A coalition of scientists, spiritual leaders, and conservation groups settled their suit against the Fish and Wildlife Service on July 2.  This marks the first of several recent decisions to deny protection to imperiled species that are being contested after evidence of tampering by political appointees surfaced over the last year.

The Gunnison's prairie dog was initially denied protection under the Endangered Species Act at the command of former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald, who has since resigned amid charges of tampering with numerous Fish and Wildlife Service decisions on endangered species management.

According to documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, MacDonald forced a reversal of the Fish and Wildlife Service's planned decision to find that the prairie dog may warrant protection under the Act.  One email sent January 6, 2006 to field staff working on the decision from a supervisor stated, "Per Julie please make the pd[prairie dog] finding negative."  Two weeks later, the negative decision was published in the Federal Register.

The Gunnison's prairie dog is the first of the species whose fate was tampered with by MacDonald during her tenure in the Interior Department to receive a renewed opportunity at a fair assessment under the terms of the Endangered Species Act.

"The Gunnison's prairie dog should finally be given the fair consideration it deserves," said Josh Pollock, conservation director at Center for Native Ecosystems.  "Let's hope the other species affected by Julie MacDonald's interference don't have to wait for court settlements to be given the scientific assessment and protection they deserve."

Almost a dozen other species have been denied protection or given inadequate protection because of MacDonald's involvement, including the greater sage grouse, Gunnison sage grouse, and white-tailed prairie dog.

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