Fighting on for Prairie Dogs and Ferrets

In an ongoing battle on the Kansas prairie, wildlife-friendly ranchers Larry & Bette Haverfield and neighboring landowners Gordon & Martha Barnhardt and Maxine Blank are resisting Logan County Commissioners who want to forcefully poison the state’s largest prairie dog complex on their land -- a move that would put highly endangered black-footed ferrets and other wildlife at risk.

Last month, a county judge in Kansas upheld a restraining order that protects most of the 10,000-acre ranch from poisoning -- all but a depth of 90 feet around the perimeter. For now, the majority of the ranchers’ land -- and the prairie dogs and ferrets it supports -- remain safe.

But in retaliation, County Commissioners ordered the poisoning of the 90-foot buffer area -- and stuck the wildlife-friendly ranchers and landowners with a bill reaching into the thousands of dollars.

These landowners have already spent tens of thousands of dollars on previous Commissioner-forced poisonings and court costs to fight for their piece of the American prairie and the wildlife that depends on it.

Take action now -- Send a message of support to the Barnhardts, Haverfields and Mrs. Blank for their ongoing fight to save prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets and the grassland ecosystem on their land.