What's going on, Albuquerque?

Hoooray for Prarie Dogs!

I think one of my favorite things about New Mexico is the Prarie Dogs. My first encounter with these cute little furballs was during my first visit to ABQ, where I suddenly had to swerve across a lane of traffic on Tramway to avoid splattering a couple of (pups?) who we're obliviously darting back and forth along the side of the road. Since then, my only experience with Prarie Dogs are the ones they have in the Corale up at the Santa Fe Jackalope... Until now.

Since the construction hell on I-40 started, I have had to find new ways to get myself to work in a timely manner. One of the new detours introduced into my daily routine is getting off at the San Mateo North exit, rather than sit in the parking lot of traffic to eek up to the Louisiana ext. Imagine my surprise as I was rounding the off ramp to see the whole slope of ground pocked with holes and Prarie Dogs running amuck everywhere! I almost drove right off the ramp trying to get my cell phone unsuccessfully out of my pocket to take a picture. Since then, i look forward to my daily commute so I can spend a few seconds watching the little critters scampering around as I make way round the off ramp. Im sure it's only a matter of time before I start seeing squished ones in the road, but im wondering... Is it possible to have a piece of land like that designated a reserve or breeding space to protect them?

None the less, if your looking for a morning dose of cute, try heading up to the San Mateo North ext. around 7:30am. It makes my day.

0 members like this

Comment by Joan Fenicle on March 24, 2008 at 1:19pm: They are not only cute, they are intelligent little critters with a vast vocabulary (so the experts say). Supposedly they can not only warn the colony of nearby danger, but describe what it is and where.

Comment by RiRiSynCyr on March 24, 2008 at 1:28pm: in the process of building our new museum, the Atomic Museum had to work with some local groups to relocate the prarie dogs living on the property at the corner of southern and eubank. there were all these requirements about where they could and couldn't be moved, and in the end they were transported (humanely) to a prarie dog friendly plot of land on KAFB.

the whole process was pretty cute and funny (and costly!)

Comment by Jesstagirl on March 24, 2008 at 2:43pm: I took a flight out of ABQ last weekend and while I was waiting in the plane to take off I saw some prarie dogs peaking out of their little holes to watch planes come and go. It was a nice surprise. My grandma used to pick me up on Saturdays and drive me up to Tramway with bread and we'd feed them up there. I love them :)

Comment by terraambient on March 24, 2008 at 3:23pm: ill be sure to get that photo tomorrow and post it.

Comment by mombat on March 24, 2008 at 6:30pm: They are also an important part of the grassland eco system, providing both food ans soil turning.
And they are so fun to watch.

Comment by Rachel on August 11, 2008 at 8:21pm: I LOVE prairie dogs. I could watch them for hours. I think the best space is tramway and indian school. My little dog looks like a prairie dog when he is wet.

Comment by dog breath on August 18, 2008 at 9:21am: Cute but at the VA they've been to acclimatized to people, last friday one came right up to me barking and begging... I pretended I was a hawk (AAWW AAWW)