On a tract of land in front of the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office on Mildred Road and Empire Street, holes about the size of a tennis balls pock the dirt every few dozen feet.
Prairie dogs have appeared in droves in the past few months, digging holes and a network of tunnels on land that will most likely house the new Montezuma County Courthouse in 2017. The land is multi jurisdictional, with Cortez Apartments, Montezuma County, a private landowner, and the City of Cortez all owning parts of it.
The prairie dog problem prompted the management of Cortez Apartments to contract with pest-control professionals Hodiak Wildlife Solutions.
Linda Odell, rodent exterminator with Hodiak, says prairie dog control requires a lot of regular treatment, much like weed-prone yards. Prairie dogs have been more prevalent this season because of heavy rainfall this spring, she said.
“We’ve been seeing more of them because of the rain. The grass, everything’s been plentiful, but some of the normal vegetation they eat is starting to dry up, so hopefully that will help,” said Odell.
To curb the problem at Empire and Mildred, Hodiak is pumping carbon monoxide into the holes. Odell says that the problem was getting so bad at this location that the rodents were burrowing into the land that houses Cortez Apartments, located on the southern end of the patch of land.
Just across north Park Street is a smaller tract of land owned by the City of Cortez. Parks and Recreation crews were also out Monday coordinating efforts with Cortez Apartments and Hodiak to eradicate prairie dogs that have set up their own colony.
“We haven’t treated this spot until now,” said parks superintendent Mark Boblitt.
While the animals, might seem like prolific breeders, they have litters one time each year with the juveniles emerging from holes in early to mid-June, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife researcher Dan Tripp. The average litter size is three to four pups, and 50 percent of all juveniles do not survive their first year. “Prairie dogs have good years and bad years just like most wildlife,” said Tripp.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Public Information Officer for the Southwest Region Joe Lewandoski said the agency has noticed a spike in population, but it’s not a new issue.
“CPW’s wildlife officer in the area say they are seeing a lot of prairie dogs. It’s not however, just a result of moisture this year. What people are seeing is evidence that the population has been growing for several years,” said Lewandowski. “While some people don’t like prairie dogs, they do play an important role in the environment providing food for raptors and habitat for a variety of other animals, including badgers, burrrowing owls, small mammals, and insects.”
