Prairie Dog Problem

[MileHiGuy]

I posted this in an old Mole thread but the Prairie Dogs are enough different that it needs its own thread.

My property has Prairie Dog's and we have a Rodenator that we are convinced does not kill them. We could spend hours blasting holes and the very next morning we would see whole families running around. Maybe we need to inject more propane and oxygen before blasting but the explosion is pretty violent. We generally inject the gasses for 30-45 seconds each hole and have to wait for a calm day otherwise the wind will dilute the gasses and minimize the explosion.

We had much better luck with tainted grain but hate the thoughts of continually putting this in our ground.

Trying to research the Carmon monoxide machines and I'm confused about the high pressure type versus the low pressure type and their effectiveness. Would an old snowmobile hooked up to a hose and pumping gas in for extended periods work?

Don't mind shooting them but after one shot they are gone for hours. Way too slow of an eradication program for my liking.

Thanks for any insight on the matter!

 

[Egon]

Carbon monoxide should work but will take time.

Import a Badger or two.

Elimination by cultivation removes the food source and they will move on.

 

[MileHiGuy]

The surrounding HOA brought in a Raptor Pole and was successful in getting some to roost. We are on a lake and they are more fond of fish than Prairie Dog. Hopefully I will not find out when they run out of fish as this is something (catching fish) we enjoy doing as well.

I have not heard of the Badger approach or how they do in our climate.

 

[jwmorris]

Looks like they are already there.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_badger

 

[CNC Dan]

I saw on TV once of a service that had a large vacuum truck, like they use to clean out storm drains, and they would suck gophers out of the ground un-harmed. Should work for prairie dogs too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLQ70JJpa0M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[BHD]

you need a restricted use chemical license, but some years ago, (5 to 7) I used phostoxin, a fumigate,

what I found was you if properly done can get about 90% a time, I had over 80 acres, thanks to some do gooder dumping them on me, (which is against the law), I tried the rodenator, did that for two weeks one summer, and did not see really any sign of elimination, (one day we sat up on the hill, and with 22's the first day we shot 300 that we knew of, the next day, about 200, and the third day about 100, one could not tell any had been fewer in number, so the next summer I did the fumigation, would drop about three pellets in the hole, via a piece of 1.25 electrical conduit, with a bent end so I could get it in the hole,

and then fill the hole with dirt to keep the gas in the hole, (they have so many tunnels and escape tunnels one can spend a long time on one major mound), I gridded it off, and would flag it and I spend most of a summer of evenings walking and covering and I covered it twice and would redo the holes I could see activity at,

I think it took me over 4 years to totally eliminate them, and you do not stop until there gone, if you do in a year or two your right back where you started, (if I knew in the beginning what I know now I would not have waited when I first noticed them,

I did try to eliminate them at first but my methods were not effective,

I think why the rodenator does not work well, is the tunnel system is so massive that they can escape the blast or enough escape that it does little good,

one can not hardly eliminate there food supply as they eat grass,

I have heard that if one wants to shoot them, one can get one of those bird cannons ( LP gas cannon), that go boom every mins. to hours and they then do not recognize the noise as danger, in a few days,
the cannon does not eliminate them only gets them use to gun shots,

and for public relations, there not Prairie Dogs, there Prairie RATS. and your not poisoning them your giving them vitamins.

one more word of caution the fumigates are dangerous and deadly, use with caution and follow the safety precautions,

I found facing the wind, was best as with your back to the wind there is air drag and the fumes circle around and is stronger with your back to the wind than facing it, open up the canister at waist level and the wind will blow any fumes around you and away,

and we have badgers and they did not seem to be helping much if any,

 

[jix]

YOU NEED A RESIDENT BADGER....

 

[ShowroomShine]

You need me to come out there with a rifle. I'd pay to go on a prairie dog hunt.

 

[MileHiGuy]

Thanks BHD... my wife actually took the test so we would be able to buy the Fumigate pellets but since the Coop stopped selling them, we were not sure where to get them. Do you have any suggestions as it looks like you are also from Colorado.
We also had some farmers tell us that because it takes moisture to set off the pellets, it really needed to be applied with a thin layer of snow cover which is hard to do with the property as far away from our primary residence that it is. I don't know if shooting a little water down the holes prior to covering would be the ticket for application at anytime?

I will admit we are a little nervous about the dangers to us applying these as you mentioned above but it might be the best choice.

ShowroomShine, your welcome to come up for a shoot but getting the little buggers out of the hole long enough for a couple shots is a problem. The bird cannons is a good suggestion, I will do some research on that.

 

[davesl708]

Rattle Snakes like young prairie dogs.

Poison works but the residual poison can kill what ever eats a dead dog.
Exhaust from your vehicle piped to the hole works. Stick the hose in the hole and cover it with dirt. Let it run for five minutes. Pull the hose and pack the hole closed to keep the fumes in.