Regional Transport District (RTD), through their light rail construction, have killed thousands of prairie dogs, a keystone species, in Colorado.
On July 8th, RTD will continue their massacre in the name of “sustainable development”. They were given $92M of taxpayer’s dollars by President Obama’s administration to help build this transportation system, and part of these tax dollars are going to destroy a keystone species and the environment.
RTD put in for a permit to relocate these prairie dogs in December 2015. The permit was denied in January 2016 and they made no attempts to find other alternatives for these prairie dogs. They sat on this information for 6 months and only days ago informed advocates that these prairie dogs are going to be killed, leaving NO TIME to help advocate for this colony, and I believe this is intentional.
These prairie dogs will be trapped and gassed but many would be buried alive by construction equipment after they stop trapping. These sentient beings know that something horrible will be happening to them from all the commotion and earth vibrations near their burrows/homes and there is nothing they can do but wait for the massacre to happen.
Sustainable transportation is great, and it's important to encourage people to get out of their cars to cut global warming pollution. However, RTD needs to do more to limit its impact on important habitat and critical species like prairie dogs in order to be a consistent positive force for the environment.
Thanks as always for your support.
One of the last small colonies of surviving prairie dogs in Douglas County will be annihilated during the week ofJuly 8th by your representatives. We are asking you to postpone this extreme action until an appropriate relocation area is identified.
It is our understanding that RTD previously attempted to find a relocation site and that the site chosen by the contracted company, Smith Environmental, was going to be denied prior to even submitting the permit. If that is the case, the permit was submitted to show an effort on the behalf of RTD with no real intention of saving this colony.
We are asking that you work with WildLands Defense to find a 10 acre parcel in Douglas County to purchase for the relocation of this colony rather than destroying this colony in the beginning of July and actually illustrate a valid attempt to relocate not exterminate.
Update #27 years ago
Despite pleas from advocates to delay the massacre, RTD is hellbent on killing these prairie dogs this Friday, July 8th even though they know land is available for purchase to relocate. Please call Public Information Manager and urge them to take the relocation option.
303-299-2653
303-598-2422 Thank you!
Update #17 years ago
Spoke with RTD Planning Proj Mgr Susan Wood today. She said RTD is prepared to relocate prairie dogs if land can be found. Said she will call WildLands Defense (WLD) after we spoke. Have also urged RTD on their FB to work with WLD to explore lots of lands available. WLD has yet to receive a call from her. Please urge RTD on their FB to work with WLD or call/email (Susan.Wood@RTD-Denver.com Tel: 303-299-2467) RTD public relations: 303.299.2257 publicrelations@rtd-denver.com Thx for your support.
