Prairie Dog Pup Is In Good Hands!

A letter to the Editor from a recent issue of the Key West Citizen:

[On a recent] Sunday morning at the corner of Greene and Elizabeth, a lot of people were angry with me. I know they were well intentioned, with their rather heated suggestions to "live and let live."

To all those who were concerned about my capturing the prairie dog pup, who had been living on lettuce, pretzels and potato chips under the store, this is why I did it: We all know about the pitfalls of introducing non-indigenous species to an area, and of our responsibility to protect our habitat. But equally important, that adorable animal is quite tame, not wild. He deserves to be cared for as all other pets should be, not abandoned to live like a side-show under a building on a busy street corner, contending with cars, cats, dogs, and fleas, and eating whatever anyone in the streets wants to feed him. No pet should be treated that way.

I learned from Wildlife Rescue that prairie dogs are highly sociable, and need to be with others of their kind. Because they do not breed in captivity, pups are actually vacuumed out of their burrows in the wild to be sold to pet shops. That's where the problem begins. Taken from their mothers and communities at such a young age, these pups do not learn how to survive in the wild. And in many ways, it doesn't get much wilder than Key West.

Prairie dogs do not thrive on cinnamon buns, car exhaust and salt air. The pup is now in very good hands at Wildlife Rescue. They will not euthanize him, but will give him what he needs to live happily, safely and healthily.

If you are still concerned, I'm sure Wildlife Rescue would be glad to let you know how he's doing. They could probably also use a little of your volunteerism or donations, too!

Teri Gauthier
Key West

We couldn't have said it better. Thanks Teri! Your friends, at the Coffee Plantation.