12.9.1015    CRITERIA FOR RECEIVING AREAS

(1) With approval of the department, prairie dogs may be relocated to an area within the historically occupied range of prairie dogs that complies with one or more of the following conditions:

(a) prairie dogs occupied the area historically, and the area is now vacant prairie doghabitat;

(b) the area contains an isolated prairie dog population or is isolated prairie dog habitat;

(c) the area is below prairie dog management objectives and where augmentation is a management strategy;

(d) the area contains suitable habitat within the historic distribution of prairie dogs but where previous occupation by prairie dogs is not documented; or

(e) the area complies with (1) (a) through (d) and where additional prairie dog colonies or increased prairie dog density will assist enhancement of prairie dogs and associated species that are rare or declining.

(2) Prairie dogs may not be moved to a location outside their historically occupied range.

History: 87-1-301, 87-5-105, MCA; IMP, 87-1-301, 87-5-105, MCA; NEW, 2004 MAR p. 1756, Eff. 8/6/04.