I recently moved to NE New Mexico. There are a bunch of coyotes, and at least a few bobcats on the property I manage (private land only trapping here in NM). I was wondering how to deal with the millions (!!!!) of prairie dog holes. It seems to me that a dirt hole set will not get noticed. Found some nice walk-through areas in the woods higher up the mountain, so blind sets should work there (I finally get to set some snares!). Should I use the existing holes, but with my bait/lure there? I know that once I put urine in the hole the rodents stay away for awhile (did that in the horse corral). Probably wait until November when trapping season to set traps, that way if I catch a bobcat, I don't have to let them go (coyotes are a non-game species and there are no closed seasons).

Any advice is appreciated!!

I never had trouble with dirt holes in dog towns. What you do need to watch for is praire rattlers. They love to den up in them. Warm winter sunny day, 60 or so they will lay out in the sun. Spring you will see them too. Come out during the day and crawl back in the hole when it gets cold at night. Caught lots of coyotes badgers and kit/swift fox at dog towns.

Not sure how to answer your trapping question, but I would be having a ball shooting prairie dogs if you can get permission. Sure sharpens up your shooting skills.

Not sure the elevation you’re at but like Danny said snakes love the dog holes the prairie rattlers here love to den in the dog towns. So in the fall and springs they migrate back and forth and activity increases so the towns and surrounding areas will have increased activity.

The colder it gets the more attractive a dog town could be for snakes to den at.

No, don't use existing prairie dog holes to set at. Dirt holes work fine but focus on setting cattle trails and two tracks that run through the town. Trails leading to water hole or tanks are good too. That's where you'll have your best success trapping coyotes around dog towns.

Thanks a bunch, guys. We are at 8,600 feet in elevation Talking to some of the old timers around, they say it is rare to see a snake. Thanks for the caution, though. The property is about 150 acres of horse pasture, which is where the dogs are really bad. Got over 300 acres of woods, backing up to national forest. The rest of the 500 + acres is some buildings, cabins, and my workshops. I've been doing a lot of scouting since I moved here in May. We'll see how it goes!

You mentioned your dirt hole not standing out among all the prairie dog holes. In my opinion more coyotes are caught by their nose than their eyes. In fact I rarely use anything to try to catch the attention of there eye because on my coyotes I feel it's easy to over do it and spook too many.

I started catching more coyotes when i remember that you catch them by their nose and started pay more attention to the wind for location of set and position of trap compared to the attraction.

I have never seen prairie dogs at that altitude. Had an animal in CO we called picket pins. No idea what the real name is. Look like them but smaller and lived in colonies also. Same kind of burrow but smaller.

P.S. if those are picket pins they don't come out much in winter unlike prairie dogs.

White tailed prairie dogs for sure. Since the camp property has been empty, I've already eliminated a dozen while sitting on my front porch.

I guess we will try the existing holes, and play the wind. Lord knows there are enough holes to choose from. I do have an idea where they travel around the pasture areas and buildings, so I am planning to blind set as many good trails as I can, as well as snaring in the pinch points. Plus, since I will wait until cat season opens, maybe pick up a cat or two!

Trap the prairie dogs. Used trap them to feed my cats and yotes. Endless supply of feed. They will bite through welding gloves, FYI