Scott E. Hygnstrom Extension Wildlife Damage Specialist Department of Forestry, Fisheries PRAIRIE DOGS and Wildlife University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68583-0819 Dallas R. Virchow Extension Assistant-Wildlife Damage Panhandle Research and Extension Center University of Nebraska Scottsbluff, NE 69361 Fig. 1. Black-tailed prairie dogs, Cynomys ludovicianus Damage Prevention and Frightening Conibear® No. 110 (body-gripping) traps or equivalent. Control Methods No methods are effective. Shooting Repellents Exclusion Shooting with .22 rimfire or larger None are registered. Wire mesh fences can be installed but rifles. they are usually not practical or Toxicants Other Methods cost-effective. Zinc phosphide. Several home remedies have been Visual barriers of suspended burlap, Fumigants used but most are unsafe and are windrowed pine trees, or snow not cost-effective. fence may be effective. Aluminum phosphide. Cultural Methods Gas cartridges. Modify grazing practices on mixed Trapping and mid-grass rangelands to Box traps. exclude or inhibit prairie dogs. Snares. Cultivate, irrigate, and establish tall crops to discourage prairie dog use. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE — 1994 Cooperative Extension Division Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska - Lincoln United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Damage Control B-85 Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee Identification Habitat Prairie dogs (Fig. 1) are stocky burrow- All species of prairie dogs are found in ing rodents that live in colonies called grassland or short shrubland habitats. “towns.” French explorers called them They prefer open areas of low vege- “little dogs” because of the barking tation. They often establish colonies noise they make. Their legs are short near intermittent streams, water and muscular, adapted for digging. impoundments, homestead sites, and The tail and other extremities are windmills. They do not tolerate tall short. Their hair is rather coarse with vegetation well and avoid brush and little underfur, and is sandy brown to timbered areas. In tall, mid- and cinnamon in color with grizzled black mixed-grass rangelands, prairie dogs and buff-colored tips. The belly is light have a difficult time establishing a cream to white. colony unless large grazing animals Fig. 2a. Distribution of the black-tailed (light), (bison or livestock) have closely Five species of prairie dogs are found and Gunnison’s prairie dogs (dark) in North grazed vegetation. Once established, America. in North America: the black-tailed prairie dogs can maintain their habitat (Cynomys ludovicianus), Mexican (C. on mid- and mixed-grass rangelands. mexicanus), white-tailed (C. leucurus), In shortgrass prairies, where moisture Gunnison’s (C. gunnisoni), and Utah is limited, prairie dogs can invade and prairie dog (C. parvidens). The most maintain acceptable habitat without abundant and widely distributed of assistance. these is the black-tailed prairie dog, which is named for its black-tipped Food Habits tail. Adult black-tailed prairie dogs weigh 2 to 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kg) and Prairie dogs are active above ground are 14 to 17 inches (36 to 43 cm) long. only during the day and spend most of The Mexican prairie dog also has a their time foraging. In the spring and black-tipped tail, but is smaller than its summer, individuals consume up to 2 northern relative. White-tailed, Gunni- pounds (0.9 kg) of green grasses and son’s, and Utah prairie dogs all have forbs (broad-leafed, nonwoody plants) white-tipped tails. White-tailed prairie per week. Grasses are the preferred dogs are usually smaller than black- Fig. 2b. Distribution of the white-tailed (light), food, making up 62% to 95% of their tailed prairie dogs, weighing between Utah (medium), and Mexican prairie dogs diet. Common foods include western 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 pounds (0.7 to 1.1 kg). (dark) in North America. wheatgrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, The Gunnison’s prairie dog is the sand dropseed, and sedges. Forbs such smallest of the five species. as scarlet globe mallow, prickly pear, Today, about 2 million acres of prairie kochia, peppergrass, and wooly plan- Range dog colonies remain in North America. tain are common in prairie dog diets The black-tailed prairie dog lives in and become more important in the fall, Prairie dogs occupied up to 700 million densely populated colonies (20 to 35 as green grass becomes scarce. Prairie acres of western grasslands in the early per acre [48 to 84/ha]) scattered across dogs also eat flowers, seeds, shoots, 1900s. The largest prairie dog colony the Great Plains from northern Mexico roots, and insects when available. on record, in Texas, measured nearly to southern Canada (Fig 2). Occasion- 25,000 square miles (65,000 km2) and ally they are found in the Rocky General Biology, contained an estimated 400 million Mountain foothills, but rarely at eleva- Reproduction, and prairie dogs. Since 1900, prairie dog tions over 8,000 feet (2,438 m). The Behavior populations have been reduced by as Mexican prairie dog occurs only in much as 98% in some areas and elimi- Mexico and is an endangered species. Prairie dogs are social animals that live nated in others. This reduction is White-tailed prairie dogs live in in towns of up to 1,000 acres (400 ha) largely the result of cultivation of prai- sparsely populated colonies in arid or more. Larger towns are often rie soils and prairie dog control pro- regions up to 10,000 feet (3,048 m). The divided into wards by barriers such as grams implemented in the early and Gunnison’s prairie dog inhabits open ridges, lines of trees, and roads. Within mid-1900s. Population increases have grassy and brushy areas up to 12,000 a ward, each family or “coterie” of been observed in the 1970s and 1980s, feet (3,658 m). Utah prairie dogs are a prairie dogs occupies a territory of possibly due to the increased restric- threatened species, limited to central about 1 acre (0.4 ha). A coterie usually tions on and reduced use of toxicants. Utah. consists of an adult male, one to four B-86 adult females, and any of their off- young, but rarely take adult prairie clipped before they can produce seed. spring less than 2 years old. Members dogs. Accidents, starvation, weather, Several of the succeeding plant species of a coterie maintain unity through a parasites, and diseases also reduce are less palatable to livestock than the variety of calls, postures, displays, prairie dog populations, but human grasses they replace. grooming, and other forms of activities have had the greatest impact. Other studies, however, indicate that physical contact. Prairie dog colonies attract a wide prairie dogs may have little or no sig- Black-tailed prairie dog towns typi- variety of wildlife. One study identi- nificant effect on livestock production. cally have 30 to 50 burrow entrances fied more than 140 species of wildlife One research project in Oklahoma re- per acre, while Gunnison’s and white- associated with prairie dog towns. vealed that there were no differences tailed prairie dog towns contain less Vacant prairie dog burrows serve as in annual weight gains between steers than 20 per acre. Most burrow homes for cottontail rabbits, small using pastures inhabited by prairie entrances lead to a tunnel that is 3 to 6 rodents, reptiles, insects, and other dogs and steers in pastures without feet (1 to 2 m) deep and about 15 feet arthropods. Many birds, such as prairie dogs. Reduced forage avail- (5 m) long. Prairie dogs construct meadowlarks and grasshopper spar- ability in prairie dog towns may be crater- and dome-shaped mounds up rows, appear in greater numbers on partially compensated for by the to 2 feet (0.6 m) high and 10 feet (3 m) prairie dog towns than in surrounding increased palatability and crude pro- in diameter. The mounds serve as prairie. The burrowing owl is one of tein of plants that are stimulated by lookout stations. They also prevent several uncommon or rare species that grazing. In addition, prairie dogs water from entering the tunnels and frequent prairie dog towns. Others sometimes clip and/or eat plants that may enhance ventilation of the tunnels. include the golden eagle, prairie fal- are toxic to livestock. Bison, elk, and Prairie dogs are most active during the con, ferruginous hawk, mountain pronghorns appear to prefer feeding in day. In the summer, during the hottest plover, swift fox, and endangered prairie dog colonies over uncolonized part of the day, they go below ground black-footed ferret (see Appendix A of grassland. where it is much cooler. Black-tailed this chapter). Prairie dog burrows increase soil erosion prairie dogs are active all year, but and are a potential threat to livestock, may stay underground for several Damage and Damage machinery, and horses with riders. Dam- days during severe winter weather. Identification age may also occur to ditch banks, The white-tailed, Gunnison’s, and impoundments, field trails, and roads. Utah prairie dogs hibernate from Several independent studies have pro- Prairie dogs are susceptible to several October through February. duced inconsistent results regarding the impacts of prairie dogs on livestock pro- diseases, including plague, a severe Black-tailed prairie dogs reach sexual duction. The impacts are difficult to infectious disease caused by the bacte- maturity after their second winter and determine and depend on several fac- rium Yersinia pestis. Plague, which is breed only once per year. They can breed tors, such as the site conditions, weather, often fatal to humans and prairie dogs, as early as January and as late as March, current and historic plant communities, is most often transmitted by the bite of depending on latitude.