By Larry Levy - State Correspondent

Bixby - A prairie dog roundup that divided residents in this Tulsa suburb got off to a slow and somewhat bizarre start Monday.

First, the Colorado company hired to catch and move the rodents learned the hard way that state law requires a permit for such an endeavor.

Then a car dealer refused to let the company onto the property he leases.

By the time the delays were addressed, fewer than 20 of the 40 to 60 critters living between a highway and shopping center were rounded up so they could be moved to more rural surroundings.

Captured prairie dogs were placed in pet carriers filled with grass.  They will be taken to the G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park in Wynnewood.

Park Director Joe Schreibvogel has been preparing for the rodents' arrival.

"He's been digging holes for about four or five days, getting them ready," said Heidi Somers, park spokeswoman.

The park expects the remainder of the prairie dogs to be caught today.

The prairie dogs have been living on land owned by Condell Pollard, who ordered their eviction.  But other Bixby area residents had become attached to them and wanted them to stay.

The debate led to heated arguments.  In one instance, Pollard used his pickup to force a TV photographer off the property.

Police stood by during Monday's roundup.  Pollard's property is divided into three sections - two of them are leased to used car dealers and the third is vacant.

Kerry Den of the Kar-Den opposes to the roundup and deportation of the prairie dogs.  He would not allow the six-person roundup crew on the land he leases.

The prairie dogs "are not doing any harm," said Brown, who uses a picture of a prairie dog on his business cards.

Pollard's efforts are "kind of silly," said Brown, who has been told his one-year land lease won't be extended after it expires in February.

The capture was also delayed Monday when the game rangers with the state Wildlife Department required three members of Prairie Dog Specialists to update their hunting licenses.

Becky Deck of Denver, who heads the nonprofit organization, said her employees had to pay $145 each.

Hunting permits are required for trapping any animal, even if its not killed, said Dennis Maxwell, assistant chief of law enforcement for the Wildlife Department.  The group did not have the required permit before the roundup began.

Deck said she had captured "a few thousand" prairie dogs in the past five years.

She used a 2,000 gallon tank of water and soap suds Monday.  The mixture was pumped down the prairie dog holes while team members stood by to capture any that tried to escape.

Towels and heavy gloves were part of the equipment, but Trice Vanderpool of Tulsa was bit on the hand while catching a prairie dog.

Deck is a microbiologist who once worked in the oil and gas business and is now with an insurance company.  She said most prairie dogs weigh about 3 pounds, but the Bixby rodents are a bit heftier because they live next to a pizza parlor and are fed tidbits.

Contributing Staff Writer Bob Doucette