Agency to study status of black-tailed prairie dog

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Dec 2, 2008 at 11:09 PM MDT

Story Updated: Dec 2, 2008 at 11:09 PM MDT

HELENA - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it will conduct a review to determine whether the black-tailed prairie dog should be classified as a threatened or endangered species.

The agency says a 2007 petition by the group WildEarth Guardians presents substantial information indicating protection may be warranted. WildEarth Guardians says the black-tailed prairie dog population once numbered in the billions and ranged across 11 states, including Montana, plus parts of Mexico and Canada.

The group says that in the last 150 years, the animal disappeared from up to 99% of its historic range.

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