Wildlife- Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder Urban Wildlife Management Plan (UWMP)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Questions About the Urban Wildlife Management Plan
What is the purpose and intent of the UWMP?
The purpose of Urban Wildlife Management Plan (UWMP) is to establish a set of policies and guidelines for managing wildlife within the City of Boulder. The intent of the plan is to fill the gap in wildlife management in the Boulder Valley by integrating urban wildlife management with existing and emerging plans and policies of the Open Space and Mountain Parks Department (OSMP). The plan establishes a framework for making urban wildlife management decisions, provide direction on regulatory and program changes and outline a set of actions for long-term management of wildlife conflicts.
The purpose of the prairie dog management component of the UWMP is to identify prairie dog protection opportunities in the urban service area and outline strategies for resolving short and long-term conflicts involving prairie dogs in the urban service area. There are five primary questions that the plan addresses:
- Where in the city should prairie dogs be protected?
- Where should they be removed?
- How can we protect them (in place) and minimize conflicts?
- How should we remove them if necessary?
- How do we balance costs and humane treatment?
What are the boundaries or geographic scope of the plan? Does the plan include Open Space and Mountain Parks?
The geographic scope of the plan is the developed area of the city that receives urban services, such as water and sewer. Open Space and Mountain Parks departmental policies guide the management of wildlife habitat on OSMP lands. However, in areas where the developed areas adjoin open space, the plan proposes management strategies to address the values and conflicts of that interface area.
How many acres of prairie dogs does the plan affect?
According to city-sponsored mapping in 2005, prairie dogs occupy 611 acres of private and public land in the study area.
How many prairie dogs is the city proposing to remove?
The city does not have estimates of the number of prairie dogs that are proposed for removal. The plan recommends near-term removal of prairie dogs from 59 of the 611 acres in the study area.
Does "removal" mean they will be killed?
Not necessarily. The city's policy is to explore non-lethal alternatives before resorting to lethal control. That policy applies to both city-owned and private land within the city.
Questions about Prairie Dogs
How does the city protect prairie dogs and their habitat?
The City of Boulder has been a national leader in protecting open space and natural habitat through its progressive planning actions and open space acquisitions over the past 100 years. The city owns and manages over 40,000 acres of land outside the city dedicated to open space and "greenbelt" protection. Approximately 5,000 of those acres are specifically set aside as prairie dog habitat conservation areas (HCAs).
Aren't prairie dogs and other wildlife managed by the state?
Prairie dogs, like all wildlife, are the property of the state of Colorado. The Colorado Division of Wildlife controls many aspects of prairie dog management such as relocation, rehabilitation and hunting. The management of prairie dog habitat, however, is the responsibility of landowners where prairie dogs live. Boulder has chosen to develop regulations and policies to guide the management of prairie dogs in the city and on city owned lands.
Why can't prairie dogs that pose conflicts with parks and other land uses be relocated to another site in the county like Open Space and Mountain Park lands?
The city is always on the lookout for relocation sites within the county. However, there are currently no known sites available to receive relocated prairie dogs. The majority of prairie dog habitat conservation areas are almost completely full. In these colonies there is already little or no room for colony expansion-even in the absence of new prairie dogs being introduced from relocation projects. In other habitat conservation areas, the Open Space and Mountain Parks department is managing for a wide range of grassland species and processes. In addition to 1,500 acres of prairie dogs within the system of habitat conservation areas, there are an additional 2,500 acres of prairie dogs inhabiting other OSMP lands.
Why can't they just be moved back to where they came from?
In some cases, prairie dogs have moved into unsuitable habitats because there was no room for the home colonies to grow. There is, therefore, no room for them to be put back. Prairie dogs reintroduced to full colonies would almost certainly be killed by the prairie dogs with established territories. Even in situations where colonies are not full, it is likely that prairie dogs would continue dispersal into areas of conflict unless other management practices (e.g. barrier fences) were used. The staff team developing the management recommendations in the Urban Wildlife Management Plan considered the benefit, feasibility and cost of a wide range of management techniques for each of the urban colonies. Sites were identified as "removal" areas only after considering the possibility of managing them on site.
Why can't prairie dogs be relocated elsewhere in Colorado?
In 1999, the state legislature passed legislation (C.R.S. 35-7-203) which prohibits the release of prairie dogs in another county without permission of the county commissioners of both the sending and release sites. Because prairie dogs are considered "pests" by the state, county commissions are generally not receptive to the release of prairie dogs. Consequently, this piece of legislation greatly reduced the possibility of relocating prairie dogs from one county to another.
Why can't the city just buy more land for these prairie dogs?
Because the focus of the Open Space and Mountain Parks department is upon ecosystem management and broad open space values, the department has not and is not likely to purchase lands solely for prairie dogs. OSMP has not acquired lands specifically for the purpose of prairie dog relocation. If OSMP purchases suitable habitat it often comes fully occupied with prairie dogs. If the department purchases agricultural lands that do not have prairie dogs, managing them for prairie dogs would require that the department establish a prairie dog habitat conservation area prior to relocation.
What is the status of the black-tailed prairie dog as a species?
In the late 1990's, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed a petition to list the black-tailed prairie dog as a threatened species. Although the service found that the species was warranted for listing, the listing was precluded by other, higher priorities. This means that the black-tailed prairie dog receives no protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. NatureServe provides a range-wide rating for the black-tailed prairie dog indicating that it is somewhere between "vulnerable to extirpation" and "apparently secure". In Colorado, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program lists the black-tailed prairie dog as vulnerable to extirpation in Colorado. The Colorado Division of Wildlife in the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy identifies black-tailed prairie dog as a species with moderate and stable populations and as a species of most concern.
Why are active prairie dog colonies so important; why do we protect them?
Prairie dogs create local conditions where soils and the diversity of plants and animals are distinct from the surrounding prairie. Some species depend on prairie dogs for food (coyotes, raptors), while others live in prairie dog burrows (burrowing owls, snakes, rabbits and insects).
Like ponds, creeks, marshes and other features of healthy grasslands, they support diversity. The ecological health and diversity of grasslands depends upon a patchwork of prairie dog colonies, grasslands, wetlands, riparian (creekside) areas and other features creating many habitats. Therefore, a grassland made up only of prairie dog colonies may not help stimulate the growth of grasses and the diversity of other plants, such as wildflowers. Prairie dogs also create disturbance, which can lead to proliferation of weeds in areas where there are non-native grasses.
Who has ultimate responsibility for keeping prairie dogs off private land where they are not wanted, especially if they are coming from public land?
Prairie dogs, like all wildlife, are the property of the State of Colorado, and the state government has management responsibility for wildlife in Colorado. In the City of Boulder, individual landowners may choose to allow prairie dogs to inhabit their property or control prairie dogs in accordance with state and local regulations. The City of Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks Department has a policy of working with neighbors to take reasonable action to limit the spread of prairie dogs onto adjacent property. However, the city can not take responsibility for the movement of wildlife.
Questions about Plague
How concerned do I need to be about getting the plague from prairie dogs? How can I protect myself and my family from it?
Plague is transmitted by fleas, not by prairie dogs, so the best strategy is to avoid getting bitten by fleas. Dogs and cats can pick up fleas from prairie dog colonies and get the plague as well as carry the fleas into your neighborhood or home. Keep pets out of prairie dog colonies. Squirrels are also susceptible to plague, so keep pets away from squirrels as well.
How predictable is plague and should we use it as a management tool?
Plague is an introduced disease, and prairie dogs are very susceptible to it. It is somewhat cyclical, but all the factors that influence the cycles are not clearly understood. Wildlife managers recognize that plague is not a reliable management tool. Plague outbreaks may occur at any time and spread unpredictably.
General Questions About Urban Wildlife Issues
What is the city doing to manage black bear and mountain lion issues? How do we avoid conflicts in residential areas?
An interagency working group was formed in 2003 to enhance public education and investigate management options to reduce potential conflicts with bears in residential areas, with particular focus on the neighborhoods west of Broadway. The Colorado Division of Wildlife and city staff has engaged in extensive community outreach and education efforts concerning bears for a number of years. Based on the experiences of 2003, including the necessary destruction of a bear by the Division of Wildlife, those efforts were assessed and refined during 2004. A city staff team has been working to enhance educational efforts and evaluate management alternatives and the bear management practices of other jurisdictions.
The Interagency Bear Team has developed and distributed brochures that outline steps that residents can take to avoid conflicts. The team, with support from trained volunteers, has provided education to residents on bears and mountain lions through neighborhood meetings, meetings with the business community, Farmer’s Market displays, hikes and talks by city staff and volunteers. The interagency team will continue to collaborate on all aspects of bear management, including continued educational efforts to the residents of Boulder. Additionally, other program changes and regulatory options are being evaluated in the context of what the city may need to consider imposing within specific geographic areas of the city and/or during specific time periods of the year. This effort will also be coordinated and refined in the context of the development of the Urban Wildlife Management Plan when appropriate.
Who do I call for information about wildlife issues/conflicts?
In an emergency, call 911 and the dispatcher will help you assess the situation and determine who should respond. Animal Control (303-442-4030) can provide assistance and education for nuisance animals. For educational programs, you can call the Open Space/Mountain Parks Department at 303-441-3440 or the Colorado Division of Wildlife at 303-297-1192.
Contact Information
For more information, contact Val Matheson, Urban Wildlife Conservation Coordinator, at 303-441-3004 or
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If you have development plans for your property that may be in conflict with prairie dogs on the site or if you have any questions about prairie dogs lethal control permits, go to the Wildlife Ordinance site. If prairie dogs are causing nuisance problems for you or the uses on your property, do not attempt to poison or kill the animals. Please call Animal Control at 303-442-4030 for assistance.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 04 November 2008 06:04
Urban Wildlife Management Plan