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Prairie dogs damage more than 2,000 acres of pasture, rangeland in county

Prairie dogs contributed to a loss of more than 2,000 acres of pasture and rangeland in Cheyenne County in the past year, according to Matt Anderson, a U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife specialist.

Cheyenne County contracts with the USDA to help control the populations of prairie dogs and other pests that can cause significant damage to the environment.

Anderson, who works for the department’s animal and plant health inspection service, presented an annual report the Cheyenne County Commissioners earlier this week.

“We worked a total of 229 1/2 hours in the county,” he said on Monday. “Most of it was prairie dogs and coyote work.”

According to the report, 27 coyotes, two red foxes and one porcupine were euthanized between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015. A take amount for prairie dogs was not included.

Agriculture losses reported to Anderson by county residents, but not personally inspected, topped $15,000, Anderson said. The losses included five acres of field crops, 10 livestock animals and 200 acres of rangeland.

Losses Anderson verified included four acres of field crops, nine livestock animals, 1,500 acres of pasture and 500 acres of rangeland.

The damage to pastures alone, caused by prairie dogs, was valued at nearly $2 million.

“Some of the grass estimates are really high right now,” Anderson said, “and that’s because we’ve been estimating prairie dog damage at $50 a acre, which isn’t high enough.”

This year, the national average of the value of an acre of pasture was used to formulate the loss. Pastures are defined as any grassy area enclosed by a fence, he explained.

“Until they come up with a better system for us to estimate, we’re going with the national average,” Anderson said.

Prairie dog colonies can wreak havoc on the land years after they’re removed – up to 16 years, Anderson said research shows – and that’s taken into account in the loss estimates.

Commissioner Steve Olson asked Anderson if the USDA needed permission to remove pests from someone’s property.

“Down by Lodgepole, there’s a bunch of prairie dogs – starting when you go into town,” Olson said. “Can you go on somebody’s ground, or do you have to have permission to go on their ground?”

Anderson said a landowner must sign an agreement giving him permission and also agree to pay for materials.

“They don’t have to pay for my labor, but they pay for the reimbursement of materials,” Anderson said. “It’s a lot cheaper than having somebody else do it.”

After commissioners reviewed the annual report, they voted to approve a contract for the USDA’s services for the next year.

The county will pay $11,492 – a 5 percent increase from last year – for the services.

 

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