 2013 study by Matchett et al. which calculated the time cost of constructing electric fence at 23.9 person-hours per 3281 feet. One additional artificial burrow cluster will be equipped with 20 galvanized steel utility panels secured to the ground atop each artificial burrow system to deter badgers from burrowing into the newly disturbed soil to prey on the translocated prairie dogs. Each panel will have 4"x4" grid spacing to allow Utah prairie dogs to pass through the panels while excluding badgers.

The effectiveness of electric fencing will be monitored via regular cellular trail camera checks and in-person visits. The effectiveness of the cellular trail cameras will likewise be evaluated via in-person visits. The Division of Wildlife Resources, Bureau of Land Management, and Dixie National Forest all have annual monitoring responsibilities within the recovery program.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Iron County. The Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Team supports this proposed project.

Implementation of this project may result in improved translocation methods for the Utah prairie dog. Increased translocation success would mean increasing the number and area of occupation of Utah prairie dogs on public or protected land. This would aid Utah prairie dogs in continuing to meeting the Recovery Goals, Objectives, and Criteria listed in the Recovery Plan, and potentially lead to a delisting of the species.

The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are multi-use agencies and have grazing allotments on many of the Utah prairie dog colonies on federal land. Grazing considerations have been discussed regarding the use of electric fencing on these lands. Permittees commonly use similar portable/temporary electric fencing on their allotments.