State agrees to scrutinize prairie dog 'target practice'
Activists ask to put end to glorified rodent kills
By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 02:15 p.m., March 13, 2008
Updated 04:40 p.m., March 13, 2008
Photo by George Kochaniec Jr.
Colorado Wildlife Commissioners are shown a video of a prairie dog hunt during a meeting for a citizens petition to ban shooting of prairie dogs at the Division of Wildlife's Hunter Education Building.
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The Colorado Wildlife Commission, expressing disgust with Internet videos glorifying violent prairie dog kills, agreed to review a petition from activists who want to see an end to using wild animals as "target practice."
WildEarth Guardians, backed with legal help from DU law school students, asked commissioners today to put an end to what the group sees as using wildlife for amusement by people who shoot animals — specifically, prairie dogs — and revel in the spectacle of killing and blowing apart the creatures.
While commissioners didn't commit to banning such practices, they agreed to take the matter into consideration, discuss it further with activists and draft possible regulatory language to address some of the issues raised.
"I find the practice of popping prairie dogs in the field and having little giggle sessions around it extremely objectionable," said commissioner Brad Coors.
He and commissioners said the actions taint the vast majority of hunters who have a high regard for wildlife and ethical hunting practices.
"I think it's great," said Wendy Keefover-Ring of WildEarth Guardians, an activist who has often met with defeat at the Wildlife Commission but saw the action today as a victory. "They could have shut us down right now."
The commission's decision to review the matter further came over the objections of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association and other landowners who say they need to be able to shoot prairie dogs because they're harmful to rangeland.
Some also expressed skepticism that prairie dogs are as critical to ecosystems as environmentalists attest, and said populations are plentiful.
"I live in white-tailed prairie dog country. I can promise you, when you do a survey out there, it's going to show you the shooting of prairie dogs doesn't affect the population," said Jeff Comstock of Moffat County, representing the Western Slope business group Club 20.
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March 13, 2008
2:20 p.m.
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rightwingnut writes:
They should hav eshut them down. Good Lord, I used to get paid 5cents a tail by farmers when I was a kid.
March 13, 2008
2:34 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
"Good Lord, I used to get paid 5cents a tail by farmers when I was a kid."
This statement should make me angry, instead I feel great sadness. How twisted to reward a child for killing a defenseless animal.
March 13, 2008
3:04 p.m.
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jacka writes:
What about the PD slaughters RTD has conducted on the behalf of new parking lots. Senseless gassing and poisoning of defenseless animals in the metro area!
March 13, 2008
3:09 p.m.
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Theoldguy writes:
mytwosense
That was then....Ranchers hate to lose cattle from broken legs. The slaughterhouse rule is that the animal must be able to make it up the ramp for slaughter. Not my rule..their's.
I have a badger on my property that has dug a hole next to the mailbox, round pen, under the graves of my two dogs and in the middle of my alfalfa field. I've been after him for years....I will get 'em. I don't want my horse stepping in one of those holes since there are any in long and short grass. Sophie watches for those holes....I'd hate to have to shoot her if she breaks a leg.
This is now....Some senseless idiot has publicized something that "offends" someone and now the DOW feels obligated to do something. Perhaps in this day and age the saying "one rotten apple spoils the rest".
Personally I dislike prairie dogs and see then as pests.
The folks in Boulder like them. Good. Then why have all the farmers done away with the dogs which also share their homes with the Burrowing Owl which hasn't been seen in Boulder County for a looooong time? The dog colonies are also the habitat of the Black Faced Ferret which is endangered.
March 13, 2008
3:42 p.m.
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CWW writes:
The enviro-wackos are worried about the shooting of prairie dogs? Why aren't they upset about mice and rats being poisoned? They are the same rodent family and have burrows, etc., just like the prairie dogs.
What ranchers and farmers do on their own property is their own business, and if they want to gas, poison or shoot the little buggers, then they can. Actually, shooting is better because then the predators who eat the kill won't get poisoned.
March 13, 2008
3:46 p.m.
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Tommy writes:
I can't believe they're entertaining the idea from these nuts. The DU law students are going to be great lawyers, screw anything for a buck.
Maybe they can get with the New York gov...he pays cash.
At least that way the work is honest.
March 13, 2008
3:56 p.m.
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gwats writes:
A prairie dog is a 10 cent rodent, a pest. The only reason this is getting so much ink is the some gun-hating tree huggers out there need a new cause to fight for. They carry diseases like
plague and create hazards for other animals like cows and horses. If they were infesting a lot you wanted to build your dream house on a turn into a playground for your kids, you wouldn't hesitate to get rid of them, would you? If exterminating these pests is a form of sporting entertainment for some, then where is the harm? Ever been to a slaughterhouse and seen how they put down that cow that carrying your T-bone steak? NO sport in that, right? How about using that stupid vacuum machine, scooping up all these Prairie Dogs and dumping on the vacant lot next to YOUR house? Bet YOU'd go buy a rifle then!
March 13, 2008
4:46 p.m.
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RickyLee writes:
Shoot 'em now.
"A prairie dog in every pot"
March 13, 2008
5:07 p.m.
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jhdteacher writes:
once again, i am bewildered by the glee some receive from killing animals (and from belittling those who dare to advocate for the voiceless)...what—or who—is next on their list of problems to be resolved violently?
March 13, 2008
6:55 p.m.
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RJS07 writes:
jhdteacher: You obviously don't live with them in the back yard, and have never seen one die from being poisoned. The hawks, coyotes and other natural predators are quite happy to dispose of them, after they are shot, and appreciate the meal. You also haven't had to put a horse with a broken leg down after it stepped into one of their holes, or watched the topsoil blow away and erosion begin after the prairie rats have eaten all the vegetation. There is very little glee there.
I guess if your property was infested with rats, you'd probably just make pets of them? That seems to be what you expect me to do with prairie dogs on my property, and in all honesty, there is very little difference.
March 13, 2008
7:14 p.m.
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lappy writes:
It's disgusting, pathetic and appalling the way little prairie dogs are treated. It never ceases to amaze me how sick some people can be who want to witness an animal being torn apart or killed.
March 13, 2008
8:48 p.m.
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jhdteacher writes:
rjs07: you don't seem to be one of the "some" who gleefully kill...for that, i am thankful
March 13, 2008
9:49 p.m.
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MattGuyver_007 writes:
To authorize your funds (taxes) to investigate such a ridiculous matter further when we have much sicker minds trying to cut our heads off with a dull knife it becomes obvious why this nation may not survive.
Leave the internet alone and certainly don't let it's content direct law. I challenge you to NOT find something offensive out there... and that's what makes it so important.
March 14, 2008
1:01 a.m.
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nra5977 writes:
As a long time member of the NRA, I hope my opinion matters here. I have a story to tell. I grew up in Montana and was handed a gun by Dad and told to go out and shoot all the prairie rats when I was around 10 years old. It never felt right killing them to me or my friends. Although hunting is my passion, shooting prairie dogs is dead wrong and not hunting at all. There is no "sport" in shooting prairie dogs. I want the commissioners to know something. I never saw them as individuals with personalities until the day my sister found a baby prairie dog after a bad rainfall and brought it home against mom and dads wishes. That little prairie dog, we called him prairie dog pete, turned out to be sweeter and more loyal than Rex (black lab). I'll never forget Pete and can't stand to hear about idiots that kill them for any reason. All I see is Pete when I see them around the state here. Mom and Dad even changed their minds. Do the right thing.