WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, January 31, 2006
WildEarth Guardians Comments On Potential Poisoning of Prairie Dogs

The Potential Development of the Western Portion of the Denver Federal Center fails to fully comply with provisions set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA)
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

The Denver Federal Center is proposing a project that will destroy habitat for over 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and allow the poisoning of prairie dogs that now live on the site.

The U.S. General Services Administration plans to lease or sell part of the Center property to the City of Lakewood, CO for the development of a light rail transit facility and a hospital.

While WildEarth Guardians obviously supports expanding energy-saving public transportation, such as light rail, across Denver and beyond as well as high-quality healthcare, we find it ironic that the project planners would allow prairie dog poisoning on the future site of an institution of health and healing. Poisoning causes extreme pain and suffering to affected animals, who slowly hemorrhage to death. Furthermore, the Denver Metro Area cannot afford to lose any more prairie dogs because, like a keystone in an archway, these ecological engineers are essential to the health of entire ecosystems.

View the comments WildEarth Guardians submitted to the General Services Administration regarding the Denver Federal Center development plan (PDF)