Prairie dog colonies in Westminster are bursting at the seams and the animals are now working their way out of designated open spaces and into residential neighborhoods, say officials.
The result is a complex problem for wildlife managers.
“Prairie dogs are an emerging issue in the city,” City Manager Jody Andrews told the city council Tuesday night.
The time is ripe for an update to the city’s current prairie dog management plan which was put into place in 2005. An update is coming next year as part of a system-wide ecosystem management for open spaces in the city, according to city staff members.
City staffers outlined the status of prairie dogs in the city for councilors, noting that the rodents play a crucial role in maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems. They are also considered a keystone species in Colorado, a city staff report states.
Prairie dog populations fluctuate over time, influenced by disease and predators. Also contrary to popular belief, prairie dogs do not carry bubonic plague, but they are highly susceptible to disease and die quickly during an outbreak, the staff report states.
The prairie dog population in Westminster is “healthy” and given ongoing development, the animals are increasingly confined to preserved open space. “This has led to overpopulation and habitat degradation in some of these areas,” the staff report states.
“In some parts of the city, prairie dog colonies are encroaching into residential neighborhoods,” the report states.
The city does not manage prairie dogs on private lands, leaving management to the private landowner.
Keeping prairie dogs from wandering
Westminster could put up fencing or barriers to deter prairie dogs from wandering but barriers are not a guaranteed solution, and they are also expensive. The city also does not install fencing on open space to fence in wildlife, officials said.
Removing prairie dogs is legal for private landowners and costs about $5,000 per acre or more, the staff report states. “This type of control is typically not a one-time event and requires ongoing control measures,” the report states.
Relocating the animals within the city is not feasible due to overpopulated colonies. “Finding external partners willing to accept prairie dogs is challenging and requires permits,” the report states.
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