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On July 14, 2023, a construction company bulldozed a live colony of prairie dogs in Centennial, Colorado, to break ground for an office building. There were few survivors and local activists weren't given a chance to save them. Urge decision-makers to authorize and fund the relocation of the colony on the adjacent lot who are facing the same fate!

These innocent animals were buried alive and torn apart by McCauley Constructors with the development company doing nothing to let Prairie Protection Colorado access the private land to save them. The advocacy group made repeated attempts to arrange a relocation with Adam Hazlett, the owner of the land and agent of Blackhawk LLC, who misled them and ignored them once they presented him with a contract for their relocation.

Unless authorization is given and funding from the developer is allocated to relocate the other prairie dogs to an approved site, the colony will be bulldozed. The opportunity to save the existing colony and any survivors who moved over from the previously bulldozed lot is critical, as well as the fact that land is available for relocating these animals. Available land for relocation is very rare and is due to an effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to reintroduce North America's most critically endangered mammal, the black-footed ferret. There is absolutely no excuse to not move the prairie dogs, but time is running short and the relocation process must be started immediately.

The prairie dog massacre was done in broad daylight near a busy intersection that is traveled by thousands of cars daily. Desensitizing the citizens of Centennial to accept animal cruelty and the blatant disregard for wild animals is unacceptable and must be stopped. Advocates who reached out to save the survivors were told that they could not access the private property; therefore, the public continues to witness displaced and suffering prairie dogs.

Hazlett is trying to sell the adjacent lot to Headwaters Group, which is seeking approval for a proposal to build a senior adult housing unit in Centennial. Headwaters Group has the power to authorize the prairie dog relocation, or at least require that Hazlett move them as a condition of the sale. A number of residents and animal advocates who witnessed the colony of prairie dogs being injured, buried alive, and torn apart with heavy equipment in the lot adjacent to this proposed development, have been in contact with Hazlett about relocating the prairie dogs who live on the adjacent land, but were misled, dismissed, and then finally, when they thought they were close to an agreement, ignored by him.

The company that ethically relocates prairie dogs needs to have a contract signed and a permit completed to do this no later than the first week of October. Moving them is a process that takes time and there is currently a land opportunity with the FWS. However, they will only receive prairie dogs until the end of October.

Victory! This alert made a difference for animals! Learn more.