Since the Amarillo Parks and Recreation Board met on March 11 to first discuss it, the fate of the prairie dogs at John Stiff Memorial Park has stayed a relevant topic.. After the board suggested either relocation or extermination, widespread anger at the idea sparked a written petition to “Save the Prairie Dogs at John Stiff Memorial Park”. Now, with a new plan to move the prairie dogs in a collaboration with the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, concerns still linger about moving native populations.
For over 20 years the prairie dog colony has inhabited the land around the park, building burrows through the area. Having no natural predators around, the colony has experienced extreme growth. Now, the large burrows of the sod poodles stretch from the park to the lake to the library. Recently these burrows have grown closer and closer to the nearby neighborhood. One homeowner, who spoke at the board meeting on March 11, even claims that the animals have moved 100 yards away from her home.
While the prairie dogs themselves pose no risk to the people of the area, legitimate concerns exist regarding their presence. Prairie dog burrows, much larger than those of other rodents, often scaling multiple inches in diameter ,can serve as homes for other animals such as burrowing owls, snakes and foxes when abandoned. While that phenomenon does not seem present at John Stiff Memorial Park, the concern about potentially dangerous creatures inhabiting the park has stayed present.
As well as digging their burrows, prairie dogs also keep the grass in the area they live extremely short so as to see any potential predators. Those two activities have made the land they have long inhabited extremely difficult to develop, running off potential buyers of the property. While the city might stand to lose money if the land stays undeveloped, the public’s stance over land development stays understandable, especially considering the park’s proximity to large shopping centers.
After first pitching the idea of exterminating the colony, the city faced major backlash from city residents. Across social media, numerous posts and tweets were released in opposition to the proposition. Soon after, a petition, aimed to “Save the Prairie Dogs at John Stiff Memorial Park”, spread within the community.
“We have heard the concerns of our community and are committed to protecting the park for everyone who uses it,” Parks and Recreation director, Michael Kashuba said. “At the same time, we want to responsibly manage and preserve local wildlife.”
Beginning to put an end to the issue, the city recently announced its new plan to relocate the colony. Partnering with the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, the city will relocate the prairie dogs to approved host sites across the Amarillo area. Efforts began recently with the city flooding the burrows with a mixture of soap and water. This method flushes the animals out of the tunnels without harming the animals. The city will check the animals for any illness, then begin the relocation process.
With the many safety precautions put in place to make the relocation as seamless as possible, most complaints have quelled. Still, some community members raise concerns about removing native ecosystems, claiming that the prairie dogs deserve to remain in their historical residence. Regardless of one’s feelings over the logic of the decision, all will surely miss the presence of the park’s iconic sod poodles.
