A New Plan For Prairie Dogs

· May 22, 2012, 4:55 pm

Boulder County resource planner Jesse Rounds says it's like walking a tightrope. That is, balancing the county's dual mission of promoting agriculture and protecting wildlife. A proposed new policy on prairie dogs is meant to strike that balance. It would let farmers who rent county open space manage prairie dogs themselves, with certain limits, instead of asking the county to do it.  That could speed up the process of removing animals that threaten farmers' crops. It could also mean more prairie dogs could be killed.   And that's a touchy subject for the animals' admirers.  Jesse Rounds talks with Colorado Public Radio's Mike Lamp.

Boulder County is hosting a tour of open space and prairie dog habitat Wednesday night, May 23rd, and a public meeting Tuesday, May 29th.  County commissioners could make a final decision on a new prairie dog policy sometime this summer.   Photo: Boulder County Parks and Open Space Collection

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