The concern about prairie dogs is two-fold, exacerbated by the GOP gutting USDA support so that only one person covers five counties in controlling prairie dogs, coyotes, and other animals.

The first is prairie dogs do monumental damage. Cheyenne County (seat Sidney) nearly $3 million in damage to a 2,600 acre area last year.

The second is prairie dogs carry bubonic plague. In the past, plague was part of the Panhandle until prairie dogs were eliminated from the towns. Now they are moving back in Cheyenne County; Morrill County also has prairie dogs so the problem of them moving into our three towns is also a concern.