Report on the Implementation of the Management Plan for the Blacktailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada ( )

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1 Report on the Implementation of the Management Plan for the Blacktailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada ( ) Recommended Citation Parks Canada Agency Report on the Implementation of the Management Plan for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada ( ). Introduction The final Management Plan for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada was posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry on June 19, The management plan included a goal and objectives for the species, and a description of activities required to meet the goal and objectives. Under section 72 the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the competent minister must monitor the implementation of the management plan and assess its implementation five years after the plan is included on the registry and in every subsequent five-year period until its objectives have been achieved. This document reports on the implementation of the Management Plan for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada from 2009 through 2017, and the progress towards meeting its goal and objectives. Implementation of the Management Plan and Progress towards Meeting its Objectives The Management Plan for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada identified a goal to prevent the Canadian prairie dog population from becoming threatened or endangered by ensuring the population maintains at last 90 percent probability of persistence in 100 years., and then identified a number of objectives associated with achieving this goal. While all but one of the objectives in the management plan have been met or are ongoing (additional details provided below), in November 2011 the Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) re-assessed the status of black-tailed prairie dogs as Threatened. The preliminary population viability analysis (PVA) completed for the COSEWIC status report suggests that the frequency of catastrophic disturbances (e.g. severe winter, drought, disease, etc.) may have a greater effect on the probability of persistence than the severity of the disturbance. Management actions aimed towards mitigating these catastrophic disturbances will be essential to recover the species. Meanwhile, refinement of the PVA is ongoing as empirical data for the analysis process is collected annually. In collaboration with partners, Grasslands National Park (GNP) has successfully implemented a monitoring program to detect changes in black-tailed prairie dog densities and area occupied (see Appendix), as well as to monitor occurrence of sylvatic plague (Yersinia pestis) and the extent of any impacts. Black-tailed Prairie Dog populations were also monitored during the 1

2 reintroduction of Black-footed Ferrets, assessing impacts of this specialist predator; however, ferret releases have been temporarily suspended since 2013 due to welfare concerns for both species during that time, given the low Black-tailed Prairie Dog densities and colony extents. This monitoring program is ongoing, providing information on population fluctuations spanning over a decade. This trend data will continue to help assess whether management goals are met and maintained. As per the management plan, Black-tailed Prairie Dog populations have been allowed to fluctuate naturally over time, with the exception of a portion of colonies within Grasslands National Park that have been managed for sylvatic plague. Development of the Plague Mitigation Action Plan (2011) and subsequent monitoring for sylvatic plague on all colonies has facilitated rapid, organized and consistent implementation of mitigation measures upon confirmation of plague. Over several years of confirming plague infection in fleas collected on colonies (although at low prevalence) and implementing mitigation actions, the area occupied by Black-tailed Prairie Dogs has fluctuated but all colonies remain active. Complementary research partnerships have formed between Grasslands National Park, the Calgary Zoo Centre for Conservation Research, and the University of Saskatchewan to address information gaps for Blacktailed Prairie Dogs in Canada. Research on population dynamics (survival, reproduction and population growth) specific to Canada, effectiveness of sylvatic plague mitigation actions, the influence of climatic factors on prairie dog population dynamics, and prairie dog habitat requirements have been at the forefront of research completed or underway. Strategies for increasing the area of active colonies (Stephens and Lloyd 2014), and expanding and creating colonies without impacting sagebrush communities (Thorpe and Stephens 2017) have also been developed. Recent active management strategies have been geared towards addressing Blacktailed Prairie Dog habitat creation and enhancement. Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Trial From a three-year field trial was conducted to test the efficacy of an oral sylvatic plague vaccine administered under field conditions in providing Black-tailed Prairie Dogs and Richardson s Ground Squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii) sufficient immunity to sustain exposure to plague, thereby effectively mitigating a catastrophic population decline in the event of an outbreak. Grasslands National Park, along with their partners, distributed the vaccine on two colonies within the park and live-trapped a few weeks later to collect blood and hair samples to confirm bait consumption and to analyze plague antibodies. Results obtained through a similar, large-scale field trial in the US are encouraging, as they showed higher relative abundance and apparent survival in plots treated with the vaccine (Rocke et al 2017). Analysis of data collected in GNP is currently under way. Once available, these will inform future management decisions to further mitigate the impact of sylvatic plague, a present and ongoing threat on the persistence of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs in Canada. Vaccine Laden Baits Parks Canada Black-tailed Prairie dog Josee-Anne Otis, Calgary Zoo Since the completion of the management plan, additional Black-tailed Prairie Dog habitat has been protected under 2

3 federal legislation through the 2014 acquisition of two large ranches by the Parks Canada Agency. This led to the transfer of six prairie dog colonies to Grasslands National Park s holdings, leaving two colonies managed by the Government of Saskatchewan. Only one management plan objective has not been met to date: the development and maintenance of broad sector support around prairie dog management and conservation, with emphasis on key stakeholders and the local community. A joint Black-tailed Prairie Dog and Black-footed Ferret communication plan was finalized and implemented during the initial phase of ferret recovery ( ); however, a stand-alone communication plan for Black-tailed Prairie Dog has not been developed. Outreach to audiences at the local, regional and national level describing the role of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs in the prairie ecosystem has been maintained through media, documentaries, public presentations and education programs. However, efforts to develop and maintain support for Black-tailed Prairie Dog management and conservation with key stakeholders and the local community are still needed. Specific actions (mentioned above), measures and timelines for the management and recovery of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog were identified and incorporated in the Multi-species Action Plan for Grasslands National Park (2016) and the Action Plan for Multiple Species at Risk in Southwestern Saskatchewan: South of the Divide (2017). These complementary action plans incorporated all species at risk found within the respective geographical ranges that required an action plan under the SARA s.47, plus additional species of conservation concern, working towards achieving a holistic approach to species at risk recovery. Where possible, actions that are beneficial to multiple species were identified and prioritized, maximizing benefits to and recovery of species at risk. Should Black-tailed Prairie Dogs be uplisted on Schedule 1 of SARA to Threatened, a recovery strategy will be developed for the species, followed by amendment of action plans where necessary. Literature associated with Implementation of the Management Plan The following list presents a selection of reports and papers have been completed during implementation of the Management Plan for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada. Antonation, K. et al Sylvatic Plague in a Canadian Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 50(3), pp Lloyd et al Food limitation at species range limits: Impacts of food availability on the density and colony expansion of prairie dog populations at their northern periphery. Biological Conservation 161, pp Parks Canada Agency Environmental Assessment Screening Report for Prairie Dog Burrow Dusting to Prevent the Spread of Plague. Grasslands National Park of Canada. Parks Canada Agency Plague Mitigation Action Plan for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog Ecosystem. Grasslands National Park of Canada. 3

4 Rocke, T.E., Tripp, D.W., Russell, R.E. et al Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Partially Protects Prairie Dogs (Cynomys spp.) in Field Trials. EcoHealth 14(3), pp Stephens, T Habitat and population analysis of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Canada. Masters of Science Thesis. Department of Biological Science. University of Calgary, Calgary. Stephens, T. and Lloyd, N Preliminary Literature Review of Potential Tools to Enhance Prairie dog Habitat and Populations, Part 1. Report prepared by Calgary Zoo Centre for Conservation Research for Grasslands National Park of Canada. Stephens T., Wilson S.C., Cassidy F., et al Climate change impacts on the conservation outlook of populations on the poleward periphery of species ranges: A case study of Canadian black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Global Change Biology. 00:1 12. Thorpe, J. and Stephens, T Development of Habitat Mapping and Decision Support Tool for Greater Sage-grouse and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. Saskatchewan Research Council Pub. No E17. Tripp, D.W., Rocke, T.E., Runge, J.P. et al Burrow Dusting or Oral Vaccination Prevents Plague-Associated Prairie Dog Colony Collapse. EcoHealth, 14(3), pp

5 Appendix Black-tailed Prairie Dog density and colony extent trends Change in Black-tailed Prairie Dog density (orange bars) and colony extent (blue dotted line) in Grasslands National Park from Visual counts data used to estimate densities in 2017 were collected following different protocols and were therefore excluded from the graph. Data credit: Grasslands National Park and Calgary Zoo. 5