Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has signed into law a bill that would limit the spread of black-tailed prairie dogs.
The bill introduced by Ellsworth Sen. LeRoy Louden gives
counties the power to carry out management programs to control
their numbers.
Ranchers view the prairie dogs as pests, and lawmakers approved
the measure last week on a 32-11 vote.
Heineman signed the bill on Wednesday.
It is intended to prevent black-tailed prairie dog colonies from
spreading from one person's property to another. Counties would now have the power to notify landowners that a colony is not being
managed, and could require them to address the problem.
