Save the Prairie Dogs of Stroh Ranch

My name is Mark Snyder Jr and I am a resident of Parker, CO and I am currently trying to save a large prairie dog community from extermination in a plot of land in my "front yard". My condo complex shares a road with an 11 acre lot just approved for a 5 building affordable housing complex. Sadly, there are about 200-300 prairie dogs also living on this lot, and the city of Parker does not require humane relocation of these animals. The project is in the Stroh Ranch neighborhood of Parker and is at the intersection of Nate Drive and Ironstone Way.

Without proper humane relocation, this large colony of prairie dogs will be poisoned and their homes will be bulldozed. Colorado does not protect this keystone native species. Relocation costs of a community this large, could exceed $25,000.I had a call with the developer on Friday, 03/15, @ 11am, and I have been in contact with the city council, the community developer liaison and the mayor of Parker. The mayor pretty much told me that there are no protections for prairie dogs and all we can do is ask the developer to self-regulate. Needless to say, I had a few choice words for him, but I am hoping that with the pressure of possible media attention as well as some other realizations that this plot of land is literally feet from hundreds of residents that would witness a mass murder of prairie dogs, that they may act (if not now, then later with city ordinances, etc).

The developer mentioned that costs that exceed what they were going to pay for extermination would fall on my shoulders to secure, if relocation was possible. So, I would need to crowdfund or fundraise several tens of thousands of dollars, potentially, depending on what the developer estimates. I also need to find new land to accept all of these prairie dogs and I really need support from the community.I have reached out to the first gentleman of Colorado, Marlon Reis, on facebook with one of my posts about the colony and he responded yesterday, mentioning that he was going to reach out to Parker city council as well as the mayor and the developer to try to help as well. I contacted Prairie Protection Colorado, created about 100 fliers and posted them here at my condo complex, as well as documented video footage of the plot and the large community of prairie dogs.

The developer is Dominium:

https://www.dominiumapartments.com [dominiumapartments.com]

I have also heard from John Fussa of Parker's Community Development Department:

http://www.parkeronline.org/112/Community-Developm... [parkeronline.org]

Here are all associated documents regarding the development project:

https://lms.parkeronline.org/etrakit3/Search/proje... [lms.parkeronline.org]

John Fussa and the Mayor have both told me that Parker uses the state's advice of dealing with Prairie Dogs.I want to partner with the local media to force change.

I just can't believe that the state of Colorado and the city of Parker, just allows for the mass extermination of a native, keystone species doing nothing wrong. 99% of the state's prairie dogs have been killed to make room for more development. Shouldn't this state stand for conservation?

If the colony of Prairie Dogs is exterminated due to issues out of my control, 100% of the donations will be sent to The Colorado Humane Society & S.P.C.A and I will post the final donation information to facebook or email you with that proof of donation. Zero dollars will stay in my possession.