How do I get rid of prairie dogs?

How to Get Rid of Prairie Dogs. The most effective way to prevent an influx of prairie dogs on your property is to install fences, hay bales and other objects that can be used to reduce their visibility. If you suspect a prairie dog infestation, contact a licensed pest control professional to help you get rid of it.

How deep do prairie dog holes go?

Prairie dog homes are L-shaped burrows, 12 to 20 feet in depth vertically, and 6 to 15 feet horizontally.

What time of day are prairie dogs most active?

Primarily crepuscular (active at dusk and dawn) during warmer months, black-tailed prairie dogs spend most hot summer days sleeping and are active above ground in the morning and evening.

  • The lifespan in the wild for black-tailed prairie dogs is up to 8 years for females, and around 5 years for males.

    • What poison kills prairie dogs?

    But one poison of this type, known as Rozol, is currently approved to kill wild prairie dogs. Rozol also threatens the many wildlife species that depend on prairie dogs, including already endangered black-footed ferrets, swift foxes, owls, eagles and other raptors.

    Are prairie dogs a nuisance?

    However, many farmers see prairie dogs as pests. Their tunneling can ravage fields of crops. They may also eat the crops or chew them down so that they have a clear line of sight and can better spot predators. Additionally, these animals often feed off the same grasses as cattle.

    How do you fill prairie dog holes?

    Spread a heaping tablespoon of rolled oats around each prairie dog hole. Add another tablespoon every day until the prairie dogs begin eating it readily. Add a toxin (zinc phosphide, for example) to the oats as you continue baiting.

    How long are prairie dogs tunnels underground?

    13 to 109 feet long
    One study found that the underground tunnels in a prairie dog town were 3 to 4 feet deep and 13 to 109 feet long. Those tunnels were about 4 to 5 inches wide and tall. Sometimes prairie dogs plug the holes to block animals that want to eat them, or wall off where they go to the bathroom.

    What is the lifespan of a prairie dog?

    Although the prairie dog has been known to live for up to eight years in captivity, their average life span in the wild is typically three to four years. Bison, pronghorn, coyotes, and burrowing owls are among the many species that utilize prairie dog towns.

    Do prairie dogs come out after rain?

    They tightly pack the dirt of the mounds by butting it with their heads after a rain. Exit holes are excavated from underneath and thus have very low mounds. Exit holes are also steeper and, consequently, the preferred route to escape predators.

    Are prairie dogs protected in Colorado?

    In Colorado, it is lawful to capture, transport, and relocate black-tailed prairie dogs from one site to another suitable site, with and only with, a permit from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

    When can you poison prairie dogs in Colorado?

    Baiting should only occur when prairie dogs are active. Some zinc phosphide will be lost as phosphide gas if exposed to rainfall or other moisture, so baiting should occur only during settled weather.

    How do you relocate prairie dogs?

    Trap the prairie dogs and transporting them to the release site; Provide food and water to the newly released prairie dogs until they can become acclimated to the new site; and. Provideany desired/necessary monitoring efforts, if desired, to determine long-term success of the relocation process.