Invasive Chinese ring-necked pheasant numbers reduced even as South Dakota slaughters another 50,000 native critters

The introduction of the Chinese ring-necked pheasant to South Dakota is one of most destructive examples of ecoterrorism in US history and has heralded the near eradication of habitat for native wild turkeys and grouse. But a shaky cease fire in the attempted extermination of native species to prop up the pheasant industry has taken effect after the state's Republican governor put bounties on raccoons and skunks known to feed on prolific invasive zebra mussels. 

Even children have been enlisted to slaughter native species.

The limit of 50,000 tails for the Nest Predator Bounty Program has been reached and the program is closed for 2023.  

All animals submitted for this program must have been harvested (i.e. trapped or shot) in South Dakota between March 1-July 1 for youth under 18 and April 1-July 1 for all South Dakota residents.  

During warmer weather, participants are asked to freeze all eligible tails prior to submission or bring them in within three days of being harvested. Road kill animals are not eligible.  

Payment will not be received upon submission of the tail(s). GFP will process payments and send a check in the mail approximately every 30 days.  

Upon tail submission, participants are required to sign a legal affidavit indicating the tails were obtained during the time period outlined above and that they came from an animal they harvested. Participants under the age of 18 will need their parent/legal guardian to sign a legal affidavit on their behalf. [South Dakota Game, Fish and Plunder]

The good news? 1,158,000 invasive Chinese ring-necked pheasants were put to death in the state between October 15, 2022 and January 31, 2023. 

In South Dakota over a hundred native species are at risk to the Republican Party including the endangered pallid sturgeon, paddlefish, black footed ferret, northern long-eared bat, the black-backed woodpecker that feeds on bark beetles and a bird that actually walks underwater – the American dipper, just to name a few.