Here's one for you

The wife and I are looking at a piece of ground to buy.

We can't get away to go look at the property for a few days, but it appears from the pictures that the owner sent us, that it is totally over-run with prairie dogs.

I've never had to deal with these critters. Is there a way to control 'em? Isn’t there some kind of a poison that can be laid in subsoil?

Thanks,

Allan

Seriously, if you talk with some of the folks north of you in South Dakota, they can give you some good advice. Talk with the ranchers around Interior & Scenic, SD (south of Wall & east of Rapid City). The Extension people of Pennington County, S.D. (Rapid City) could probably help.

Personally I believe that poison oats are the control agent of choice. You normally need to bait them before you give them the treated oats.

If the neighboring farms/ranches have prairie dogs, it will have to be a cooperative venture if you ever hope to get ahead of the dogs.

Good luck.

Don't you dare advertise sending them to Boulder, CO. I work for the City of Boulder and I'm so sick of the Prarie Dog situation here. We have a policy that if caught chasing, harrassing or harming you face disciplinary action which could result in firing.

I used to put up hay on 20 acres of decent grass hay, at our facility, until a couple of the little vernits showed up and I was told that I could not touch the hay as long as they were there. Then to make matters worse one of the tree huggers happened to come by the facility for a meeting and saw the vermits and passed this on to the Open Space Dept. The next thing we know we have 100 dogs relocated from a site that was expanding so this nice hayfield has turned into a PD town! The relocation was sickening, they would trap them, give them a physical, bathe them, Flea powder and then give them a big hug before placing them in their pre-dug home.

The City has run out of places to relocate so they have passed an ordinance that if you've exhausted all avenues of relocation, then you may be allowed to poison them. For a native of the area it really yanks my chain the way the re-locaters have gotten into positions to tell all the locals what's best for them and how they are to do things.

I vented, I don't know if I feel better but I vented.

Have a Gooder
Ernie Bob

scott#2

• Rodent Blaster

I just wanna kill 'em, not hurt 'em. :>)

Allan

Thanks for the info.

I'm from that area too. The old original home place was out east of that old Silver Tip south of town on the way to Hawk Springs.

You probably know my cousin Dewey as a teacher there in Torrington (Don't wanna throw the name around on the Internet).

Allan

Not sure about where the land you are looking at is located, but I have heard some scuttlebutt through the grape vine that the whacko animal rights activists have gotten this critter on some endangered species list some where. You might want to make sure that if you declare war on the varmints that you will not have another war to fight with some environmental whacko that thinks they are cute.

Personally, my thoughts are if someone wants to save them, they should come out, trap them, and take them back home to keep in their garage. :>)

Good luck!

Yes, I"ve read that. Cannot understand how they can be on an endangered species list; they are spreading like wildfire here.

Talk in town this week end had it that the county is doing a labor, equipment, and materials kill at no charge to the farmer.

Dunno, haven"t actually seen the place yet and might be all worried over nothing; it is hard to really tell from pictures.

I always thought a good rotation would keep "em out, dunno tho.

Thanks,

Allan

• Here it is

But that doesn't work. For every one you see, 10 of his second cousins, fourteen times removed, are too bashful to show their darlin' little faces. :>(

Allan

I think land prices are way too high here and we're talkin' desert.

I don't know, the more I look at these pictures, the more I think I'm looking at a crop of late weeds. The pictures were taken after the crop was taken off.

Dunno, going to look at the place this weekend.

Allan

Jay *who always picks up his brass*