JULY 1, 2025 |
Photo – Prairie dog – Bigfoot99 file photo
In the Town of Hanna, officials are once again considering reintroducing foxes to help control the town’s unchecked prairie dog population.
In April, the Hanna Town Council briefly discussed reaching out to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department about reintroducing foxes to town. The predators had been removed years earlier after reports of them attacking neighborhood pets.
Instead of reintroducing foxes, the governing body authorized specially trained town employees, including Marshal’s Department deputies, to use air rifles to manage the prairie dog population. Hanna’s prairie dog population has surged, particularly at the town cemetery, where the burrowing rodents have dug into coffins and unearthed human remains.
At the June 24th Hanna Town Council meeting, Deputy Marshal Roger Hawks said strong winds have made it nearly impossible to shoot the animals.
Audio PlayerDeputy Hawks said he was considering purchasing a suppressed .22 caliber rifle, noting it would be less suspectable to the wind than the air rifle.
A Hanna resident asked if foxes could be used to help control the overpopulation of prairie dogs. Deputy Hawks said he supported the idea, but the decision was in the hands of the Town Council.
Mayor Charlie George said he was a government trapper in the past and was tasked with removing nuisance foxes from northern Carbon County. Mayor George said he is hesitant to reintroduce the foxes after their earlier removal, adding that the predators could have unforeseen consequences.
Audio PlayerMayor George said existing predators, such as badgers and cats, are helping keep the prairie dog population in check. While foxes will help with the issue, the mayor said they are just as likely to eat cats as well.
Audio PlayerMayor George offered to contact Elk Mountain Game Warden Jake Miller and see if it is possible to reintroduce foxes to Hanna. In the meantime, the Marshall’s Department will continue attempting to shoot prairie dogs.