May 27, 2008 8:24 pm US/Mountain
Protesters Fear Developer Will Kill Prairie Dogs
Reporting
Paul Day
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4) ―
Protesters were trying to stop a large colony of prairie dogs from being destroyed in Douglas County Tuesday.
The colony is on 87 acres near the corner of Lucent Boulevard and Highlands Ranch Parkway. Shea Properties owns the land and is planning a retail development. The protesters say Shea Properties has backed out of a deal to help relocate the prairie dogs.
The protesters represent a group called Douglas County Citizens for Wildlife. The group had a verbal agreement with Shea Properties to safely relocate the prairie dogs, according to spokeswoman Leslie Johnson.
It's estimated that 1,000 prairie dogs live there and something will need to be done with them before the land can be developed. A private ranch in Elbert County is willing to take all the dogs, according to Citizens for Wildlife. But before the animals can be relocated, permits must be issued, and that's where the hang-up occurs.
"We agreed to do a cost estimate. We needed to figure out how many prairie dogs there were so we can't do a cost estimate without figuring out the prairie dogs. They won't let us on the land for that." Johnson said. "We've been trying to get the Division of Wildlife permit filled out and they won't fill out their part of the permit."
CBS4 called Shea Properties Tuesday afternoon seeking reaction, but they company said it had no comment.
The protesters say the developer intends to use some of the prairie dogs as food for an endangered species -- the black-footed ferret.
CBS4 was able to confirm there is a ferret-breeding project in Larimer County. A biologist with the program said prairie dogs are typically captured and shipped still alive to the program. But protestors say they are afraid many of the animals would simply be eradicated.
It's believed at least one burrowing owl is living on the development site. The owl habitat is expected to be fenced off and protected when the prairie dogs are removed.
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