By Bob Doucette - Staff Writer

Wynnewood - Although they'd planned to welcome more than 50 prairie dogs to a new home, owners of the G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park had to settle for just nine.

A group from Colorado that specializes in rounding up prairie dogs went to Bixby on Monday to move a prairie dog town from a vacant lot.  But some of the animals lived in an adjacent lot leased by a car dealer, and the dealer didn't want any part of the rodents' removal.

Faced with those restrictions, the group caught seven males and two females.  The animals then were taken to Wynnewood, where they're exploring their new home.

"They're doing great," said Heidi Somers, park spokeswoman.  "They skittered right in, and a couple of minutes later, they started looking around.  And nobody got bit."

The prairie dogs were released into a 5-acre section of the 16 acre park.  They joined an animal population that includes 20 tigers, two lions, 27 mountain lions and three Siberian brown bears.

The larger predators are kept in enclosed portions of the park, so they don't pose a threat to the prairie dogs.

The rodents had grown a little fat during their stay in Bixby.  Patrons of a pizza restaurant near the the old prairie dog town often fed the animals scraps and even donuts.

Junk food won't be a part of their diet in Wynnewood, but there should be plenty to eat.  The park is covered with short prairie grass, a staple in the rodents' natural diet, and a pond.  Park Manager, Joe Schreibvogel also has distributed hay and rolled oats in the animals' new habitat.

Park officials said they hope the rest of the prairie dogs can be rounded up later.

"When the lease on the car lot (in Bixby) runs out in February, we'll try to get the rest of the animals." Somers said.