Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS R6 ES10CO0022
Apply for FWS R6 ES10CO0022
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Evaluation of a systemic flea control insecticide in prairie dogs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650 Research Grants (Generic).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 5, 2010 and posted on Jan 5, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 12, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $50,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $21,463.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Fish and Wildlife Service grant opportunity titled "Evaluation of a systemic flea control insecticide in prairie dogs" focuses on a major conservation problem: recurring plague outbreaks (caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis) that can rapidly wipe out prairie dog colonies across North America. Prairie dogs used to be among the continent's most abundant mammals, but repeated plague-driven die-offs have pushed several species into serious conservation concern. Black-tailed, Gunnison's, and white-tailed prairie dogs have each been petitioned multiple times for protection under the Endangered Species Act, and the Utah prairie dog is already listed as federally threatened. The issue goes beyond prairie dogs themselves, because prairie dog declines destabilize grassland ecosystems and directly threaten species that depend on prairie dog colonies, especially the critically endangered black-footed ferret, which relies on prairie dogs as a primary prey source and uses their burrows for shelter.
A key driver for this project is the changing geographic pattern of plague. For years, wildlife managers referenced a "plague line" near the 100th meridian, with most sylvatic (wildlife-associated) plague events occurring west of that boundary. By the mid-2000s, and especially around 2006, plague began appearing more often east of that line, suggesting the disease could continue expanding into new prairie dog range and cause additional widespread losses. Even though there is ongoing debate about what governs plague persistence and outbreak dynamics in wildlife, the opportunity statement emphasizes a practical management point: controlling fleas, which are the main vectors that transmit plague among prairie dogs, can slow or stop epizootic spread and can even improve prairie dog survival in years without major outbreaks.
The announcement contrasts current flea-control practice with a newer approach. The most commonly used tool at the time was deltamethrin dust, which must be applied by injecting roughly 4 to 6 grams of insecticide powder into every burrow across a colony. That method is described as extremely labor intensive and expensive, with costs estimated around $40 to $42 per acre, making it difficult to deploy at the scale needed for large landscapes. It also is not flea-specific; it can kill other insects in and around burrows, raising concerns about unintended impacts on broader insect communities and on insect-eating wildlife such as the mountain plover. The opportunity also notes that oral plague vaccines were being developed, but regulatory and patent hurdles were expected to delay field application for years, and large-scale deployment might still be cost prohibitive.
Against that backdrop, the grant is centered on evaluating a newly developed systemic flea control bait that uses imidacloprid. Instead of treating burrows with broad insecticide dust, the idea is to deliver a compound through bait that prairie dogs consume, which then acts systemically to kill fleas feeding on treated animals. The proposal highlights several potential advantages: lower cost than topical or burrow-dusting approaches, high reported flea kill rates on treated prairie dogs (about 96 to 97.3 percent), and minimal impact on non-target insects within burrow systems aside from prairie dog ectoparasites. However, the announcement is clear that several real-world questions still needed testing under wild conditions, including how effective the bait is at reducing flea abundance and prevalence in natural colonies, what application rates and field methods work best, how readily prairie dogs accept and consume the bait, and how long the flea suppression lasts after treatment.
The specific objectives funded under this opportunity are analytical and reporting focused, aimed at turning study results into usable management guidance. The first objective is to analyze data and produce a report evaluating how effective imidacloprid oral flea-control baits are at reducing flea abundance and prevalence on wild prairie dogs. The second objective is to analyze data and produce a report evaluating how long the bait's effect persists in depressing flea abundance and prevalence. The announcement also indicates that additional funding could be provided depending on the availability of funds, suggesting the agency was open to extending or expanding work if resources allowed.
In terms of grant mechanics, this was a discretionary cooperative agreement under the Environment and Natural Resources activity category, tied to CFDA 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic). The posting date and creation date were January 5, 2010, with an original and current closing date of January 12, 2010, and it was archived February 11, 2010. The estimated total program funding was listed at $50,000, with an expected two awards. The award ceiling and floor were both shown as $21,463, indicating awards were likely intended to be made at a fixed amount per recipient (with the remaining total possibly reflecting agency contributions, associated costs, or an additional funding tranche). Cost sharing or matching was required. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types could apply, subject to any further clarifications in the full announcement. The listed agency contact for access issues was Al Pfister (Fish and Wildlife Service) at 970-243-2778 extension 29.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this Fish and Wildlife Service grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Evaluation of a systemic flea control insecticide in prairie dogs."
What conservation problem is this grant trying to address?
This grant focuses on recurring plague outbreaks in prairie dog colonies. Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and can rapidly wipe out prairie dog colonies across North America.
Why are plague outbreaks in prairie dogs considered a major conservation concern?
Prairie dogs were once among North America's most abundant mammals, but repeated plague-driven die-offs have pushed multiple prairie dog species into serious conservation concern. The impacts can be colony-wide and rapid, leading to large losses over short time periods.
Which prairie dog species are mentioned as being under conservation pressure?
The opportunity notes that black-tailed, Gunnison's, and white-tailed prairie dogs have each been petitioned multiple times for protection under the Endangered Species Act. It also notes that the Utah prairie dog is already listed as federally threatened.
Why does this project matter beyond prairie dogs?
Prairie dog declines can destabilize grassland ecosystems and threaten species that depend on prairie dog colonies. A key species highlighted is the critically endangered black-footed ferret, which relies on prairie dogs as a primary prey source and uses prairie dog burrows for shelter.
What is meant by the "plague line" near the 100th meridian?
The announcement describes a historical management concept where most sylvatic (wildlife-associated) plague events were thought to occur west of a boundary near the 100th meridian.
How has the geographic pattern of plague changed according to the announcement?
By the mid-2000s, and especially around 2006, plague began appearing more often east of the historical "plague line," suggesting the disease could continue expanding into new prairie dog range and cause additional widespread losses.
What role do fleas play in plague outbreaks among prairie dogs?
The opportunity emphasizes that fleas are the main vectors that transmit plague among prairie dogs. Because of that, controlling fleas can slow or stop epizootic spread.
Does flea control help only during major plague outbreaks?
No. The announcement notes that flea control can improve prairie dog survival even in years without major plague outbreaks.
What is the most commonly used flea-control method described in the opportunity?
The most commonly used tool described is deltamethrin dust applied by injecting approximately 4 to 6 grams of insecticide powder into every burrow across a colony.
Why is deltamethrin burrow dusting described as difficult to use at large scale?
The opportunity describes burrow dusting as extremely labor intensive and expensive, with costs estimated around $40 to $42 per acre, which can make it hard to deploy over large landscapes.
What non-target concerns are raised about deltamethrin dusting?
The announcement notes that deltamethrin dust is not flea-specific and can kill other insects in and around burrows. It raises concerns about unintended impacts on broader insect communities and on insect-eating wildlife such as the mountain plover.
Are oral plague vaccines part of this grant project?
The opportunity mentions that oral plague vaccines were being developed, but it states that regulatory and patent hurdles were expected to delay field application for years, and that large-scale deployment might still be cost prohibitive. The funded work described here centers on systemic flea control bait, not a vaccine.
What is the new approach being evaluated under this grant?
The grant centers on evaluating a newly developed systemic flea control bait that uses imidacloprid. Prairie dogs consume the bait, and the compound acts systemically to kill fleas feeding on treated animals.
How is the systemic bait approach different from burrow dusting?
Instead of applying insecticide powder into every burrow, the systemic approach delivers the insecticide through bait consumed by prairie dogs, targeting fleas via the treated animal rather than broadly treating the burrow environment.
What potential advantages of the imidacloprid bait are highlighted?
The announcement highlights several potential advantages: lower cost than topical or burrow-dusting approaches, high reported flea kill rates on treated prairie dogs (about 96 to 97.3 percent), and minimal impact on non-target insects within burrow systems aside from prairie dog ectoparasites.
What key questions does the announcement say still need testing under wild conditions?
The opportunity states that real-world questions needed testing, including how effective the bait is at reducing flea abundance and prevalence in natural colonies, what application rates and field methods work best, how readily prairie dogs accept and consume the bait, and how long flea suppression lasts after treatment.
What is the first funded objective under this opportunity?
The first objective is to analyze data and produce a report evaluating how effective imidacloprid oral flea-control baits are at reducing flea abundance and prevalence on wild prairie dogs.
What is the second funded objective under this opportunity?
The second objective is to analyze data and produce a report evaluating how long the bait's effect persists in depressing flea abundance and prevalence.
Is this opportunity focused on field deployment, or on analysis and reporting?
Based on the objectives stated, the funded work is analytical and reporting focused: analyzing data and producing reports that evaluate effectiveness and persistence, with the goal of generating usable management guidance.
Can additional funding be provided beyond the initial award amount?
The announcement indicates that additional funding could be provided depending on the availability of funds, suggesting the agency was open to extending or expanding work if resources allowed.
What type of award mechanism is this?
This was a discretionary cooperative agreement under the Environment and Natural Resources activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic).
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date and creation date were January 5, 2010. The original and current closing date were both January 12, 2010.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived February 11, 2010, and the closing date listed is January 12, 2010.
What is the estimated total program funding and number of expected awards?
The estimated total program funding was listed at $50,000, with an expected two awards.
What are the award ceiling and award floor?
Both the award ceiling and award floor were shown as $21,463, indicating awards were likely intended to be made at a fixed amount per recipient.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching was required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types could apply, subject to any additional details or clarifications in the full announcement.
Who is the agency contact listed for access issues?
The listed agency contact for access issues is Al Pfister (Fish and Wildlife Service) at 970-243-2778 extension 29.
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