Last summer, Colorado state wildlife officials spent thousands of dollars
re-seeding 35 acres of wild lands with native grasses and trees to create
a suitable habitat for deer, rabbits, foxes, and prairie dogs.
When
Boulder County officials gave Colorado Horse Rescue (CHR) the approval to
move onto the land recently, they did so with an understanding that the
prairie dogs would still be protected on the property. Instead, local
community members, animal protectionists, and Boulder County officials
were stunned when CHR systematically poisoned and killed the entire
population of prairie dogs on its new, 50-acre site. Graham Billingsley,
director of the county’s Land Use Department, said that the contractors
hired by CHR stuffed prairie dog holes with poison-soaked newspaper and
then packed the holes with rocks and dirt, trapping all of the animals
underground.
The poison used, aluminum phosphide, causes its victims to
bleed internally and die in excruciating pain over the course of several
days. When the operation was reported to county zoning inspector Ed
Meacham, he immediately ordered the poisoning stopped, and animal
protection volunteers stepped in to try to save some of the animals.
Tragically, all rescue efforts were unsuccessful. While CHR claims that
the killing was necessary to successfully revegetate the property, CDOW
officials disagree.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Please protest Colorado Horse Rescue’s cruel wildlife extermination
program. Let them know that you are concerned that an animal rescue
organization would resort to such ruthless, lethal methods in dealing with
wild animals! Let them know that true animal lovers would find humane,
nonlethal solutions to wildlife conflicts:
Colorado Horse Rescue
10386 N. 65th St.
Longmont, CO 80503
ph: 720-494-1414
fax: 720-494-1415
email: info@chr.org
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.