AURORA, Colo. — The Murphy Creek neighborhood in Aurora is a quiet and happy little place. With an 18-hole golf course, it’s a great place to play and raise a family.
But according to some residents, an invasion is taking place. A prairie dog invasion.
What sounds like a cute little bark by the burrowing animal sounds very different to Murphy Creek resident Carol Ann Silver.
“I hate ’em”, she said.
Silver is quick to point out the prairie dog isn’t a dog at all.
“They should be called prairie rodents or prairie rats because they are not dogs,” she said.
Another neighbor, Walter Lawson, agrees.
“Yes, we have a problem out here,” he said.
The problem of the preponderance of prairie dogs is not in dispute, but the method of removal, is.
“I’d really like to see them relocated because I think everything should have a chance to live.” resident Michael Van Gompel said.
Landscape and fencing barriers, even scent repellents are suggested by Aurora Open Space and Natural Resources Superintendent Brian Green.
Silver suggests hiring greenskeeper Carl Spackler from “Caddyshack.”
“Caddyshack, yeah. Get rid of them,” she said.
Unlike Carl Spackler, explosives would be illegal. Aurora Open Space recommends calling a professional animal removal service before taking the problem of the burrowing, but sometimes cute, prairie dog in you own hands.
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