HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupporting Documentation - Wildlife - 07/09/2025
Prairie Dog Management Plan: Core Spaces at College and Trilby
AloTerra has prepared this prairie dog management plan for the proposed 39-acre Core Spaces at College
and Trilby development site in Fort Collins, Colorado. This document outlines the necessary scope of
work for the removal of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) from the designated project
area.
AloTerra will not perform removal activities. It is the client ’s responsibility to research, select, and
contract a qualified wildlife management firm to conduct all removal operations.
If fumigation is selected as the removal method, the City of Fort Collins requires a Payment-in-Lieu fee to
cover restoration and plague management costs. For 2025, these costs are as follows:
● Grassland Restoration: $4,187/acre
● Plague Management: $320/acre
● Total: $4,507/acre
Carbon monoxide fumigation qualifies for a 20% discount, reducing the total to $3,606/acre.
These fees are subject to a 2.5% annual increase from 2026 through 2030.
A cost comparison table provided by the City of Fort Collins is included below for reference:
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TASK 1: BURROWING OWL SURVEYS
Both active and inactive prairie dog colonies may serve as habitat for burrowing owls (Athene
cunicularia), which nest in Colorado from mid-March through October. If prairie dog management is
scheduled during this period, pre-construction surveys for burrowing owls are required.
Surveys will be conducted in accordance with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) guidelines. Surveys will
include three site visits within two hours of sunrise or sunset on days with low wind and no precipitation.
A qualified biologist will perform visual assessments using binoculars, spending a minimum of 10
minutes at each observation point. The number of observation points will be based on site visibility. To
enhance detection, recorded owl calls will be broadcast during surveys. Surveys should begin
approximately two weeks prior to any prairie dog management activities.
If burrowing owls are detected, the CPW District Wildlife Manager for Fort Collins and the local
Environmental Planner will be notified. In such cases, it is recommended that management be
postponed until the fall, following owl migration. If no owls are observed, management may proceed as
planned.
TASK 2: DONATION
When conducted outside the prairie dog pupping season, the preferred removal method is live trapping,
followed by humane euthanasia and donation to a raptor or black-footed ferret rehabilitation center.
However, if management must occur during the pupping season (mid-March to late June), below-ground
fumigation is recommended to avoid separating lactating females from their dependent young.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Notification
A CPW permit is only required if prairie dogs are transported alive. For projects that do not require a
permit, CPW still requests prior notification before trapping begins, along with post-project
documentation detailing the number of prairie dogs removed and donated. The selected removal
contractor will be responsible for notifying the appropriate District Wildlife Manager (DWM) and
submitting the CPW Dead Prairie Dog Transportation Report upon project completion.
Live Trapping
The selected contractor will be responsible for providing a detailed description of the live trapping
procedures, including trapping methods, equipment used, and daily monitoring protocols.
Euthanasia
The contractor must outline the euthanasia process, specifying the methods used to ensure humane
treatment in compliance with applicable animal welfare guidelines.
Donation
The contractor will provide a detailed plan for the transfer and donation of prairie dog carcasses to an
approved raptor or black-footed ferret rehabilitation center, including handling, transport, and
coordination logistics.
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Task 3: Fumigation
Fumigation may be used to eliminate any remaining or migrating prairie dogs following initial removal
efforts. The selected contractor will provide a detailed description of the fumigation methods and
protocols to ensure effective eradication in accordance with applicable regulations and best practices.
Task 4: Completion Report
Upon completion of fumigation, the contractor will submit a final report summarizing all prairie dog
management activities. This report will verify that no prairie dogs remain within the limits of disturbance
and will serve as formal documentation authorizing the commencement of earthmoving activities.
Task 5: Recolonization Prevention
To minimize the risk of recolonization, AloTerra recommends the installation of silt fencing or a similar
barrier around the project perimeter prior to and throughout construction. Should prairie dogs breach
the barrier, additional fumigation may be necessary. After construction is complete, the fence will be
removed, prairie dogs may be allowed to reenter the site naturally, and no further management will be
required.
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