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Board approves forced control order for black-tailed prairie dogs on several sections north of county road
Summary
Commissioners authorized forced control of a large black‑tailed prairie dog colony spanning sections 22–26 in Township 16 North, Range 34 West after repeated complaints and unsuccessful voluntary mitigation.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners authorized forced control of black‑tailed prairie dogs on property described as Sections 22, 23 and 26, Township 16 North, Range 34 West, following complaints from a neighboring landowner and unsuccessful voluntary mitigation.
Commissioners said the infestation appeared to extend across multiple sections and that county staff had attempted prior outreach and cooperation with the landowner to address the problem. Staff reported previous informal mitigation efforts had not sufficiently reduced the town (prairie-dog colony) and that the county possessed the legal authority to force control after notice and insufficient cooperation.
The action directs staff to prepare and send the formal individual notice to the landowner giving a deadline to address the prairie dogs; if the landowner fails to act, the county will contract for control services and bill the landowner for costs, mirroring processes used for other nuisance and noxious-pest abatements. An earlier instance of forced control had achieved voluntary compliance after notice, staff said, but the board prepared for a scenario in which the county must complete control and assess costs.
Commissioners approved the motion by roll call and asked staff to proceed with notice and the court-authorized forced-control process if cooperation is not achieved.
