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WILDLIFE RESOURCES ASSESSMENT DUCKWORTH PIT, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO 4, 2000, the Service issued a ] 2-month petition finding which concluded that the listing of the black-tailed prairie dog as threatened is warranted, but an immediate proposal to list is precluded by other, higher priority actions. This finding establishes the black-tailed prairie dog as a candidate species for federal listing for protection under ESA. The status of this species will be re-evaluated annually by the Service. Black-tailed prairie dogs are social animals that occur in large colonies or `towns' formed by a series of burrows. Prairie dogs provide an important prey resource for ntunerous predators and their burrows help provide habitat for other species b} creating an envirorunent that is inviting to other animals. Prairie dogs live in burrows about 10 m apart, 1 to 4.3 m (3 to 14 feet) deep and between 3 m to more than 30 m long (] 0 to 100 feet). A mound at the entrance of the burrow prevents water from rushing in and serves as a lookout station. A density of 35 black-tailed prairie dog mounds per acre is common. although up to 95 mounds have been reported. Burrow systems have one to three entrances (Andelt and Hopper 1448). ERO mapped the prairie dog town on the project site and conducted a rough burrow density estimate on three 1-acre sample plots. Prairie dogs currently occupy approximately 7.75 acres of the Duckworth Property and have notably expanded since 2003 when the town occupied 3.5 acres of the project site. Numerous new and partially dug burrows were observed indicating a growing, expanding colony. Burrow densit} was estimated at 11.3 burrows per acre in occupied areas. This density is relatively low for similar areas in Boulder and Weld counties and across the species' range. The entire prairie dog colony will be impacted by the proposed aggregate mine except for a small portion of the colony in the northeast corner of the property. The current status of prairie dogs as a candidate species does not protect the species under the ESA; however, future listing of the prairie dog would require consultation with the Service before disturbing the colony. Many counties and municipalities along the Colorado Front Range have established regulations and guidelines pertaining to the management and removal/control of prairie dogs. Currently, Weld County has no prairie dog regulations. ERO Resources Corporation