Boulder County manages prairie dogs in a comprehensive way so prairie dogs thrive where appropriate on open space properties.
Management Plan
The goal of Boulder County is to preserve, protect, and enhance viable prairie dog populations on suitable grassland habitat.
The county adopted the Prairie Dog Habitat Element of the Grassland and Shrubland Management Policy in 1999. The plan was last updated in February 2022.
The plan strives to achieve wildlife habitat protection goals while also preserving agriculture and maintaining good neighbor relations. The plan reflects the values and vision of a broad cross-section of county residents, describes the main strategies for achieving the vision, and serves as a decision-making guide for property-specific management plans.
Three Categories
The plan divides areas within the county open space system into three categories:
- Habitat Conservation Areas (HCA): suitable prairie dog habitat
- Multiple Objective Areas (MOA): can support prairie dogs along with other activities such as trails, grazing, etc
- No Prairie Dog Areas (NPD): not appropriate prairie dog habitat by virtue of their land uses
The plan lays out the framework for maintaining appropriate habitat as well as parameters for removing prairie dogs from No Prairie Dog Areas. The plan also provides guidelines for relocating prairie dogs to maximize the chance of a successful relocation.
The plan is used to provide guidance to staff for day-to-day activities and can be used by the residents of the county to understand management activities over the long term.