South Dakota Landowners Have Until August 15 to Enroll in Prairie Dog Control Programs

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The South Dakota Departments of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) and Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) are reminding landowners that enrollment for the state’s prairie dog control programs closes August 15.

GFP and DANR jointly operate the program to help manage prairie dog encroachment on private property. GFP handles situations where prairie dogs move from public land onto adjacent private land, while DANR and county weed supervisors oversee conflicts between private landowners.

According to GFP, landowners may qualify for assistance if:

·         Prairie dogs have encroached from adjacent public land,

·         The affected property is within one mile of that public land, and

·         The landowner has at least ten acres of active prairie dog colonies.

Eligibility is verified through GPS mapping for both new and recurring requests.

Landowners must register online at prairiedogcontrol.sd.gov before the August 15 deadline. GFP staff will begin verifying eligibility in the fall, typically between August and October. Control work may not begin immediately, as timing depends on weather, location, and other factors.

Private‑to‑Private Encroachment

Landowners dealing with prairie dogs migrating from neighboring private land should contact DANR at 605‑773‑3299 or reach out to their county weed and pest supervisor. These cases may result in enforcement action by the county weed and pest board. No state funding or control assistance is available for prairie dog issues originating from private land.

More Information

The full South Dakota Prairie Dog Management Plan is available at gfp.sd.gov/management-plans.

For questions about the program, landowners can contact GFP at 605‑394‑6788.

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