College Students and Prairie Dogs

Twice a year the roads in South Boulder get a lot more sketchy than normal. These times correspond directly with the start of a new semester at CU. Lots of new people in town from different parts of the country that are not used to having bike paths, bike lanes or pedestrians in general. Normally, cars in Boulder will stop at the first sight of a pedestrian and let them cross the road, but for these two weeks, if you’re not paying attention you’re as good as road kill.

I have recently realized that there is a learning curve for the prairie dogs as well. While I was gone racing, the prairie dogs had their babies and they are about as aware of bikers as the new college students are. At least the prairie dogs will only hurt themselves and not us. These little things have been running out in front of me on the bike path like crazy. Last year I ran over two of them with my bike and I felt really bad because the whole prairie dog family stopped to look and make sad little sounds. These little rodents have tight family bonds and if you stop to watch them you’ll see how complex they really are.

Speaking of parried dogs, have you heard how they remove them from a property in Boulder? They are not allowed to kill them so they plug up the holes and hook up a big vacuum on this truck and suck them out. I guess the back side of the truck is padded and they get sucked out of their home and shot into this container. Can you imagine that?