Lawton’s Prairie Dogs Settle Into Oklahoma City’s Martin Park

Prairie dogs from Lawton's Elmer Thomas Park have been officially relocated to Martin Park in Oklahoma City. Earlier this month, crews lured several prairie dogs out of their burrows at Elmer Thomas Park to get them ready for their new home.

Lawton will still have a population of prairie dogs at Elmer Thomas Park, but a few of them have been relocated to help re-stablish a population at Martin Park in Oklahoma City.

The City of Lawton worked with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to move the prairie dogs.

From march 23 to 27, crews with the City of Lawton and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation used water and a little bit of dish soap to slip prairie dogs out from their burrows.

According to the City of Lawton, the relocation is an alternative approach for managing the prairie dog population while maintaining their presence in Elmer Thomas Park. So visitors at the park will still see prairie dogs while on their walks as the relocation efforts provide a more balanced population.

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Lawton's prairie dogs recently arrived at Martin Park in Oklahoma City.

After the prairie dogs were retrieved from their burrows, they were well taken care of and checked for ticks and fleas before making their journey to Martin Park in Oklahoma City.

The prairie dogs arrived in Oklahoma City on Friday, March 27. The prairie dogs were placed in Martin Park with their cages, which will remain there temporarily to allow the prairie dogs to adjust and dig their new homes.