If you’re dealing with burrowing rodents on your property, learning how to get rid of prairie dogs is essential for protecting your land. Managing prairie dog populations humanely often involves habitat modification and exclusion techniques. These social animals can cause significant damage, but with a strategic approach, you can reclaim your yard or pasture.
This guide provides clear, step-by-step methods. We’ll cover everything from identification to long-term prevention.
You’ll find both immediate solutions and sustainable strategies.
How To Get Rid Of Prairie Dogs
Successfully adressing a prairie dog issue requires a multi-faceted plan. There is rarely a single, instant fix. Your strategy will depend on the size of the colony, your location, and local regulations.
The most effective long-term approach combines removal, exclusion, and making your property less attractive to them. Let’s break down the core methods available to you.
Understanding Prairie Dog Behavior
Before you take action, it helps to know what your dealing with. Prairie dogs are not actually dogs; they are stout, burrowing rodents. They live in extensive underground colonies called “towns” and are highly social.
Their complex burrow systems can undermine foundations, damage irrigation systems, and create hazards for livestock and machinery. They are also voracious eaters, clearing vegetation to watch for predators, which leads to soil erosion.
Why They Choose Your Property
Prairie dogs look for open areas with short vegetation. This gives them a clear line of sight to spot coyotes, hawks, and other threats. Overgrazed pastures, vacant lots, or even well-mowed lawns can be inviting to them.
They prefer loose, sandy, or loamy soils that are easy to dig. If your property borders an existing colony or open prairie, you are at higher risk of expansion.
Legal And Ethical Considerations
It is crucial to check your local and state wildlife regulations before proceeding. Some species, like the Utah prairie dog, are protected under the Endangered Species Act in certain areas. Other states may require permits for lethal control or relocation.
Always contact your state’s wildlife agency or a county extension office for the most current rules. Ignoring these regulations can result in heavy fines.
Ethically, consider the most humane methods available. Prairie dogs are a keystone species, providing food and habitat for other wildlife, so balance is key.
Habitat Modification And Exclusion
This is your first and most sustainable line of defense. The goal is to make your property inhospitable and physically block access.
Remove Food Sources and Shelter
- Mow grasses and weeds regularly to keep vegetation short and less desirable.
- Remove brush piles, rock piles, and other debris that can offer cover.
- Control other food sources like broadleaf weeds, which they enjoy. Using selective herbicides can help, but follow label instructions carefully.
- Consider planting vegetation they find less palatable, though they will eat almost anything when hungry.
Install Physical Barriers
Fencing is a highly effective long-term solution for protecting specific areas like gardens, tree lines, or property perimeters.
- Use a heavy-gauge wire mesh with openings no larger than 2 inches.
- The fence should be at least 3 feet tall above ground.
- Bury the bottom edge at least 12-18 inches deep, bending the bottom foot outward into an “L” shape to prevent digging underneath.
- For existing colonies, you may need to install fencing around the entire perimeter to prevent new arrivals after removal.
Humane Live Trapping And Relocation
For many property owners, live trapping is the preffered humane removal method. This requires patience and planning, as you must relocate the animals to a suitable, legal location.
Choosing and Setting Traps
Use single-door or double-door live traps (cage traps) large enough for prairie dogs. Bait them with sweet potatoes, oats, or rabbit pellets. Place traps directly near active burrow entrances, partially covering them with dirt or vegetation to make them seem like a natural tunnel.
Check traps frequently, at least twice a day, to minimize stress on captured animals. Have a relocation site secured beforehand—this often requires written permission from a landowner and approval from wildlife authorities.
The Relocation Process
- Transport trapped prairie dogs in a covered, ventilated carrier to keep them calm.
- Release them at the new site near pre-dug starter burrows or artificial nest boxes to increase their survival chances.
- Relocation is best done in late spring or early summer when natural food is abundant. It is a labor-intensive process best suited for small colonies.
Burrow Fumigation And Flooding
These methods aim to eliminate prairie dogs directly within their burrow systems. They are generally more effective for larger infestations but must be done carefully.
Using Fumigants
Registered rodent fumigants, like gas cartridges, are placed and ignited in burrow entrances. The smoke produces carbon monoxide, which suffocates the animals inside. This method is heavily regulated.
- You must ensure all burrow openings are sealed immediately after ignition to contain the gas.
- It is less effective in wet or densely packed soils where the gas cannot penetrate.
- Always use personal protective equipment and follow the product label exactly.
Burrow Flooding
Flooding burrows with water can drown prairie dogs or force them to the surface where they can be dispatched. This method uses large amounts of water and is often impractical in arid regions or for extensive colonies.
It’s effectiveness is limited because burrow systems are designed to drain and may have multiple deep chambers. It can also cause significant soil erosion and mud.
Lethal Control Methods
When other methods fail or populations are too large, lethal control may be necessary. This should be a last resort and conducted in accordance with all laws.
Shooting
In rural areas where it is legal and safe, targeted shooting can reduce populations. It requires skill and patience. Using a small-caliber rifle from a safe distance is common. This method provides immediate results but rarely eliminates an entire colony, as survivors will become wary.
Always prioritize safety, know your backdrop, and ensure you have the landowner’s permission.
Rodenticides and Toxic Baits
The use of toxic baits for prairie dog control is strictly controlled by the EPA and state agencies. Zinc phosphide is a common restricted-use pesticide that requires a licensed applicator.
It is applied directly into burrows. There is significant risk to non-target animals, including pets and scavengers, if not applied correctly. You should almost always hire a professional for this type of control.
Working With Professional Wildlife Control
For severe infestations or when you’re unsure of the best approach, hiring a professional is a wise investment. They have the expertise, equipment, and knowledge of local laws to handle the situation effectively and legally.
A pro can correctly identify the species, assess the size of the colony, and recommend a compliant integrated pest management plan. They also handle the disposal of carcasses if lethal methods are used, which is an important health consideration.
Get multiple quotes and ask for references, licensing, and insurance proof before hiring.
Long-Term Prevention And Maintenance
After you have removed the prairie dogs, your work isn’t completely done. Preventing their return is critical.
Monitor and Maintain Your Property
- Regularly inspect your property for new digging activity, especially in the spring and fall.
- Keep vegetation short and maintain fences and barriers.
- Fill in and compact any old burrow entrances with soil and tamp them down firmly. This discourages reoccupation by prairie dogs or other animals.
Create an Unfriendly Environment
Consider using deterrents like predator urine (coyote or fox) around the perimeter, though these need frequent reapplication. Ultrasonic or vibration devices marketed for burrowing rodents have mixed results and are often ineffective for large areas.
The most reliable method is consistent habitat management—making your land less ideal than the surrounding area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Prairie Dogs?
For immediate reduction, lethal methods like shooting or professional fumigation work fastest. However, the fastest method often isn’t the most permanent. Combining quick removal with immediate installation of exclusion fencing provides the speediest long-term solution.
Are Prairie Dogs Protected By Law?
It depends entirely on your location and the species. Some, like the black-tailed prairie dog, have no federal protection but may be regulated by state law. Others, like the Utah or Mexican prairie dog, have federal protections. Always check with your state wildlife agency first.
What Home Remedy Kills Prairie Dogs?
Most “home remedies” like flooding, chewing gum, or mothballs are ineffective and can be illegal or harmful to the environment. There is no reliably effective and humane home remedy for killing prairie dogs. Focus on exclusion and habitat modification, or consult a professional.
How Deep Are Prairie Dog Burrows?
Their burrow systems can be extensive, with tunnels reaching 10 to 15 feet deep and extending horizontally for many yards. The deep chambers provide protection from weather and predators, which makes simple flooding or smoking often unsuccessful.
Will Fencing Really Keep Prairie Dogs Out?
Yes, properly installed fencing is one of the most effective long-term solutions. The key is burying the wire mesh deep enough and bending the bottom outward to prevent them from digging underneath. It requires an upfront investment but saves money and effort in the long run.