EPA Approves Deadly Poisons to Kill Prairie Dogs Right now

EPA Approves Deadly Poisons to Kill Prairie Dogs
Right now, America’s prairie dogs are being poisoned and suffering horrible deaths. Slowly bleeding to death -- even through their skin -- their agony can last weeks.

The cause of their deaths: the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) shocking approval of the use of two incredibly toxic poisons known to cause wildlife deaths well beyond their intended use -- Rozol and the morbidly named Kaput-D.

Defenders of Wildlife is going to court to protect prairie dogs and other prairie wildlife from these deadly poisons, but we need your support to win. Please donate today to support our emergency legal efforts.

Prairie dogs are an essential part of healthy prairie ecosystems; they are a food source for predators, maintain short vegetation, and dig burrows that many other animals also use. But these keystonemammals already have been eradicated from more than 95% of their historic range across the Great Plains!

Scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have questioned the EPA’s approval of Rozol and Kaput-D, citing serious concerns about the effects of these poisons on prairie ecosystems -- and especially on highly endangered black footed ferrets and imperiled swift fox, burrowing owls, bald and golden eagles and other wildlife linked to prairie dogs in the food chain.

Yet these poisons are now being used to kill prairie dogs, threatening many of the imperiled prairie bids and mammals that we’ve fought so hard to rescue from extinction.

Last week, we filed a lawsuit with our local allies at Audubon of Kansas challenging the use of Rozol and Kaput-D. We face a tough fight ahead as we take on the lawyers at the EPA and the well-funded legal teams of the makers of these poisons.

Help us win in court with your tax-deductible contribution to save prairie dogs and other endangered wildlife from an agonizing death.

Rozol and Kaput-D can take weeks to kill a poisoned prairie dog, making them easy prey as they become disoriented and slowly lose bodily function.

And, because these poisons can linger in a prairie dog’s carcass for weeks, animals like black-footed ferrets and birds that feed on dead or dying prairie dogs or live in contaminated burrows (as burrowing owls often do) can also inadvertently become poisoned and share the same grim fate.

The effects of Rozol and Kaput-D are widespread and dangerous. Will you help us fight in court to end the misuse of these deadly poisons and protect America's prairie wildlife?

For the Wild Ones,

Jonathan Proctor
Rocky Mountain Region Representative
Defenders of Wildlife
P.S. Your help can make a big difference. Thanks to the actions and donations of caring people like you, Defenders has been able to help the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana and private landowners in Kansas save two important prairie dog colonies in these states and help establish two new footholds on America’s plains for endangered black-footed ferrets.

Please make a secure donation online now or call 1-800-385-9712 to help us win our latest fight for America’s wildlife!
http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=CjqAoQR3m3lxtNT7lsFelQ..

Help Us Fight for
Prairie Dogs

Rozol and Kaput-D -- two poisons approved to kill prairie dogs like this -- can cause horrible deaths for prairie dogs, endangered black-footed ferrets and other imperiled wildlife.

Please donate now to support our legal fight to save prairie dogs and end the misuse of these deadly poisons.
Please help us raise $25,000 to save prairie dogs and other imperiled wildlife by Friday October 9th!