It’s no secret that development can impact local wildlife. That reality has been put on display in recent months during an ongoing ‘masterplan’ project at Longmont’s Dry Creek Community Park.
While phase two of the project is still pending, it was determined that the prairie dogs in the area must go due to damages and safety concerns related to the presence of the species should ‘phase 2’ come to fruition in upcoming months. This prompted a major effort to relocate local members of the species that involved hiring a contractor, as well as utilizing a knowledgable volunteer to remove and relocate 706 prairie dogs from the area over two periods – one between July 30 and August 21 and another between September 22 and October 29.
While some Longmont residents seem to be sad to see the prairie dogs go, they’re moreso disturbed about what happens next for prairie dogs that may have been left behind.
Prairie dogs that were successfully captured are set to be taken to the 23,000-acre US Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo, which was historically home to a large population of black-tailed prairie dogs until a devastating plague event from 2015 to 2016. Prairie dogs left behind, however, now face a less fortunate fate, set to be euthanized.
Euthanization will involve the use of a fumigation machine that uses pressurized carbon monoxide to kill remain animals in burrows spread throughout the space. The tunnels of the burrow will be filled with gas and plugged, exterminating the remaining population. Three rounds of fumigation take place, with the city set to monitor the site for the sake of managing survivors after that process.
Given that the timeframe for phase two of this project is unknown due to lack of funding, some have asked why trapping can not continue in order to save more prairie dogs. Longmont responded to these questions by noting that the place where the prairie dogs are being relocated doesn’t accept animals until the end of July. This would mean another birthing season for the Longmont prairie dogs, which may ultimately mean even more prairie dogs getting killed. Additionally, with the removal of existing prairie dogs, Longmont will need to plant seed over winter to prevent noxious weed growth, with newly sprouted plants likely to be targeted by a prairie dog population if that population is present.
The prairie dog relocation effort is costing the city a total of $75,121.
Read more about the project here.
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