Blacktailed Prairie Dogs
Blacktailed Prairie Dogs are a species of Special Management* for Platte County. Every landowner in Platte County that has Blacktailed Prairie Dogs on their property is entitled to an 80% cost-share up to $1,200.
*By law, we are required to identify special management zones within the county. Each participating landowner will be designated as a special management zone, and a list of participants will be published in the local paper.
Blank Application Records
Rozol Label
Kaput Label
ZP Ag Oats Label
Blacktailed Prairie Dog Resolution
https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/bulletins-live-two-view-bulletins
The EPA requires you to keep a current record of the above Limitations Map. This updates regularly. Below is a pdf of the most current available map.
September 2025 – March 2026
Platte County Weed and Pest begins mapping treatment areas at the end of August and starts treating in September. Landowners participating in the program are required to follow up this treatment as instructed with provided products. Some restrictions apply.
In 2023 we mapped over 12,000 acres of Prairie Dogs for treatment, and in what has been our largest year to date, we were able to treat over 9,800 of those acres. If you are not already signed up for treatment, we encourage you to do so!* We will begin mapping some time during the last week of August – the first week of September, 2024 as we transition out of our noxious weeds spraying season.
*Important Notice Regarding Treatment Capacity
Due to budgetary, time, and manpower constraints, we can only commit to treating up to 6,000 acres per year. However, because Prairie Dog towns often extend across property lines, the actual area requiring treatment frequently exceeds this limit. To manage this, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note that we cannot guarantee treatment for any acreage registered after we reach the 6,000-acre threshold. Our list fills up quickly, so we encourage early sign-ups to secure your spot.
The 2024 treatment season is already full, and any additional acreage will be scheduled for 2025.
For the 2024 season, we are able to offer a rate for Platte County landowners of $4.40 per Acre. This rate applied if signed up for treatment by Platte County Weed and Pest.
If you wish to treat your Blacktailed Prairie Dogs yourself, we offer a cost share of treatment chemicals of 80% up to $1,200 for landowners that reside in Platte County.
The EPA classifies Blacktailed Prairie Dog Control Products as a restricted use product and therefore, in order to purchase or apply these products, you must have a current Applicator License.
An Applicator License is required to pick up and/or apply Prairie Dog bait. If you do not have an Applicator License you may obtain one by visiting the UW Extension Office in Wheatland.
If you wish to be added to the Blacktailed Prairie Dog treatment list, please feel free to contact our office at 307.322.3210 or fill out the contact form below!
Below are the forms we require to enroll in the program. These cannot be properly completed until we do an initial mapping of your property, but feel free to review them at your leisure!
Prairie Dog Agreement Form (yearly)
Customer Agreement (if not already on file)
Credit Application (if not already on file)
Example Follow-Up Letter (after application)
*W.S. 11-5-301-303. Landowners participating in this program will be published in the local paper. Platte County Weed and Pest reserves the right to inspect areas included in the program at any time.
The Hard Truth:
Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs are a native species, which means they play a role in our ecosystem. While their presence can be frustrating for landowners, especially when towns expand uncontrollably, it’s important to recognize that complete eradication is neither feasible nor desirable. However, the challenge we face today is the unchecked growth of Prairie Dog populations. Without active management, their towns can expand across property lines and overrun thousands of acres, devastating rangeland and making it unusable for livestock. This overpopulation has led to significant loss of valuable grazing land, placing increasing pressure on ranchers and farmers in our region. Our goal is not to eliminate Prairie Dogs, but to responsibly manage their populations in a way that balances their ecological role with the need to protect our lands. The reality is that we must work together—landowners and the Weed and Pest—to control the spread of these towns and mitigate their impact. By doing so, we can preserve the health of our ecosystems while maintaining the productivity of the land.We want to hear from you!
Management efforts have become increasingly challenging as the Prairie Dog population continues to grow unchecked. While we are limited in the resources we can provide and the scope of what we can achieve as an organization, we want to open the conversation to you—the landowners of Platte County. Your ideas and insights are invaluable as we work together to develop sustainable solutions for the future.
Some valuable information:
Prairie Dog Ecology and Management in Wyoming
Prairie Dog Management
Disease and weather induce rapid shifts in a rangeland
ecosystem mediated by a keystone species (Cynomys
ludovicianus)
Meta-Analysis of Diet Composition and Potential Conflict ofWild Horses
with Livestock and Wild Ungulates on Western Rangelands of
North America