Attitudes and opinions of landowners and general citizens relative to the black-tailed prairie dog.

Abstract

The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is a species in need of conservation that continues to decline throughout the Great Plains. This decline is due to habitat loss, plague, sport hunting, and poisoning programs. Many scientists consider the black-tailed prairie dog a keystone species, therefore, its decline is negatively affecting those species that rely on the black-tailed prairie dog and/or its habitat for their own survival. Each state in the historical range of the black-tailed prairie dog is developing their own black-tailed prairie dog management and or conservation plan. As Kansas develops its management plan, wildlife officials will need to know and understand the attitudes and opinions of landowners and general citizens relative to the black-tailed prairie dog. By using a mail survey, I assessed the attitudes and opinions of Kansas landowners and general citizens west of the Flint Hills. Landowners expressed more negative opinions relative to the black-tailed prairie dog than did general citizens (P:::::0.01). Landowners that lived counties with a higll abundance of black-tailed prairie dog colonies were more likely to express negative attitudes relative to the black-tailed prairie dog than those living in counties with a low abundance of black-tailed prairie dog colonies (P:::::0.01). Most general ------------- citizens expressed no opinion relative to the black-tailed prairie dog but male general citizens were more negative than females (P~O.01). Although the di1ferences in agreement were significant (P~O.01), general citizens agreed with landowners that black-tailed prairie dog burrows cause injury to livestock and that landowners should have the choice to remove or control black-tailed prairie dogs on their property. They also agreed with landowners that the black-tailed prairie dog should not be protected under the Endangered Species Act. Knowledge level was the same for both landowners and general citizens, although landowners that lived in counties with a high abundance of black-tailed prairie dog colonies had more knowledge than landowners that lived in counties with a low abundance of black-tailed prairie dog colonies and male general citizens had more knowledge than female general citizens. Educational programs about the black-tailed prairie dog should be developed for all citizens in Kansas but should particularly target landowners and male general citizens.