We, the undersigned, call on the City of Thornton to immediately ban the use of poison—such as Rozol, zinc phosphide, or other chemical toxicants—for the removal of prairie dogs within city limits.

Prairie dogs are not pests, but are a keystone species, essential to the health of our ecosystems. They support over 100 other species, including raptors, foxes, owls, and endangered animals like the black-footed ferret. They aerate the soil, enrich grasslands, and are a vital part of Colorado’s ecological story.

Thornton’s current policy requires “good faith efforts” to relocate prairie dogs before lethal methods are allowed — but this is vague, poorly enforced, and easily bypassed. In practice, prairie dogs are still quietly poisoned to make way for development. This results in slow, cruel deaths and causes secondary poisoning of wildlife who feed on the carcasses.

We believe this is unacceptable. We are asking our city to lead with integrity and compassion by:

1. Banning all use of poisons for prairie dog removal within city limits.
2. Strengthening accountability and transparency around relocation efforts.
3. Requiring humane, non-lethal relocation as the default and enforceable standard.

This is not about stopping all progress but about refusing to let “progress” mean destruction. Most development does not serve the Earth or its beings. It serves profit, and it erases what makes this place alive.

We’re tired of watching the wild get paved over and poisoned in silence.

The prairie dogs deserve better. We all do.

Signed,

Karisa Rose