Prairie dogs are small, cute animals but might cause problems if they live on your property. This can make you wonder about the best ways to get rid of these critters.

To get rid of prairie dogs, start by learning a little about them and their importance to the environment. Then, try deterring them with predator decoys, scary scents, or motion-activated lights and sounds. If that doesn’t work, consider relocating them, but you have to have a suitable location to free them first. Next, create barriers around areas you want to protect from prairie dogs with fencing, landscaping, or a combination of the two. Lethal methods of eliminating prairie dogs are inhumane, but you may need to use them as a last resort.

Following these steps will get prairie dogs to leave your property alone. Keep reading this article for a detailed explanation and helpful tips. See our related articles: “How To Get Rid Of Ground Squirrels” and “How To Deal With Mouse Poop“

What Are Prairie Dogs?

Knowing a bit about prairie dogs can help you decide the best way to get rid of them. Prairie dogs are plant-eating rodents inhabiting the grasslands of North America. They grow to 12- 16 inches and appear much like a squirrel but with a shorter, less bushy tail.

Five species of Prarie Dog exist, including: 

• Black-tailed – Live in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
• White-tailed – Inhabit Western Wyoming and western Colorado with small populations in southern Montana and eastern Utah.
• Gunnison’s – Inhabit Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
• Utah – Only live in Utah.
• Mexican – Inhabit the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and San Luis Potosí.

Prairie dogs get their name from their bark, which sounds like a dog’s. They possess remarkable communication systems and exhibit complex social structures, ranking among the most intricate of all animals.

Prairie Dogs’ Importance To The Environment

These animals play a crucial role as keystone species in their ecosystems because their mounds create habitats for various creatures. Furthermore, their mound-building activities contribute to grass growth and rejuvenation while enriching the topsoil with minerals and nutrients. This process is essential for maintaining soil quality and supporting agriculture. 

In the food chain, prairie dogs hold significant importance as they’re a vital part of the diets of various animals, including the black-footed ferret, swift fox, golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, American badger, and coyote. The golden-mantled ground squirrel, mountain plover, and burrowing owl rely on prairie dog burrows for nesting sites. 

Also, grazing animals like plains, bison, pronghorn, and mule deer demonstrate a preference for the same grasslands inhabited by prairie dogs. Overall, these small critters play an outsized role in creating a healthy environment.

What Problems Do Prairie Dogs Cause?

One of the primary concerns associated with prairie dog presence is the detrimental impact on your yard’s aesthetics. Lawns marred by dirt mounds and prairie dog burrows appear disheveled and neglected, detracting from their beauty.

Also, their fondness for devouring buds and roots can result in the complete demise of landscaping plants, fruits, and vegetables. Moreover, these critters trim the foliage to a height that allows them to see their surroundings better.

Tunneling is a prevalent form of prairie dog damage, creating holes and heaps of dirt that make the ground uneven and hazardous to navigate. These irregular surfaces could make people, pets, and livestock trip. Furthermore, prairie dog tunnels present challenges during lawn maintenance, as conventional mowers struggle to operate on such rugged terrain.

Do Prairie Dogs Spread Disease?

There is a tiny chance of prairie dogs spreading diseases to humans. The illnesses could only be transmitted through touching animals and include:

1. Plague: Prairie dogs are carriers of the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which causes plague. Plague can be transmitted to humans through flea bites, handling infected animals, or inhaling respiratory droplets from infected animals. 
2. Tularemia: Prairie dogs can become infected with this bacterium and transmit it to humans through bites, scratches, contact with infected carcasses, or inhaling contaminated soil or dust particles. Tularemia is uncommon but can cause severe illness in humans.
3. Other diseases: Prairie dogs can also carry hantavirus, monkeypox, and tick-borne illnesses. Although the risk of transmission to humans is low, it is still important to exercise caution and take preventive measures when near prairie dogs or their habitats.

Should I Kill Prairie Dogs?

The traditional way of getting rid of prairie dogs has been to kill them, resulting in their disappearance from 87 to 99 percent of their historical range in some areas. The Humane Society of the United States says there are no humane ways of killing prairie dogs, which is something to consider when making your decision about how to get rid of them.

Prairie dogs are innocent, cute creatures that benefit the ecosystem in many ways, and it’s best if you can find a way not to kill them. But there are situations where killing them might be your best choice.

If prairie dogs threaten your livelihood or simply make your life miserable, you may be justified in killing them. You should check your local regulations about killing or hunting these animals to see if you need a permit or permission to do so.

Prairie Dog Detterrents

Prairie dogs have a tendency to abandon areas if they become uncomfortable. Therefore, various approaches can annoy or intimidate them and encourage their departure. 

Predator Decoys

One effective method is decoys resembling their natural predators, such as badgers, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, golden eagles, and hawks. Place these decoys near prairie dog burrows for optimal results and periodically relocate them to maintain effectiveness.

Attract Real Predators

A balanced ecosystem hosts predators that keep prairie dog numbers in check. You might be able to encourage some of the predators mentioned earlier to take up residence on or near your property.

Scary Scents

Scents associated with their natural predators, such as coyotes and foxes, might deter prairie dogs. Commercially available urine or urine-scented liquids can be purchased from physical or online stores. 

Sprinkle these scents around their burrows or spray them on your decoys if you use them. Additionally, applying urine along the perimeter of your property can serve as a proactive measure to discourage prairie dogs.

Also, strong odors, such as vinegar, spices, mints, and citrus, might help deter prairie dogs. Apply them to burrow openings, and you may need to reapply them periodically to ensure the scent remains potent and doesn’t wash away.

Motion-Activated Lights, Sounds, or Sprinklers

Motion-activated ultrasonic devices equipped with strobe lights can be a straightforward and convenient option. The sound and light emitted by these devices can startle prairie dogs, potentially motivating them to leave. 

Also, sprinklers can be set with motion activation to annoy prairie dogs. Set up these devices to specifically target prairie dogs, plug them in, and monitor your backyard to see if they leave.

Trapping & Relocating Prairie Dogs

Successful trapping and relocating prairie dogs can be complicated and might be best left to professionals. Check with local wildlife organizations to see if they offer this service; it might not cost you anything. 

If you decide to undertake prairie dog relocation, first find a suitable site for them with a historical population. This is the most difficult part, and you may need a permit to release prairie dogs into the wild.

Once you find a suitable and legal release site, follow these steps:

1. Begin by selecting purpose-made prairie dog traps and buy enough for all the animals you need to relocate. 
2. Identify the active areas near prairie dog burrows or where you’ve seen them. Fresh dirt mounds and holes usually mark these areas.
3. Place the traps strategically near the burrow entrances or along the paths commonly used by the prairie dogs. Ensure the traps are securely anchored to prevent escape or tampering.
4. Bait the traps with enticing food that prairie dogs are attracted to, such as fresh vegetables or fruits. Place the bait inside the trap and position it so the trap mechanism triggers when the prairie dog enters.
5. Regularly monitor the traps to check for captured prairie dogs because they can die of heat stroke when temperatures are over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Once a prairie dog is trapped, handle the situation carefully to avoid injury to yourself or the animal. 
6. Take the prairie dogs to their new home and release them in the evening or early morning. You may need to dig a burrow so that prairie dogs have somewhere to hide.

Creating Prairie Dog Barriers

Artificial and vegetative barriers can prevent prairie dogs from accessing incompatible areas, including athletic fields, agricultural lands, residential and commercial areas, and trails. They should create physical and visual blockages to keep the critters away.

Some options you have to create prairie dog barriers include:

• Wood-slatted privacy fencing
• Vinyl barrier fencing
• Snow fencing
• Shrubs
• Hay bales
• Fast-growing tall grasses
• Trees

You can introduce new plantings or promote existing plant growth to create vegetative barriers and buffers. 

Unfortunately, black-tailed prairie dogs trim plants that exceed their preferred height. To address this, you can start with vinyl barrier fencing or hay bales with tall plants behind them. While the hay bales will gradually break down over a few years, the tall plants will have ample time to establish themselves, making it challenging for prairie dogs to trim them down.