Prairie Dog Wars for Audubon Magazine
Posted by Matt on Sunday Nov 8, 2009 Under Tearsheets & Published Work
Audubon Magazine, the Society’s bi-monthly publication, recently ran photographs from an assignment I shot for them in early September. The project focused on the Haverfield family and their struggles with the county in which their cattle ranch sits. The family has been embroiled in a long-running war over the presence of prairie dogs on their ranch. They are part of growing group of cattle ranchers that are pro-prairie dog. They believe that prairie dogs contribute to increased biodiversity on their property, enabling them to graze their cattle in a fashion that mimics the movement and grazing patterns of pre-settlement buffalo. Healthier grazing plots mean increased productivity. But that, according to the Haverfields, requires the help of prairie dogs.
Needless to say, they are not exactly the most popular people in old school western Kansas. The county, particularly county commissioner Carl Ulrich, contends that prairie dogs are a nuisance and should be eradicated. Many of the Haverfields’ neighbors feel the same way. In recent years, the county has exterminated prairie dogs from the Haverfield property using a number of methods, including gas and poison, before sending them the bill. The Haverfields have discovered a number of ’secondary kill’ animals, carcasses of birds and mammals that have eaten the poisoned prairie dogs and subsequently been killed themselves. Complicating matters, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has recently re-introduced endangered black footed ferrets onto the land, a natural predator of the prairie dogs. This move has heightened tensions between neighbors and led to a series of legal maneuvers on both sides to control the spread of the prairie dogs as well as the ferrets.
Ted Williams, Audubon Magazine’s writer for the piece, explains the situation in detail on the magazine’s site. Particularly troubling is the county’s choice to use the highly controversial poison, Rozol, in their pursuit of a scorched-earth approach to prairie dogs. The article is available here. Get a cup of coffee for this one. It’s worth the read.
November 8th, 2009 at 13:42 America/Phoenix
[...] Slaby recently spent several days photographing the Haverfield family for Audubon Magazine. The Haverfield’s have been embroiled in a long-running war with the county in which their cattle ranch sits over the presence of prairie dogs on the property. The Haverfields believe the prairie dogs contribute to increased productivity on their ranch. Old school western Kansas does not. You can read more about the debate and view more pictures on Slaby’s blog, here. [...]
November 8th, 2009 at 13:58 America/Phoenix
Smashin’ little photo essay on this family Matt - feel as if I’ve some idea of their tough livelihoods - just lovin’ those two shots with the car - superb!
November 8th, 2009 at 14:47 America/Phoenix
this is a great set - wish we got skies like those over here.
for me, the one thing that was missing though was a picture of an actual prairie dog as I don’t think I’ve ever seen one…
November 8th, 2009 at 16:11 America/Phoenix
Really nice take on this story. Stunning imagery and my heart goes out to that caring couple.
November 8th, 2009 at 16:23 America/Phoenix
Hi Ciara,
Check the magazine layout linked in the post. They put one of the prairie dog pictures into the article. The image only shows the first page of layout, but it’s got the prairie dog you’re after in it. It’s also up on my archive, here: http://archive.mattslaby.com/c/mattslaby/img-show/I00003mINggbw5Cg
M
November 8th, 2009 at 19:54 America/Phoenix
Great work Matt! I love the portrait with the couple and the old truck door.
November 9th, 2009 at 08:53 America/Phoenix
ha, thanks. i thought they were actual dogs!
January 1st, 2010 at 13:25 America/Phoenix
I found the article interesting and well done. As a good, lifelong friend of the 61 year old man who, alone, constructed the ten mile fence referred to in the article (Don Redeker of Manhattan, Kansas), I was disappointed that such a contribution to the project was not given any credit. I visited with my friend, Don, for a few days back in September, when he still had quite a bit of fence to still complete, and found his dedication consistent with the man I’ve known for going on 40 years now. What is even more troubling, is that a month after he completed the 10 miles of fence he contracted with Ron Klataske of the Audubon of Kansas to do, he still had not been paid for his labor. Anyone who cares about animals, must first care for those who care for them. At the time of this writing I do not know if Mr. Redeker has yet to be paid for his work. If not, it’s an outrage and a great disappointment. The least that could have been done, is to have given Don Redeker a little credit for his hard work, and instead they jerk him around by not paying him.
Bruce Kugler, Ph.D.