Clovis city officials: Prairie dog poisoning finished

The deed is done.

The last of a potent poison aimed at putting a dent in the prairie dog population at Ned Houk Park was applied Friday, according to Clovis Parks and Recreation Director Bill Bizzell.

The prairie dog eradication program was approved March 1 at a special city commission meeting. Adjacent landowners appealed to the city for help, saying they burrowing rodents would spread to their crops and land.

Up to $25,000 was approved for an emergency budget transfer to purchase 250 containers of Rozol rodenticide to reduce the population of prairie dogs at park.

Officials said most of the areas where Rozol will be applied is undeveloped, and warning signs were placed at regular intervals in the affected area.

By law, dead prairie dogs must be collected every one to two days for two weeks after application to prevent wildlife from ingesting a contaminated carcass.