Vacuum Sucks Out Burrowing Prairie Dogs

AMARILLO, Texas — Using a vacuum truck to suck prairie dogs from their holes, a pest control company is making a profitable roundup of the burrowing rodents that are prized pets in Japan.

“These little guys are worth $700 apiece,” said Gay Balfour, a co-owner of Dog Gone and inventor of the special vacuum.

Workers captured three to four dozen prairie dogs Tuesday using the vacuum, which pulls the animals through a wide hose and into an enclosure.

“We’re just taking the young ones,” said company co-owner Dave Honaker. “They make good pets--they’re real trainable and social animals.”