"State law does not protect prairie dogs." -- nor should it." - Jeffrey Schwartz, Highlands Ranch

" Prarie dogs have saturated open spaces and can't be contained. The dogs have numerous diseases and destroy the land with burrows and strip the vegatation. Shea can't find them a home and should exterminate. If they don't the dogs will just move to the closest site..maybe someone's backyard. Does Joanne want to spend her money to relocate the dogs or City/state/my tax money? Does Joanne have a big back yard?" - Darrell Sabatka, Lone Tree

" Prairie dogs do NOT contain numerous diseases. Fears of humans contracting plague from prairie dogs are greatly exaggerated. Of the 51 plague cases in Colorado since 1957, only 10 were directly linked to prairie dogs and, of those 10, only one was fatal. The CDOH states, 'If precautions are taken, the probability of an individual contracting plague, even in an active plague area, is quite low.' Fleas that carry plague are very host-specific and generally do not infect other animals unless their natural hosts are unavailable. 76 species of mammals carry plague; rock squirrels are the most significant host and have been involved in most of the human cases. When infected, 99.5 percent of the prairie dogs will die in a short period. In humans the incubation period is two to six days and can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Prairie dogs are vital components to the prairie ecosystem. They are unjustifiably vilified -- nothing like the real enemy of the west: development and cattle." - Christopher Jones

" Thank you Joanne for such a great story! I'm a wildlife photographer and I depend on this species for my job. It is not hard to see how these colonies support so many other wonderful creatures. Truly, Prairie Dogs are the conerstone of the entire prairie eco system! I want to see more open space saved containing natural prairie grassland, complete with all it's natural inhabitants. As it is, each year I have to travel further and further away to get my pictures, because all the colonies I find are being destroyed at an alarming rate." - Vicki Grice

" There IS no conservation plan by Metro Districts except to kill the prairie dogs. Prairie dogs are a key Great Plains species crucial to the survival of at least nine other species including hawks, owls, foxes and ferrets. I don't think most people know this fact, but besides the bulldozing, gassing these helpless little creates is the worst solution. Gassing causes tremendous pain and suffering through internal bleeding that can last up to 72 hours. It is MYTH that prairie dogs spread the Plague. In reality, prairie dogs lack immunity to the plague and, consequently, the mortality rate for infected prairie dogs is 99%. From 1957-2002, only six cases of the plague were directly linked to prairie dogs, and of those six cases, only one was a fatality. Additionally, plague in humans is easily treatable with standard antibiotics. We need a humane and REAL conservation plan Metro Districts!" - Jeanine DeFrancesco

" Shea Homes is also currently developing the Back Country community at the south end of Highlands Ranch. They are currently bulldozing a very large prairie dog colony there. When 20 stunned residents requested a meeting to discuss humane alternatives to this destruction, Shea refused to even talk with us. Habitat exists for this wildlife to be relocated, at almost no cost to Shea. The Backcountry Wilderness Area includes 7,000 acres preserved for wildlife. This property is currently owned by Shea Homes but the property will be conveyed to the HRCA in the near future. Moving the animals there would not require county approvals. Prairie dogs are a keystone species and their populations are down to 1 - 2% of their original numbers. This is a species that should certainly be treated with more respect than Shea Homes has shown, and one that should be preserved in our wildlife and open space areas." - Leslie Johnson

" I find it absurd that this is even a news story. To the prairie dog busybodies (and that includes the YourHub staff who feel the same way), please take note. It's not your land. If you think someone "should" do something to save them, maybe you "should" relocate them to your backyards and let them live there. Why "should" someone ELSE do what you think they "should" do? It's not your land and the folks building on it can do whatever they please within the law...including NOT relocating prairie dogs. In case you hadn't heard...it's called "private property rights" and it's somewhat unique to our country...that would be the "United States." - Dave Schallert

" Many thanks to Steve for writing this article and many thanks to those of you who read my story and responded. I am sorry to say that after this article was posted, Shea decided to exterminate the remaining prairie dogs on the property. I was told that this decision was made after weighing other options. I think this is truly a good time to promote public awareness. Until last Tuesday, I had no idea that a construction crew would plow through living prairie dogs- even with some visible above ground. It was an awful scene and I'm sure many of you would feel as passionately as I do about this matter if you had seen it firsthand. Please consider educating yourself about prairie dogs by visiting www.prairiedogcoaltion.org. And let's not forget that we are stewards of this land." - Joanne Conca, Highlands Ranch

" Prairie dog advocates have created numerous options for alternatives for prairie dogs including purchasing thousands of acres in Colorado adjacent to public land to create a prairie preserve and relocate displaced urban prairie dogs back onto the prairie. This was halted by SB99-111 created by special interests. SB99-111 does not allow relocation over county lines. We are now working on new solutions. A recent poll in Colorado showed 72% of voters favor developers paying mitigation fees for prairie dog habitat they destroy. Only 5% of the prairie dog population remains.The days of thinking about prairie dogs as destructive pests are gone.The science has proven that 9 species including hawks, owls, eagles, foxes, badgers and ferrets all directly depend on prairie dogs. Every time they go, these animals decline too.Coloradans want wildlife decisions based on science, not politics.The science shows prairie dogs need to be protected, not bulldozed, or poisoned or killed." - Lindsey Sterling Krank, The Prairie Dog Coalition

" Not only is this an important news story, it's clearly sparking some great discussions...and THAT'S what this great country is all about. Wildlife protection is important to Coloradoans. Private property rights only apply to humans, so the non-human habitats that are there first need others to speak for them. Ecosystems are complex and we are all ultimately dependent upon nature to survive. A couple of comments mentioned making our own backyards wildlife preserves...which is a great idea! The Humane Society of the United States hosts an Urban Wildlife Sanctuary program were individuals can take simple steps to make their yards more wildlife friendly. Visit www.humanesociety.org and search "Urban Wildlife Sanctuary" for more info." -Holly Stewart, Humane Society of the United States

"I agree with Joanne Conca regarding the prairie dogs. I live 1 block away and have been watching the colony for years and recently all their babies, and was horrified to see the heavy equipment killing them all. Thank you for the article in YourHub.com, I will contact Shea Properties and let them know my opinion. Unbelievable slaughter." -B. Voss, Highlands Ranch

"It is not like there is any shortage of the rodents in this area. If she is so concerned, let her relocate them to her property." -Barbara Martini

"I'm a Highlands Ranch resident and I feel Strongly that all the prairie dogs in Highlands Ranch including the ones at the Town Center should be saved and relocated if needed. They SHOULD Not be killed. Would appreciate it if you could relay this to Shea Homes. There is no reason to kill prairie dogs." - Mary Ferguson, Highlands Ranch

"We enjoy driving by and seeing the little fellas standing up and look at us ... this is their home. If there's some way possible that they could be removed and relocated or something. I feel like a lot of other people -- I hate to see them just destroyed so that we don't see anymore prairie dogs." - Transcribed from a voice message left by a Highlands Ranch resident