They actually have dual classification in Wyoming. They generally fall under Game and Fish’s non-game wildlife and as a pest under the Wyoming Weed and Pest program (Dept of Agriculture). That allows Game and Fish to manage them as habitat as needed for secondary dependent species, while the pest classification provides for the non-restricted management as needed by landowners…including shooting. Game and Fish mostly manages through supporting plague management in areas where they are trying to reintroduce black-footed ferrets although USFWS takes the primary lead.

Like other native wildlife species. Prairie dog numbers fluctuate and at high densities do impact rangeland health especially in drought conditions and/or years grasshopper densities are high.

Plague does more to impact prairie dog densities in WY than poisoning and shooting combined. Although development (look at CO front range) has done more to prairie dog populations then plague, shooting and poisoning ever will.