http://www.prairiedogcoalition.org/summit.shtml
You are invited!
The second Prairie Dog Summit will be held July 26-27, 2003, in Denver, Colorado. Saturday, July 26, will showcase a series of speeches and panels on prairie dogs and prairie dog ecology. On Sunday, July 27, participants will be given the opportunity to take a guided tour of a Denver-area prairie dog colony.
Saturday's events will take place at the downtown Hyatt Regency in Denver, Colorado. For discounted lodging, contact the Magnolia Hotel at 1-888-915-1110.
Registration Form
The summit brings together advocates, educators, policy makers, attorneys, biologists, relocators, landscape architects, developers and the interested public. This year's summit will focus on education and advocacy. Panels and presentations will cover:
Threats facing prairie dogs and prairie wildlife;
Issues regarding the legal status of prairie dogs; and
Protective efforts.
Participants will learn how they can get involved in all facets of prairie dog advocacy, from helping relocate imperiled prairie dogs to educating the public about the plight of prairie wildlife. The summit will also offer a field trip to a thriving prairie dog colony near Denver. Dr. Con Slobodchikoff, the world's expert on prairie dog communication, and Dr. Richard Reading, one of the world's top prairie wildlife researchers, will both speak at the summit.
Admission costs are being kept to a minimum, courtesy of the generous support of the Summerlee Foundation and the Bosack and Kruger Foundation.
To find out more, send an email to
summit@prairiedogcoalition.org.
AGENDA: July 26, 2003
8:00 Introduction (David Crawford, Rocky Mountain Animal Defense)
8:10 Introduction to Prairie Dogs and Prairie Wildlife (Dr. Richard Reading, Denver Zoological Foundation)
8:45 Threats Facing Prairie Dogs and Prairie Wildlife: PANEL
8:45 Introduction (Dr. Nicole Rosmarino, Forest Guardians)
8:50 Development (Jennifer Melton, The Southern Plains Land Trust)
9:05 Agriculture (Jonathan Proctor, The Predator Conservation Alliance)
9:20 Plague, Monkeypox and Other Diseases (Dr. Sharon Collinge, The University of Colorado)
9:35 Recreational Shooting (Erin Robertson, The Center for Native Ecosystems)
9:50 The Pet Trade (Monica Engebretson, The Animal Protection Institute)
10:05 Questions/Answers
10:20 BREAK
10:30 The Legal Status of Prairie Dogs and Government Policies Affecting Prairie Wildlife
10:30 Municipal Ordinances and State Laws: PANEL
10:30 Introduction
10:35 Boulder City Ordinance (Lisa Morzel, Member, Boulder Colorado City Council)
10:45 Santa Fe City Ordinance (Dr. David van Hulsteyn, People for Native Ecosystems)
10:55 10:55 State Laws, including a summary from each state (Stephanie Nichols-Young, Animal Defense League of Arizona)
11:05 Questions/Answers
11:20 The
Endangered Species Act and the 11-State Working Group: PANEL
11:20 Introduction (Stephanie Nichols-Young)
11:25 Utah Pdogs, Black-Tailed Pdogs, Gunnison's Pdogs (Dr. Nicole Rosmarino)
11:45 White-Tailed Pdogs (Erin Robertson)
12:00 LUNCH / (12:30) Lunchtime Presentation on Prairie Dog Communication (Dr. Con Slobodchikoff, The University of Arizona)
1:00 The Legal Status of Prairie Dogs and Government Policies Affecting Them: ESA and 11-State Group (Continued)
1:00 Federal Grassland Species Conservation Efforts (Dr. Patricia Mehlhop, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
1:20 Status of Multi-State Conservation Planning (Bob Luce, Prairie Dog Conservation Team)
1:40 Questions/Answers
1:55 Efforts to Protect Prairie Dogs and Prairie Wildlife, PANEL
1:55 Introduction (Bette Stallman, The
Humane Society of the United States)
2:00 On-the-Ground Advocacy (David Crawford)
2:30 Legal and Policy Approaches (Jay Tutchton, Earthjustice [invited])
3:00 BREAK
3:10 Land Protection Strategies (Lauren McCain, The Southern Plains Land Trust)
3:40 Questions/Answers
4:10 Perspectives
4:10 Introduction (Jarid Manos, The Great Plains Restoration Council)
4:15 First Nations (Rosalie Little Thunder)
4:30 Religious Community (Dr. Daniel Ziskin, Jews of the Earth)
4:45 Opportunities for Advocates and Close Conference (Andrea Lococo, The Fund for Animals)
5:00 Close
Rhonda 
