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In response to the prairie-dog article and Gary Harmon’s beyond-ignorant column on the species:
Did you know prairie dogs have a high-pitched, bark-like call. Studies suggest that prairie dogs possess the most sophisticated of all natural animal languages. They issue different sounds identifying various predators, which include hawks, owls, eagles, ravens, coyotes, badgers, ferrets and snakes.
Prairie dogs can run up to 35 mph for short distances. The prairie dog has only one defense that works — raising the alarm and disappearing quickly.
The prairie dog has been a part of the West since way before we ever settled and established the land. They have whole communities. These communities provide predators a way to eat and survive in an ever-changing shrinking landscape for wildlife.
It is sad that we, as people, would allow the foolish free-for-all hunting/target practice on our public lands of a species with such intelligence that is providing a food chain for predators that roam our landscape. There is no sport in hunting/killing defenseless prairie dogs.
SAM BAGLEY
Palisade
32 Responses to “Prairie dogs are intelligent creatures”
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 11:11 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
prairie dogs are a pest….they cause countless injuries to domestice livestock, and their fleas carry bubonic plague….rats are extremely intelligent as well…i suppose you want to outlaw rat traps and cats?
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 11:39 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Well Sam, I suppose you could buy lots of land and import all the prairie dogs from where they cause problems to your place where they can live in peace and tranquility.
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 5:06 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Hiteredneck wrote: “prairie dogs are a pest….they cause countless injuries to domestice livestock, and their fleas carry bubonic plague…”
You could also have noted the following: Humans are pests! They cause countless injuries (and deaths) to domestic livestock, and their fleas carry bubonic plague. They also carry tuberculosis, AIDS and many other nasty communicable diseases.
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 5:14 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
You are right, 52, but then, none of you that are so worried about the animals give a hoot in hell about humans. But you hit the nail on the head. Some humans are DEFINETLY pests.
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 9:07 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Grandmasix wrote: “You are right, 52, but then, none of you that are so worried about the animals give a hoot in hell about humans.”
I am not even sure what you mean by this statement, but it certainly sounds like nonsense. What is the basis for your making such a comment?
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 11:16 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Oh dear jef, you shouldn’t have asked that question.
I don’t think yer gonna like the answer.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 9:07 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
If these creatures are so smart then why havent the colonies along I-70 B created a grunt or whistle to alert their cousins to cars that are going to smash them? If the prairie dogs go on the “endangered list” what will happen to the people that run them over, even if it is an accident?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 9:25 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Jen wrote: “If these creatures are so smart then why havent the colonies along I-70 B created a grunt or whistle to alert their cousins to cars that are going to smash them? If the prairie dogs go on the “endangered list” what will happen to the people that run them over, even if it is an accident?”
This makes about as much sense as saying, “if people are so smart, why do they keep killing one another with cars?”
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 10:43 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Prarie dog are very useful. The below (two) examples speak for themselves.
Here are some great recipes for your dining pleasure.
Prairie Dog Stew
Ingredients:
1 prairie dog, quartered
1 cup diced onion
2 large tomatoes (from your garden) or 1 can of tomatoes
Assorted fresh ,or canned veggies
Preparation:
Sprinkle seasoned salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper (optional) liberally on the meat. Pour some cooking oil into a large pot (dutch oven). Sauté the meat with the onions until well browned. Drain the excess oil, add about 2 cups water, and bring to a boil. Cut up the tomatoes and add. If you use canned tomatoes add them now. Turn down the heat, and let slow cook for at least an hour. Important: older prairie dogs may require cooking longer than an hour. Check periodically for tenderness. If you don’t you will have a hard time chewing the meat. After the meat is tender, add the veggies, carrots, potatoes, banana pepper, what ever you like. Cook until the veggies are done. An option you can use is, cook up your favorite pasta and serve over the pasta. (eliminate the potatoes). That’s it, nice and simple
—————————————————————————-
Prairie Dog Pie
Clean, skin and cut two prairie dogs into small pieces. Soak in salted water, or water with a little vinegar added, changing water several times. Drain, dry and roll in seasoned flour. Sauté in pork or bacon fat until slightly browned, then place in greased pie dish or bowl, add two cups liquid (made up of wine, cider, beer, crushed fruit , or a little vinegar, and water or stock), salt and pepper, one thinly sliced onion, herbs of your choice. Cover and cook on top stove for 1 ½, or in moderate oven for two hours. Remove and thicken the stock with a little flour. Take out part of the gravy and add tomatoes, sauce or catsup, to serve with the pie. Meanwhile, cover meat dish with pastry or biscuit dough, slit for steam to escape, and bake for 20 minutes in hot oven.
Now. we can all agree on the “usefulness of prairie dogs.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 11:31 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I have an 11 year old grandson coming to the ranch for the summer. He is from Georgia and, the idea of “going west” to the land of the pioneers and cowboys, excites him greatly.
I intend to introduce him to target shooting so he may learn gun safety and respect of firearms. (while having a little of fun).
I will also be teaching him horse-back riding so he may learn and respect the skills of transportation our forefathers possessed that helped settle this vast land. (while having a little fun).
The point I wish to make:
While learning to “ride” he must also be vigilant of the good old prairie dog holes, so he doesn’t injure his horse and/or himself.
While learning to “shoot” he will help rid our property of another danger, and that is dangerous, hole digging paririe dogs that are not only a danger to me, my horses, and my cattle but, also my tenderfoot grandson, who may one day own this modest spread.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 11:32 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Wow, that sounds delicious. I have never really tried Prairie Dog, but my logging buddies from the Northwest tell me that it tastes like Spotted Owl. I’ll bet you weren’t aware that the modern breed of dog we know as Daschund is simply a genetic mutation of the parent Doberman Pinscher. This mutation occurred in the early 1800’s when Dobermans, brought by early trappers, escaped captivity and began feeding on the indigenous prairie dog population. The original Indian name, for the Daschund breed, “Yaha che ho humpa” which translated means, “small fox that sleeps with Prairie Dogs”. “Yaha che ho humpa’s” were revered for their ability to enter the burrows and thereby eliminate the furry pests. More information is available from your public library. Explorations of the Great Basin, Captain Simpson, US Army
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I think the recipes were supposed to shock any PETA members into a coma.
Heck, I’d have more respect for Prairie Dog hunters if they actually ate them. That’s what hunting’s really supposed to be about, you know? Meat. Many noble, majestic animals are quite delicious. But shooting Prairie Dogs with a Weatherby .300 Magnum doesn’t yield a lot of meat. It just leaves a red mist. (I know firsthand) If it was for meat, at least the hunt would serve a better purpose than “Hey, Cletus, let’s go kill some varmints!”
A Prairie Dog hunt is not a real hunt. It’s just killing for sport. It’s lame and ridiculous to call it anything but target shooting. But it’s not illegal. It’s not ethically any worse, or any better, than shooting rats at the dump. You’re not clubbing baby seals, but you’re not bowhunting bears, either. You’re just killing a critter that a lot of people consider a nuisance.
And, speaking of flea-infested, not-smart-enough-to-dodge-traffic subhuman species, calling Gary Harmon ignorant is like calling water wet. It doesn’t take a PhD to figure that out.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 12:52 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I love the Prairie Dog recipes. I’m all for anything that makes urban new-to-the-west PC types mess themselves and fall into a coma.
The rural west still offers a superior lifestyle unavailable in the big urban/suburban areas elsewhere in the country. Of course there are those that want to take it away since they can’t stand to see regular folks live well.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 2:10 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Ladies and gentlemen. Are we ready to ruuuuumble? It appears since my arriving here on this blog (very recently) that name calling is rampant. I ask Curmudgeon, “why do you want to call Gary Harmon “ignorant”? Does not Mr. Harmon have a right to post his opinion, as we all do? It appears that Classof52 wants to exterminate the human race but I don’t call him/her ignorant.(a little mentally imbalanced possibly, but not ignorant.) Redneck, Willis, Grandma,and Jen seem cool amd calm about the issues. And cs190 knows good cooking and has a great sense of humor to boot. (I suppose that is everyone)?
I understand that, at times, we get very angry about a post from someone who is either ignorant of the subject, or has an opinion that runs contrary to yours but, is that reason enough to call anyone ignorant? (in the proper context, the word “ignorant” is NOT a smear, but actually describes a person who does not fully understand the facts). It seems here in this forum, we have an awful lot of ignorant people. I find that most, if not all who post here, simply are not tolerant of any opinion they do not agree with. As I drive my property checking for coyote traps, jack rabbit traps, prarie dog traps, and a few more I cannot mention, I always carry my trusty .45/.70 calibre /6 power scope and if I spot any of the above, I shoot their little brains out and leave them for the crows and buzzards, as they must eat too. Some of these shots are from 200 to 300 yards and with my rate of success, I wouldn’t recommend anyone coming on my place to tell me I cannot do it. The cute furry animals mentioned above are just a small example of why your pot roast and burgers cost so darned much. Help me get rid of them and maybe I will lower my costs and you can save money at the grocery store. Try as I might, the signs that say keep out do not work on critters, but if I were you, I would take heed. I am a semi-retired rancher with a little extra time on my hands to read the Sentinel. I suspect there is a great number of egg heads who just avoid working and have way too much time to waste. Now, that’s ignorant! Oh hell, I just called all you guys and gals stupid. Shame on me. Can’t we all just get along?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 2:52 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Ah, the quintessential american in America speaks volumes about our current state of affairs. It’s all about me and my gun and my private property. Rugged, armed, overly religious, undereducated, misinformed and completely lost. Guess it’s not the government that worries me after all – it’s the moronic masses of people with attitudes like that, which are truly scary.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Like American, I am a retired rancher and in my opinion anyone who thinks prarie dogs are anything but a pest has never owned property that was infested with them. I never did go out onto BLM to just shoot them, my hunting was confined to something edible but I did eliminate scores of the little varmits that were on my property digging holes for stock to step into and eating crops that were meant for my livestock. Just my opinion.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 3:35 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
American wrote: “It appears that Classof52 wants to exterminate the human race”
Where in the world did you get such a bizarre notion?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 3:52 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Do I detect a note of jealousy when it comes to private property, pursuit of happiness (read shooting prairie dogs)or the right to keep and bear arms? You, are afraid of your own government? Sounds kind of like if you are not in control, you get scared. You thought the sign said “No Trash Pitching” right? Heck, it isn’t even written in Spanish. If I were you, I’d just trot down there and tell this gun totin’ redneck moron just how you felt about him. I would, however, caution you to do that from 200 to 300 yards away, at night, in a driving rain storm, with your belly flat on the ground and your hi-top felony fliers on. I would also suggest you approach from the South side. That’s the only gate post that doesn’t have a sign posted on it, that reads, this post is ranged for 45/70. Man oh Man American, them are some tight groups. I guess that’s where they got that old saying “Beware the man who only owns one gun, he probably knows how to use it”. Don’t shoot the guy with the John Deere hat, I’m your neighbor to the north. Goodness gracious, looks like we got ourselves a colony of “moronic masses”. OOH RAH!!!
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Class of 52
I missed the statement about fleas above. Until now, I never met a human with fleas. No wonder you are always so dour.
Try flea collars on you ankles or coal oil soaked rags.
It works for chiggers.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 4:00 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Seems the explanation must ONLY be black & white for the red/white/blue crowd – so that ALL things are EITHER sacred or profane; no middle way, end of discussion, period. Off with your head.
For example:
Cow = SACRED; Prairie Dog (or wolf, bear, coyote, mtn. lion) = PROFANE
Christianity = SACRED; Buddhism (or , insert text of choice here: Atheism,
Jainism, Hinduism, Islamism, etc.) = all, every one, PROFANE
Man & Woman, partners = SACRED; Woman & Woman, partners = PROFANE
Flag Waving, Yellow Ribbon Magnetic support of the war machine = SACRED; Asking Relevant Questions and Demanding Truth = PROFANE
And so on. It’s a very self-limiting and overtly simplistic view of the world. No rational thought, no critical thinking involved – what could be better & easier? Everything reduced to sounds and labels. How far down the rathole can we spiral as a moronic mass?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 4:08 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Chancho, don’t you mean how far down the prairie-dog burrow can we spiral?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 4:17 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Yer right - seems like we’ve nearly hit bedrock, however, with 8 years of Bush & Co. Can it possibly get any worse?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 4:23 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
How about a nice tidy little war with Iran? Would that qualify?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 4:28 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
What does Bush have to do with shooting prairie dogs? (Some of my best friends eat meat, including cows.) Or for that matter, religion. The only one I have a problem with is the one that advocates killing anyone who is not part of their religion (Koran). It’s not charitable to do such things.
However, Chancho, you had a good point there. If more prairie dogs were homosexual, there wouldn’t be a population problem.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 4:45 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
The sanctioned killing part does seem a bit extreme. Oops, but that perinneal best seller in the red-blooded USA, that holy book of the inspired word of god says:
“…But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die.”
Deuteronomy 22:13-21
Now THAT’S some kinda harsh punishment, eh granny?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 4:57 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Right, and the Koran and others use the same law. Must be a man thing.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 5:01 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
But it’s only okay in the Bible, right?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 5:07 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Crumudgeon,
I did not say anything like that. Chancho and I were having a little fun at the expense of the posts which were put up, mine included.
I didn’t say killing was OK. I just said that I thought religions of any kind should not advocate killing the rest of the world, if they don’t believe a certain way. I know the Bible uses Hell, but it is not people killing all but the Christians.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 5:19 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Is this becoming a religious debate, or is it still about prairie dogs? I’m not really sure, but the connection’s getting pretty thin. Whatever. If it’s to become a religious debate, would you please move it to the forums?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 6:11 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I’d argue that at its core, this is nothing BUT a religious issue and a matter of respect & reverance for life and the connectedness of the natural world.
The original letter writer states: “There is no sport in hunting/killing defenseless prairie dogs.” That can (and should) be broadly applied to all living things. Unless, of course, you’ve bought the subscription to divine dominion over all living things.
How many Jainists out there have blasted a P. dog lately with a rifle - raise your hand? Now, all you Atheists - give it up with a show of hands? Next: big-box-warehouse attendees - any takers?
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 6:17 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Grandmasix wrote: “Class of 52
I missed the statement about fleas above. Until now, I never met a human with fleas. No wonder you are always so dour.
Try flea collars on you ankles or coal oil soaked rags.
It works for chiggers.”
And here we have another masterpiece of sophomoric humor and enlightened discussion.
Posted May 14th, 2008 at 8:55 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I just don’t get it.
I leave you children alone for one afternoon and you get so far off topic that even Todd has to step in.
And ‘classof52′ wrote ” And here we have another masterpiece of sophomoric humor and enlightened discussion. ”
and it rocked my faith in him to very core of my being.
He actually caught on!!!!
11 grade levels above his norm, and HE GOT IT!!!!
Isn’t life GRAND?
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