AP News, March 9th, 2007
The city agreed to stop poisoning prairie dogs, whose antics have attracted tourists to local park, after outraged residents came to the rodents' defense.
The small, stout rodents have been burrowing through Elmer Thomas Park for decades, annoying city workers but entertaining onlookers.
Parks and Recreation Director Kim Shahan estimates the black-tailed prairie dog population at the park has doubled to 8,000 since 2002. When the rodents started to encroach on neighboring Lawton High School athletic fields, the city decided to take drastic action.
"This isn't about the prairie dog," Shahan said. "I like the prairie dog as much as anyone else. But the issue now is safety."
City workers spent two nights last week dropping poisonous pellets into prairie dog holes and then sealing them to reduce the population. The pellets contain aluminium phosphide. Moisture in the soil produces a phosphine gas that kills the prairie dogs.
"We found out about it the next day, and the people that loved the prairie dogs really started hollering," said resident Sherry Bly.
Angry protesters converged on the park Saturday, and the group began an online petition drive to "stop the poisoning of our Lawton Prairie Dog Population!"
"I think it was horribly cruel, and it was done in an inhumane way," Bly said. "Those little prairie dogs suffered horribly."
Shahan said the city has halted its poisoning efforts for now.
Keith Mitchell, Lawton public schools spokesman, has seen countless prairie dog holes appear on the grounds surrounding Lawton High School, including the baseball field and football practice field.
"We're fighting them back," Mitchell said. "Right now, our groundskeepers fill holes with dirt as soon as they see them. Naturally, our concern is the safety of our students.
"We don't want some kid going back on a fly ball, worrying that he might step in a hole and break his ankle," Mitchell said.
