The general meeting of Prairie Dog Pals was conducted via Zoom on 7 February 2021. The minutes of the meeting can be accessed via the following link:
2021 Meeting: 2021 Meeting Minutes
The good news is that we completed 2020 with a small surplus. We have plenty planned for 2021 and judging by the dry winter, our stewards will be very busy.
The annual meeting was held on 9 February 2020. Click on the link below to read the minutes.
Read the minutes: Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes can be read by clicking on the link: Meeting Minutes
The annual meeting for Prairie Dog Pals will be held on 5 February 2017 at 1:00 PM at the James Joseph Dwyer Memorial Police Substation at 12,700 Montgomery Blvd. NE. If you have any items you’d like to bring up, email prairiedogpals@comcast.net and they will be added to the agenda. See you there!
On February 2, PDP held its annual board meeting, immediately followed by the general membership meeting. Both were held at our usual venue, the James Joseph Dwyer Police Substation, which coincidentally sits adjacent to a prairie dog colony. Here are the highlights of the meetings:
Elections: Board members for the 2016-2018 term are: President – Yvonne B., Treasurer – Ray W., Private Rescue – Margaret D., Stewardship – Graziella S., Artistic Content and Media – Sharyn D., Secretary and Head of Operations – Ed U., Intergroup Coordination – Phil C. Yvonne thanked Clifford J. and Annabeth F. for their service (They had resigned their positions during the previous term.)
Stewardship: The board approved continuing through 2016 a supplemental feeding stipend. This program provides food for prairie dogs along the I-40 and Tramway Blvd. corridors. Yvonne thanked the caregivers for their dedicated efforts.
Outreach: Yvonne recognized Margaret and Jim T. for their contributions to our outreach program. Jim gave his “Prairie Dogs in Peril” presentation to a wide variety of audiences from elementary school classes to senior centers. In 2014 Margaret guided a Girl Scout troop through the tasks involved in prairie dog rescue. Yvonne urged other members to get involved. PDP will support any and all efforts for outreach. Jim could use help, as he is frequently on his own when performing outreach and has to carry prairie dogs, handouts, and audio/visual equipment.
Rescue: Priorities for rescue operations are always a contentious issue – members are adamant about which colonies are in greatest danger. Ed emphasized that rescue operations have to be contingent on available resources (manpower, equipment, and funds). He stated that we are not actively pursuing removal of the prairie dogs along the I-40 freeway because 1) trapping and flushing are minimally effective in these areas and 2) the Department of Transportation (DOT) is not particularly concerned with moving the prairie dogs, and thus will not reimburse us for it unless they have a federally funded project. As usual, we planned to do some work in Bosque Farms. Ray stated that he was optimistic about getting city and Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) contracts. It was agreed that Chelwood, Kirtland, and Wherry Elementary Schools would be given priority in the coming season if the contracts came through.
You can read the minutes at: 2016 GM Minutes 3.20.16 final
The board and general membership meetings were conducted on February 1, 2015. The meeting was well attended and the group discussed issues like site stewardship, rescue, fundraising, creating alliances, outreach, and other pressing issues.
To read the minutes, click on Minutes.
Prairie Dog Volunteers need to have all of these documents in hand to do their work. Just click on each link to download, save, and print each of them!
| Event | Details | Date | Volunteers | Coordinator |
| TABLING | ||||
| PDP Annual Meeting | 12,700 Montgomery Blvd NE, James Joseph Dwyer Memorial Police Substation | 1:00 PM, 2 February 2013 | Yvonne Boudreaux | |
| Water Conservation & Xeriscape Conference | February/March | Annabeth Fieck | ||
| Sevilleta Feeding Weekend: Seasonal feeding, 4-6 hours, lots of walking! | Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Bernardo | March 15 | Ed Urbanski | |
| March Releases | Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Bernardo | March 17 March 30 | Ed Urbanski | |
| Earth Day | La Montanita Coop Carlisle & Central | April 22, 2014 | Annabeth Fieck | |
| Fetch a Palooza | Journal Center | May | Becky Davis | |
| Blessing of the animals at the Center for Spiritual Living | September | |||
| Annual Garage Sale (Ray and Graziella?) | Vista Bonita NE | September | Ray Watt Graziella Singleton | |
| Santa Ana Enviro Fair | August | |||
| Refuge Day at the Sevilleta | November | |||
| Weems Artfest (3 days) | Expo | Mid November | ||
| Woofstock Pet Expo and Adoption Festival in Edgewood | August | |||
| Bear Fair | ||||
| OUTREACH/PRESENTATION | ||||
| ACE High School | January 24, 2014 | Jim Trever | ||
| Meadowlark Senior Center | March 5, 2014 | Jim Trever | ||
| S. Y. Jackson Elementary School | 6-730 PM | April 4, 2014 | Jim Trever | |
| ACE Presentation at Van Buren middle school | 4:20-5:30 PM | April,8, 2014 | Jim Trever | |
| Notes: If you are interested in helping with any of the events, please contact Prairie Dog Pals at (505) 296-1937 or prairiedogpals@comcast.net! | ||||
This document establishes the best practices protocols, followed by Prairie Dog Pals for the humane capture, staging and relocation of prairie dogs.
The capture and relocation of prairie dogs should only be undertaken as a last resort to insure the survival of the colony. Capture can occur during the following periods:
10 days after the pups have emerged from the burrows and are of a sufficient mobility and size to safely tolerate relocation (approximately mid June).
Up to two months prior to hibernation (mid September) depending on the weather and the elevation.
Timing of capture in the day should not occur before prairie dog families, especially with newly emerging pups are observed above ground for the day.
There are only two acceptable and humane methods of capturing prairie dogs: Flushing and Trapping. The use of vacuum equipment is neither humane nor effective and should be prohibited for all species of prairie dogs
The use of a foam-enhancing device such as a tube filled with baffles, to increase the amount of foam, is recommended.
The prairie dog should be captured by hand or net while working at the flushed burrow. Every effort should be made to prevent a flushed prairie dog from exiting without capture and escaping to another burrow.
All prairie dogs exiting the same burrow should be marked with a non-toxic dye, such as food coloring, to identify family groups.
The water temperature used for flushing should not exceed 90 degrees or fall below 65 degrees for the safety of the prairie dogs. Higher temperatures can occur in the length of hose if water is allowed to remain in the hose for extended periods. This high temperature water should be purged before resuming flushing. During early spring the temperature of the supply water should be checked to ensure that it is not too cold for flushing.
Prairie dogs should be placed in sturdy kennels with wire windows and doors that cannot be chewed through allowing escape.
Kennels should be filled with fresh timothy (grass hay) to calm the prairie dogs and provide some natural bedding.
The number of prairie dogs placed in a kennel should not cause crowding. Large kennels can accommodate 15 to 20 prairie dogs depending on the size of the prairie dogs. Large males should be segregated to avoid fighting, but identified to indicate the family group from which they came so that they can be reunited with the family group during relocation.
Kennels should be marked to identify the area from where the prairie dogs were captured as well as, the number, sex and age (adult/juvenile) of the prairie dogs that the kennel contains. Duct tape and sharpies provide a waterproof durable record for the kennel for the day.
Kennels should be kept out of direct sunlight to avoid heat stress.
Kennels should be covered with wet towels if ambient temperature exceeds 90 degrees. On days when morning temperatures exceed 90 degrees consideration should be given to a midday transfer of the prairie dogs to the staging facility to avoid heat stress.
Prairie dogs should be dried off completely after flushing to avoid hypothermia or shock.
Eyes should be treated with saline solution to remove any soap solution or grit.
A field exam should be conducted to separate any injured, wounded or disabled prairie dogs to a small treatment carrier for later first aid.
Prairie dogs should be transported in a closed, air-conditioned (or appropriately heated during the winter) vehicle.
The capture crew must keep accurate records because an imbalance in the male to female ratio could indicate that:
The trapper should survey the site to plot out the family groups prior to capture.
The trapper should make notations of active burrows and prairie dog activity (with binoculars) to assess family groups.
The number of traps used should be verified before setting, during, and at final collection.
All traps should be set for 100% visibility at all times.
Traps should be set near the active burrows.
Each trap should be tested to verify it is in working order when baiting.
Each trap should be baited for the requirements of the specific site.
“Teaser” food may be used as appropriate. Teaser food, if used, should be placed to lead up to the entrance of the trap.
Trappers should allow fifteen to thirty minutes for the prairie dogs to resume activities after disturbances.
The traps can be relocated at appropriate intervals (disturbances, picking up a trap) if prairie dogs are inactive in one area.
The site or the traps should never be left unattended.
The trapper should immediately walk, not run (not directly to avoid panicking the prairie dog), towards the trap with the captured prairie dog and cover the trap with a heavy towel.
The trapper should carry the covered trap by the handle or the ends without extending fingers through the wire.
The prairie dog should be transferred from the trap to the hay-filled kennel using a second person as a spotter by inserting trap into the kennel set on its end and then opening the bottom door of the trap (two person job).
Kennels should be marked to identify the area from where the prairie dogs were captured as well as number, sex and age (adult/juvenile) of the prairie dogs that the kennel contains. Duct tape and sharpies provide a waterproof durable record for the kennel for the day.
Individual prairie dogs should be marked with food coloring if more than one family is placed in the same kennel.
Trappers should place holding kennels in a protected location away from exposure to the elements and potential passers-by.
Trappers should collect all traps at the end of the session,confirming and reconfirming the numbers of traps used. Left over bait may be left near burrows for remaining prairie dogs.
Prairie dogs should be staged for a period up to one week prior to relocation. This period will allow for observation and feeding prior to relocation. Prairie dogs can lose up to 30% of their body mass during the relocation process so good nutrition is important. They can be relocated providing their health and weight conditions are good. Prairie dogs captured from a day’s trapping or flushing require several steps of processing before being transferred into the holding facility.
Livestock tanks should be not less than 30” high. Custom fitted hardware cloth lids (not chicken wire) framed in wood should be constructed to prevent any prairie dog from escaping by clinging to the hardware cloth lid and nosing through the gap. Gallon jugs filled with water placed on cross panels may be used to weight lids. Livestock tanks may be placed on furniture dollies to facilitate the ease of processing, feeding, and transfer.
The prairie dogs should be processed into the staging facility as follows:
Bowls of water or water dispensers are not required, and are in fact, inappropriate, as spillage may contaminate the hay. Sufficient fruit and vegetables, in appropriate containers provide sufficient moisture for this drought tolerant species.
The fruit and vegetables provided should comprise at least 4 oz per prairie dog per day, (hence the accurate head count requirements per livestock tank), plus all the timothy hay and sunflower seeds the family groups could consume. The formula of 4 oz per prairie dog per day is appropriate until end of season relocations are staged. Staged prairie dog family groups being relocated near the end of the season can be observed to consume less food, if they are already of a sufficient body weight and condition for hibernation.
As end of season relocations are staged, the moist food provided may be reduced to approximately 2-3 oz per prairie dog per day, with no decrease in the amount of sunflower seeds or hay provided.
Every precaution should be taken to avoid attracting flies to the moist food and resulting feces. Fly strips/traps should be hung at appropriate intervals to minimize the chance of prairie dogs being compromised by fly attacks.
Day-old food is to be removed and replaced with fresh food daily.
Spoiled hay (wet, contaminated, flattened) is to be removed and disposed of in an appropriate manner and replaced with fresh hay as needed until final transfer to the relocation site.
In the event of a suspicious death post capture (not attributable to injury or poisoning), the remains are to be provided to the State Diagnostic Testing Office at UNM (where PDP has an account) for a necropsy.
An appropriate site should be selected for the relocation area. There are a number of factors to consider such as:
Once an area has been selected the site is prepared as follows.
Prairie dogs who have been observed within their family groups for approximately one week and meet the health, weight, and body condition requirements suitable for relocation may be released to the artificial burrows at the relocation site. Juveniles relocated within their family groups must be a minimum of 350 grams (14 ounces) before being relocated.
The burrows at the city colonies and relocation area(s) should be dusted with a deltamethrin compound (Delta Dust) bi-annually, in the Spring and Fall. This is a preventative measure to reduce fleas and minimize the possibility of plague. Flea dusting can be excluded at public parks and playing fields to eliminate any risk of exposure to companion animals and humans. These sites are well within the city and the possibility of introducing fleas by wild animals or off leash pets is reduced.
Biannual reporting should be performed for the release site and for target sites within the city. The reports should be completed prior to pup season (early spring) and after the prairie dogs have gone into hibernation (late
fall). The city report should address the following:
Prairie Dog Pals has three programs, Rescue, which includes rescuing prairie dogs and relocating them to safer locations, Stewardship, which includes advocating for and protecting their environment and the prairie dogs themselves, and Education.
Providing information to the public about prairie dogs and their plight is one of Prairie Dog Pals’ three programs. Our outreach volunteers are always ready to meet with any group to inform them about prairie dogs and/or answer questions.
Perhaps our best outreach opportunities are those not pictured. These occur when our volunteers interface with interested, sympathetic, and sometimes-hostile passers by. It is very difficult to dispel rumor, fear, legend and years of accumulated bias; however, an open mind is a fertile place and our volunteers do their best to dispel fantasy with fact and reason.
Besides our volunteers, the most precious commodity in the relocation process is relocation habitat. Very few people or groups are willing to provide land for the reintroduction of prairie dogs. Additionally the site must meet rigorous criteria to ensure that it is suitable for the introduction of prairie dogs. The site is evaluated based on vegetation, soil type, terrain, and biological appropriateness in terms of existing species and the whether or not it is traditional habitat for the prairie dogs being relocated.
Very few sites are ideal. We have had some success with the city of Albuquerque open space, tribal land, and private landowners. We are partnering with educational institutes and wildlife refuges for future relocations. Our vision is to secure sufficient habitat to accommodate all prairie dogs threatened with habitat loss, state wide.
Notes: With the city we use a bobcat with the following attachments: 24” auger, a 12” backhoe/bucket and a blade. The holes get augured first, then the “ramps” are cut, then the nesting box is set, and then the hole is backfilled using the blade. Shovel work is required to dress up the area. Alternatively you can use a backhoe for the whole operation. We try to minimize the damage to the grass by minimizing passes and traffic.
Trapping is a labor intensive and time consuming process. Traps must be monitored at all times to insure the safety of the prairie dogs. Humane traps are employed to catch the prairie dogs. The traps are baited with carrots, apples, corn or other foods. Trapping works best in areas where there is not an abundance of natural forbs and grasses as the prairie dogs will be attracted to the bait.
The traps are set out at or near active burrows. It takes 30-60 minutes for the prairie dogs to become active after the traps have been placed.
The traps are designed in such a way as to insure that the prairie dog is well inside the trap before the trip mechanism can close the door. This prevents injuries.
Once a prairie dog has been trapped, the trapper will move slowly towards the trap in order not to panic the prairie dog. A towel will be placed over the trap to calm the prairie dog. The trap will be moved to a temporary staging area where the prairie dog is removed from the trap and placed into a holding kennel. The kennels are labeled with the family groups and/or the prairie dogs are marked with dye. At the end of the day the kennels will be moved to the staging area and the prairie dogs processed.
The prairie dogs cannot remain in the traps for more than 10-15 minutes as they may panic or can become heat stressed. The holding kennels must be kept cool. Periodic pick-up of the kennels may be required during elevated summertime temperatures.
For the trapping checklist that we use, please click here, and for the flushing and trapping checklist that we use, please click here!
Once the prairie dogs have been captured, we bring them to the staging facility. There they are checked for health issues then placed with their family members for feeding and observation. When they are ready, they will be released to their new, safer, locations.
Prairie Dog Pals catches prairie dogs in two ways, by trapping and by flushing.
For flushing, we use a 500-gallon tanker. The tank contains clean water and biodegradable, non-toxic soap. The mixture is pressurized using an irrigation pump and hoses are run out to the burrows.
There are many ways to make foam. We use a nozzle hooked to a chamber with baffles in it to make foam. The foam has entrained air so the mixture will not drown the prairie dogs. The mixture is directed into the burrows.
Not all burrows contain prairie dogs and not all prairie dogs come out when flushed. Gunnison’s prairie dogs typically block their burrows at night to avoid attracting predators. They also can block the burrow during inclement weather and when being flushed. They have escape chambers and air chambers as well to allow them to escape from the foam. Here a prairie dog has emerged and been captured.
The prairie dog is dried off; saline is placed in its eyes to rinse out any soap residue or grit.
The prairie dog is placed in a kennel. Family groups are maintained by using different kennels (typical) or food dye to differentiate between the families. The family groups are kept intact throughout the relocation process.
For the flushing and trapping checklist that we use, please click here!
Once the prairie dogs have been captured, we bring them to the staging facility. There they are checked for health issues then placed with their family members for feeding and observation. When they are ready, they will be released to their new, safer, locations.
Artificial burrows provide a temporary home for the prairie dogs during the relocation process.
The nesting boxes, or artificial burrows, are constructed of 15-25 gallon nursery pots. The bigger the pot, the more prairie dogs it will accommodate (keeping family groups in mind). You can usually get these donated. However, you want the rigid ones that are injection molded, and not the flimsy ones that are blow molded. The flimsy ones can crush during the back filling. To find out how to make one, click here.
The nesting boxes must have 2, 4” holes drilled into them with the hole cutter, one in the middle of the bottom, and 1 on the side, about 2” down from the top. The holes must be slotted (8 slots about 1” deep) using the mini grinder and cutting wheel. The slots allow the tube to be forced into the pot and held securely.
A piece of 1/2”x1/2” hardware cloth needs to be cut to fit over the open end of the nesting box. The rim of the pot is either drilled with a number of holes so that the cloth can be sewn to the pot using wire or the cloth can be stapled to the pot. If it is stapled to the pot, care must be taken when handling and setting the pot so that the hardware cloth is not pulled away from the pot.
one last time then placed in kennels for movement to the relocation site.
Volunteers identify the kennels with respect to the prairie dogs and target relocation area.
The prairie dogs are moved from the holding tanks and cages to the kennels.
At the relocation site time and temperature are always a factor. Every effort is made to keep the prairie dogs from over heating.
The cage caps are stuffed with hay. The hay serves as both food and bedding for the prairie dogs. Food dishes are placed in each cage cap.
When all is ready the prairie dogs are moved from the kennels or cages and placed into the tubes leading to the nesting box.
The cage caps are set and staked in place. The hay and food are replenished for up to 5 days after which the prairie dogs are allowed to “escape.” Here you can see the prairie dogs in the cage caps. They can acclimate to their environment while being protected from predators.
Once the prairie dogs have “escaped” the cage caps are removed. The prairie dogs will continue to use the artificial burrows to escape from predators.
Ideally, the prairie dogs will start digging their own natural burrows nearby as can be seen above. Eventually the prairie dogs will move further a field establishing new coteries.
Once the prairie dogs have established their permanent residences we will reutilize the artificial burrows. We use a camera to inspect the artificial burrows, and if unoccupied, reuse them for other relocations from the same colony.
There are any numbers of ways to construct cage caps. Click on this link to get our instructions!
Poisoning or simply bulldozing prairie dogs alive in their burrows has been the common approach to dealing with unwanted colonies. Properly conducted prairie dog relocation is humane and restores the ecosystem at the release site. There are only two humane methods of capture:
Prairie Dog Relocation Process with Soapy Water:
• A mild dishwashing liquid is mixed into a water tank and hosed into prairie dog burrows.
• The soap bubbles fill the burrow making the prairie dogs want to exit the burrow.
• A second person uses their bare hands to catch the dogs as they exit the burrow. The prairie dog is then dried with a towel.
• Saline eye drops are applied to the eyes to clear away the soap and any dirt.
• The prairie dogs are placed into pet carriers filled with grass hay and flea dusted.
Prairie Dog Relocation Process with Live Trapping:
• Live cage traps are placed at each active burrow, baited, and continuously monitored. When captured, prairie dogs will be immediately flea dusted. They are removed from exposure to the elements and placed into pet carriers filled with grass hay.
• A separate carrier is used for each coterie so families are kept together and released together.
• Three to four people are needed to do this work for most sites; volunteers are needed.
• The crew uses food coloring on the fur to identify family groups and to make sure prairie dogs that emerge together are released together.
Land Preparation & Release:
• The release site is prepared by trenching for artificial burrows. Artificial burrows are underground nesting boxes with tubing attached to the ground’s surface, which serves as a rudimentary burrow system.
• The prairie dogs are flea dusted and placed by hand into artificial burrows. Each burrow contains a family group.
• After each group is placed into their artificial burrow, an above ground cage cap is attached to the tubing to contain the animals. Plenty of favorite foods are placed into the cage.
• The prairie dogs remain in these structures for up to one week. Daily feeding is conducted.
• When the time is appropriate, the cages are removed from the artificial burrows. A minimal two days of intensive monitoring is required to insure the prairie dogs commit to digging home burrows within the accepted release area.
• Predator monitoring and non-lethal discouragement may be conducted, such as installing fencing around the release area.
• Regular monitoring and daily feeding are conducted at the onset.
• Maintenance efforts may include regular flea dusting around burrows, and supplemental feeding during drought conditions.
In order to engage in flushing, one of our two methods for catching endangered prairie dogs, we need to use a water tanker. Following is a checklist for how we use the tanker for those who are interested!
Water tanker preamble:
Caveat Emptor: Buyer, beware! Unless you are aware of what you need you are bound to be disappointed. The rental people are not there to anticipate your needs; you must be prepared!
Tow List
Most of the times the tankers will have a commercial tubular electrical connection that will not fit anything you have. Although they should not let you off the lot without working lights, they will. Most of the time it is not a problem BUT…
DON’T DRIVE AT NIGHT! Diane has a tubular connection adapted to a “standard” trailer connection. Use it/borrow it if you need/want to. The bottom line is that most of the electrics on the trailers don’t work anyway.
They should hook up 3 chains, 2 as emergency chains and the third for the brake should the trailer become disconnected. If you stop fast you will feel the brake cut in. If it has cut in, it will also cause a slight lurch when you start off. Pay attention to cutting corners as you are towing a trailer equal in length to your vehicle.
Water tanker know list
Fact #1: The Albuquerque fire hydrants have a 2 1/2” male connection on the side and a 4” connection on the front; you always use the side connection
Fact #2: Once you have the fill hose connected open the hydrant slowly, using the “nut” on the top of the hydrant. BEWARE: the water is under a lot of pressure. If the fill hose is connected mechanically to the water tanker be prepared for some jumping in the hose and leakage; if you are holding the fill hose in the tanker be prepared for a surge. Open the hydrant slowly. RIGHT OR CLOCKWISE SHUT; LEFT OR COUNTER CLOCKWISE OPEN. You will have to turn it several times to get it to start flowing.
Fact #3: The water meter has a 2 1/2” female hose connection to connect to the fire hydrant side connection. Obscene as it may be, stick it between your legs and turn the connection until it is snug (righty-tighty, lefty-loosey). It is bulky and your legs will steady it to allow you to align and tighten it.
Fact #4: The water meter has a 2 1/2” male hose connection to which connect the fill hose
Fact #5: You must have a fill hose with a 2 1/2″ female screw coupling to conduct the water from the hydrant to the water tanker.
Fact #6: You must have a garden hose adapter on the discharge end of the pump to hook the flushing hose to.
Water tanker definitions:
Final Check List:
So you are at the rental place, you have your tanker connected to your pick up what do you need to have as a minimum:
1) The water tanker; safety chains; brake chain, all connected.
2) Preferably (but not necessarily) the proper electrical connections
3) A fill hose with a 2 1/2” female screw connection to connect to the water meter or water hydrant; something that preferably (but not necessarily) mechanically connects to the water tanker.
4) A water hose connection from the discharge of the pump, either permanently attached or attachable (usually a clip connection)
5) Paperwork ENSURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THEY SAY YOU DO (remember, you don’t need a spray hose)
6) Full tank of gas for the pump (should be included)
7) Stick your arm out the window and get the contractor attitude, cut off anyone you want, you are on a mission…
Water Tanker Fill:
On site start up:
Do you want to learn yet more about the tanker? Well, you’re in luck! Download this document with yet more information and even a diagram!
Architecture of an Artificial Burrow
The picture to the left illustrates one example of an artificial burrow. PDP uses a slightly different design. We use a 25-gallon, plastic nursery pot for what we call the nesting box (described in the illustration as the “initial burrow chamber or room”). We attach a ten-foot long tube to the side of the upside-down nursery pot for an entrance/exit tunnel, as shown. Our second tube, unlike the one in the picture, we install through the top of the nursery pot, extending down into it so that the end of the tube sits a few inches above the base. We dig a hole in the ground roughly four feet deep, lay a piece of hardware cloth in the bottom, and then set on that the upside-down nursery pot with attached tubes. The hardware cloth prevents the prairie dogs from digging out of the nesting box, while the tubes allow them to climb to the surface. When we release the prairie dogs, we usually send them down the vertical tube; gravity encourages them to proceed to the bottom rather that stopping in the tube and causing a traffic-jam.
After inserting the prairie dogs into the artificial burrows, we place a containment cage (we call them cage caps) over each egress tube. We continue to feed and monitor the prairie dogs for up to five days. This gives them a chance to acclimate to their new surroundings. Then we remove the cage caps and allow them to “escape” from the artificial burrows. Able to come and go as they please, they continue to use the man-made burrows as a refuge from predators and for temporary shelter until they can construct their own burrows.
There are no vaccination requirements (please refer to the letter from the city regarding this.)
Based on the letter and our review of CDC recommendations for handling animals during rescue operations, we’ve developed our own protocol to protect our volunteers.
• Wash hands with soap and water:
• Use anti-bacterial cleanser after washing.
• Wear heavy protective gloves when handling prairie dogs.
• Wear surgical gloves when handling sick or wounded animals.
• Wear surgical and protective gloves when cleaning cages.
• Consider use of goggles or face protection if splashes from contaminated surfaces may occur.
• Do not allow rescued animals to bite or scratch you.
• Do not eat in animal care areas.
• Pregnant women and immuno-compromised persons should not volunteer for positions involving direct animal contact.
Optional
• Bring a change of clothes to wear home at the end of the day.
• Bag and thoroughly clean clothes worn at the shelter.
• Whenever possible, caretakers should have completed a 3-dose prophylactic vaccination series for rabies.
• Whenever possible, caretakers should have a tetanus shot to protect against infections from accidental scratches or bites.
Required
• In the event that a person is bitten by a prairie dog that appears to be ill or acting strangely, the animal will be surrendered for rabies testing and the person be given prophylactic vaccination as a precaution. In addition, the testing should include plague/tularemia screening in case the sick animal represents the first stage of a plague epizootic.