Lawton, OK – Relocation efforts are underway at Elmer Thomas Park as officials work to manage the prairie dog population. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation assisted City of Lawton crews on Thursday in capturing and removing 98 prairie dogs, which will be relocated to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Alfalfa County.
City crews used a pump truck to fill the burrows with a mixture of water and dish soap, coaxing the animals out. Once captured, the prairie dogs were rinsed off, placed in a straw-lined trough, treated for fleas and ticks, and loaded into cages for transport to their new habitat.
According to ODWC officials, the use of dish soap is a safer alternative to filling the burrows with only water, which could lead to drowning or permanent habitat destruction.
The soap mixture helps create a physical filling in the tunnels, allowing the animals to breathe as they make their way to the surface.
Relocation efforts are set to continue Friday, with an additional 50 prairie dogs expected to be captured and moved to Alfalfa County.
Officials anticipate that this process will continue in the coming months until the population at Elmer Thomas Park reaches a manageable level.
