More and more ranchers and farmers are becoming convinced that it may be more to their advantage to help the threatened burrowing rodents rather than exterminating them. Some are joining a project - run by a consortium of state and federal agencies - that offers the rodents sanctuary among the open spaces of landowners' fields and pastures.

Their motive to join?

"If the prairie dog gets listed as 'endangered' species, then [that designation] is a threat to property rights [because of] increased regulations," said Mark Petersen, environmental specialist with the Utah Farm Bureau Federation.

"And there is pressure to upgrade it to 'endangered.' "

Petersen made his remarks Thursday during a prairie dog "field trip" in Garfield County that brought together members of the 10 government agencies.

Their goal is to discuss with private landowners a program devised to save the species and to keep regulators off the backs of farmers and ranchers.

Elise Boeke, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told about 50 people gathered at Bryce Canyon City's rodeo grounds about the agency's Safe Harbor program.

Landowners are being asked to voluntarily sign a 15-year cooperative agreement with the agency, by which landowners would agree to devote a specific amount of acreage for prairie-dog relocation. In return, they could get property upgrades, including help with fencing, weed eradication and seeding with beneficial plants.

So far, six landowners have signed up; five others have expressed an interest.

The program, administered by Panorama Land Resource, Conservation and Development Council, helps landowners overcome economic and regulatory uncertainties.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has provided about $1.2 million for this year's program. More funding is expected for 2008.

After hearing from officials at the rodeo grounds, Thursday's field trip moved to Allen Henrie's family ranch - a 900-acre spread east of Panguitch Lake. In 2003, he was the first landowner to sign on to the Safe Harbor program and has created a 180-acre prairie-dog reserve. He said that when word got out four years ago about him signing the agreement, some of his neighbors were not impressed.

"I was called a lot of names after it was heard what I did," said Henrie. "And they were not nice names mostly."

He said other family members also were skeptical, but he is ready to go forward next year when the dogs are introduced into his preserve.

He said the program already helped him remove invasive rabbit brush from his land and has solved fence problems that have plagued the operation. He also expects to see forage improve for his cattle.

"I'm proud to be the first one," Henrie said. "We can help a lot of species with this program - including the human species."

mhavnes@sltrib.com

Utah prairie dogs

* PRIMARY LOCATIONS: Sevier, Piute, Wayne, Garfield, Kane, Beaver and Iron counties.

* CHARACTERISTICS: Burrowing rodent, 12 to 14 1/2 inches long, weighing between 1 1/2 and 3 pounds. Fur is tawny brown with black marks over eyes, and sports a white-tipped tail.

* STATUS: Listed as "threatened" species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

* BREEDING PRACTICES: Breeds once a year, producing an average of four pups that have a 30 percent chance of survival.

* COLONY SIZE: Varies, according to food supply, predators and disease, including bubonic plague.

* CONFLICTS WITH HUMANS: Mostly from burrowing in gardens, cemeteries, golf courses, ballparks, airports and agricultural lands.