LAWTON Okla_ Some vandals
who actually live in Lawton's
Elmer Thomas Park are accused of trying to steal Christmas, one gnaw at a time.
Holiday in the Park
employees say prairie dogs, along with human vandals, are making it especially
difficult this year to keep the lights strung and decorations hung. While people
have been accused of stealing or destroying several displays, employees say the
prairie dogs are responsible for eating through hundreds of feet of electrical
cord leaving some displays in the dark.
The thousands
of prairie dogs that call Elmer Thomas Park home are considered rodents, and
like mice or rats, they like to chew on anything in sight. Holiday
in the Park employees can't control what these animals do in the park, but they
hope they can discourage human vandals from adding to the growing problem.
"Prairie Dogs
are chewing the extension cords up," Holiday in
the Park President Bill Davis said. "We have not seen any dead ones from that
experience, but I'm sure they got a jolt."
He said these
furry vandals are creating a big problem he said sadly a bigger problem is human
vandalism.
"They're going
where the soldiers are kicking the flood lights out; they're stealing the
displays. Dopey is somewhere around town we'd like him to come home. They come
along and unscrew the bulbs and throw them on the pavement to hear them
pop."
He said people
have reported witnessing the vandalism but are doing nothing to stop it.
"They see
activity or mischief, but they just walk away. They don't say anything to other
adults or call police who'd be here lickety-split."
Davis said while no
one can be held accountable for the actions of these prairie dogs, he doesn't "Think
they are hungry. Most of them are pretty fat, so they are just being a nuisance.
It gives them something to do other than dig more holes."
Someone is
responsible for the actions of human vandals.
"Respect
is taught, and if we don't do that then we're turning into chaos. A lot of the
vandals don't have anything to do. Their parents drop them off and let them run
wild through the park. I see that everyday."
Davis said these
lights belong to the community and that we should all take responsibility for
them. He said if the vandalism continues, the threat of shutting down Holiday in the Park is very real.
Police said vandals could face hefty fines and even jail time. They say
throughout the holidays they receive several reports of stolen or vandalized
decorations.
