Recently, the US Fish and Wildlife Service requested input from
professionals in the field regarding a 12-month status review to determine
if prairie dogs warrant listing per the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As
we've discussed this is a very complex issue with no black or white answers
and many facets that must be looked at deeply. Relocations are just one
area. Jean Williams is a brilliant freelance writer and a great advocate for
the preservation of our great prairie grasslands. Thanks Jean for all you do
for prairie dogs! The following is compiled from submissions to USFWS and
discussion with other professionals that work closely with prairie dogs.

#Prairie Dog Relocation: Difficult Job Needs Pragmatic Approach
Jean Williams

An experienced, well established, and knowledgeable prairie dog relocator, always walks the fine line between meeting the contractual agreements forged over time, with ranchers, developers, and city agencies…and the very real and sad possibility that not all prairie dogs will be saved. Relocators are almost always working against time commitments and the survival instincts of prairie dogs, who don’t WANT to be caught. They quickly get the picture and see the relocator as, not a friend who is trying to help them, but a relentless predator trying to take them. So, they learn to go underground and stay for days, even weeks at a time, if the relocator isn’t experienced enough to handle the capture properly.

The fact that any rancher, landowner, or city agency is willing to allow prairie dogs to be captured and relocated, is the sign of good stewardship to the land and natural resources, because they could just as easily take the path of least resistance, and poison them all. Most knowledgeable relocators are aware of the sensitive negotiations required to strike a deal for a contract and the bottom line is; the client is the boss. If they agree to allow for a specific period of time for the relocator to rescue as many prairie dogs as possible, and that time expires, leaving some prairie dogs hunkered underground, they may ask for more time, but if it is denied, he/she should not blame or chastise the client. The obvious reason is that they want to be able to come back the following year, to strike another agreement. A working relocator’s reputation is important. They want to have good referrals for negotiating other agreements to remove prairie dogs safely and responsibly to another location. So, it is important to keep the good-will of relationships they have built over years of time, even though some loss of prairie dogs may occur. It is far better to save 95%, than NOT be invited to save ANY AT ALL.

There are NO LAWS compelling any rancher, landowner, or city agency to preserve prairie dogs. To the contrary, prairie dogs are considered vermin and a nuisance and some people might just find it easier to kill them. But that mind-set has been changing. The City of Lubbock, Texas is a prime example, because they are the only city that has a budget allocated for the humane trapping and relocating of prairie dogs. That is a bold approach, and many people, who may want to preserve prairie dogs on their land, but have been reticent to do so, (due to possible criticism and peer pressure), can look at the example of Lubbock, and be encouraged to initiate their own steps to be more involved in saving and preserving one of nature’s most unique keystone animals.

A skilled relocator is imperative for a successful prairie dog colony translocation. They provide the necessary service, which involves acquiring suitable habitat, preparation of receiving sites, long term planning, and post-translocation survival rates. Prairie dogs are a social species, with prey animal instincts, and they can’t simply be dumped onto new ground, and expected to survive. If suitable preparation isn’t done, the translocation can result in nothing more than another form of extermination. Such a level of experience requires years of knowledge gained from trial and error and extensive field work. There are no college courses available to learn this skill. The experienced relocator is also a pragmatist. They have to face the reality that, no matter how dedicated and diligent they are, there will be losses. Whether it is in the capture stage or the translocation stage, where a percentage of prairie dogs may not survive the stress or fail to incorporate into the new location. It takes a unique person to do a relocator’s job, because emotion cannot be allowed to prevail. The fine line they walk to save prairie dogs, requires permission, agreement, and coordinated effort. But, mostly it requires the ability to be impartial to the client’s needs, and tolerate heart-wrenching losses, that are sometimes unavoidable, in an effort to return and fight again another day.

Jean Williams, creatinggreenpiece@juno.com, 206-459-0562

Listen to Lynda Watson describe Prairie Dog relocation
for Reese Center Air field Lubbock Texas

http://www.lubbockonline.com/slideshows/01-08PrarieDogRemoval/

View the video capturing Prairie Dogs (for rescue & relocation)
with the soap and water method

http://www.happyfunball.net/vid/PrairieDogRelocat2.avi

The above is a video by Jeff Kaplan that helps illustrate the needs listed below for Prairie Dog Rescue and Relocation. Many Thanks to Jeff for his quest for knowledge and in trying to help Prairie Dogs by making this video.
We and the Prairie Dogs appreciate it !!!!

FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF WILD PRAIRIE DOGS, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS YOURSELF

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer, please contact us and we can put you in touch with the organizations with the experience to make capture and relocations efforts a safe, fun, and educational experience, while keeping the welfare and safety of wild Prairie Dogs a top priority.

*Note that you risk being bit or seriously injured by a number of things such as, angry adult wild Prairie Dogs capable of removing a finger or two, black widow spiders and other spiders and insects, rattlesnakes and other snakes, badgers and more if you attempt to try this on your own.

This will give you a better understanding of what it involves to capture, observe, quarantine, and relocate Prairie Dogs from properties where they are unwanted and would otherwise be destroyed.

After capture each prairie dog is sprayed for fleas and then put under quarantine and observation for approximately two weeks before they are released.

During that time their health and nutrition is monitored and intervention is taken when necessary to restore them to health before they are turned out into a new location. This quarantine and observation period is a critical element to a successful release onto a new site and those that have had the benefit of a quarantine and the observation period often fare far better than those that are released to a new site the same day they are captured. Not only has their health and nutrition been restored as much as is possible but they are then evaluated and released utilizing a slow and deliberate process that takes each new site into account and consideration is taken about how successful coteries are established in the wild with their release. Initially, the release process often starts with a small group of females that get right to work with new tunnel systems and burrow construction. Next, if the timing necessitated that any babies or young required relocation, a small group of babies is released with the females and given time to reunite and integrate with one another. Finally, after a short time, any remaining young, any remaining rehabbed females and all of the males are brought to join the rest of the group into a location that has been developed by the initial females and is occupied, developed and ready to accept newcomers. Sometimes funding does not exist to allow for this quarantine and observation period, hence the survival rate of those released may not be as high as those that have had that luxury coupled with knowledgeable management and monitoring.

We are thankful for rescuers and relocation organizations that provide their knowledge and expertise to safely and humanely give these Prairie Dogs a new lease on life.

Donations are greatly needed to help support the efforts of:

Lynda Watson / PMS Recycled Vermin

While any type of donation you make is incredibly appreciated, you can best serve the Prairie Dogs by sending monetary donations where portions of your contributions are not being wasted by shipping and freight costs. By choosing to make a contribution to Lynda Watson - PMS Recycled Vermin you can absolutely trust that all monies would be spent toward what is listed here. You can pride yourself in knowing that you made a difference in helping save those that have no voice and would otherwise be destroyed without your help.

These are approximate Day-to-Day operating expenses for ongoing needs:
( all items below are conservative approximations )

Suitable land - relocation organizations DESPERATELY need donations of suitable land or land that can be readily sold in order to obtain a suitable location where unwanted wild Prairie Dogs can be safely relocated for permanent residence. Not all land is inhabitable for wild prairie dogs. Please contact us or one of the experienced relocation organizations listed on this site in more links, for more information and assistance in determining whether a site is suitable for long term sustainability.

Funding for Veterinarian Costs - depending on your preference, we can assist you with making a donation directly to an account at the appropriate veterinarian's office to help with ongoing vet care and medication costs that routinely arise, if you choose not to donate to a relocation organization directly

Money - for gas, soap to add to water tank, and water to keep hydrated in hot, dry and dusty conditions = $150 - $200 per trip due to current gas prices

Bedding - sawdust, wild Prairie Dogs urine is very concentrated, they do not drink water in the wild, so they need to have their cages cleaned every other day unlike pet Prairie Dogs = $150 per month Relocators are in desperate need of sawdust at this time, this would be best purchased locally

Feed & Supplies - can include but are not limited to such basic needs as sweet potatoes, greens, fresh grasses, fresh timothy hay and other grass hays, water bottles (wild prairie dogs destroy these frequently during their temporary stays) = $250 per month

Funds to help with monthly water, heating, air condition, ventilation, and specialized lighting = $200 per month. Prairie Dogs coming in from a relocation effort are housed in an outbuilding that facilitates their special needs

Funds to assist with maintenance of buildings, equipment, insurance and construction costs associated with outbuildings, caging and more- costs vary

Non Routine Items Needed:
(while both of these entities have most of the major equipment needed for Prairie Dog relocation they could both benefit from donations of the following)

Though this article was written 9/30/02, permitted wild to wild relocations still occur routinely today. Once captured, wild Prairie Dogs are brought into the relocator's temporary holding facilities until they are stabilized and are able to be released into their new habitat. This process can take time depending on the condition of the Prairie Dogs that are captured and the land that is available. They often have to gradually be introduced onto a suitable land site in controlled groups in order for the relocation to be successful over time. It takes time and lots of experience from the relocator to monitor each land site during an integration of new Prairie Dogs into a newly developed area. This time housing and maintaining the Prairie Dogs while sites are being established is why these two entities could use your help. Plus, your contributions could help them both to relocate and save even more from being poisoned, shot, or bulldozed in the name of future development.

Prairie Dog Rescue Efforts May Come to an End
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=955243

Lynda Watson has captured 2000 prairie dogs to date and had hopes to rescue all 58,000 prairie dogs living at the city's land application site east of Lubbock. But, it has become quite a costly rescue effort, money Watson says is spending out of her own pocket. "Well, I know she's spending all that she can gather up to do it, and she's not making a penny off of it. And, she's trying to save as many of the animals as she can. I would say she's spending anywhere from $150 a day just to drive her truck on that property, with little funding," said exotic animal explorer, Joe Bill Rogers. Rogers used to catch prairie dogs for many years, but says his health prohibits him from helping Watson. Although, Rogers has about 400 prairie dogs and is keeping some Watson catches, but other than that, he says he can't afford to help. Rogers says it is very expensive to catch prairie dogs. Watson has spent an estimated $12,000 to move, care for, and catch 2000 prairie dogs. Just think about how much 50,000 prairie dogs would cost her. Plus, Watson is the only one catching so it's been hard on her physically. "I know her knees are getting bad from going up and down over the prairie dog holes from catching the prairie dogs. She's got bad knees, but she gets out there and keeps working if she is hurting," said Rogers. Watson was not available for comment, but says she is afraid she won't be able to rescue many more prairie dogs. Mayor Marc McDougal says the city will poison the prairie dogs in January after the burrowing owl migrates. The Llano Estacado Native American Society is financially helping Watson with her rescue efforts. But, Watson says there is not enough money to save all the prairie dogs.