Public hearing spotlights prairie-dog concerns as Buffalo Gap considers Wind Cross Conservancy lease renewal

The Buffalo Gap Board of Trustees opened a public hearing Dec. 8 on whether to renew a lease with Wind Cross Conservancy and heard sustained public concern about prairie-dog control and enforcement.

Chair Christine Wells said the existing arrangement lapsed in 2021 and that Wind Cross Conservancy has indicated interest in a five-year lease through 2030. Residents told the board they are frustrated that prairie dogs on and adjacent to the town-owned parcel have not been controlled and urged the board not to approve a long-term lease without mitigation measures. “I personally would not renew the lease until they made an effort,” a resident said, urging a short-term (60- or 90-day) renewal to allow time for visible mitigation.

Trustees and residents repeatedly said the town lacks direct enforcement authority over prairie-dog control and must rely on Custer County to take action. A trustee summarized the legal gap: the town does not have an ordinance or the enforcement mechanisms to compel removal; county procedures and complaint-driven responses are the primary route for enforcement. Multiple speakers said the county will measure prairie-dog towns and, if required, assess a fee (they cited an example of about $600) to force mitigation or give landowners an opportunity to act before county contractors remove infestation.

Wind Cross representatives reportedly told the board they carry liability insurance; the chair confirmed the organization said it would continue to maintain coverage if a lease is executed. Residents asked whether the town could require proof of mitigation plans, demand short-term trial leases, or instead advertise the land for competitive bids if the board prefers to explore other lessees. Trustees said the purpose of the hearing was to collect community input and that no decision would be made that night.

Trustee Travis Lassiter said the town’s previous boards had allowed the situation to persist and that putting a lease in place would let the town collect revenue and formalize responsibilities. Several residents responded that prior inaction and recurring prairie-dog problems counsel caution; at least one urged the board to decline the lease until the Conservancy demonstrates pest-control steps.

The board did not vote on the lease at the hearing. Trustees said staff will review documented lease history, consider advertising the parcel if there is broader interest, and coordinate with Custer County on enforcement options before taking further action.