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Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae Genus: Synomys Species: ludovicianus Black-tailed Prairie Dog |
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Description
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Author: Rachel McCaffrey Site created by: Rachael McCormick Site Maintained by: Dr. Mark Wallace
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Prairie dogs and humans Many inhabitants of the Great Plains consider prairie dogs destructive agricultural pests, and actively try to eradicate them through poisoning programs. Others travel to areas colonized by prairie dogs to shoot them. Prairie dog hunting has become a valuable industry in states such as Montana and North Dakota (National Wildlife Federation 1999). On the other hand, prairie dogs have become popular pets in many areas of the world. To fulfill this demand, several companies have begun to vacuum prairie dogs out of burrows (see photo, above) and sell them to the public. The National Wildlife Federation has identified four main threats to the black-tailed prairie dog: Habitat Destruction: Black-tailed prairie dog habitat has been reduced from an estimated 200 million acres to 700,000 acres. As a result, many colonies have become very fragmented, prohibiting movement among populations, and too small to support long-term viable populations. Poison: Prairie dog populations have been controlled through the use of poison over much of their range. On private lands, many ranchers actively seek to remove even small prairie dog colonies through poisoning. Many state agricultural departments support poisoning programs designed to eradicate prairie dogs on both private and public lands. Such poisoning efforts have reduced both prairie dog numbers and prairie dog habitat. Unregulated Shooting: Several state agencies promote prairie dog shooting by providing hunters with maps of colonies. Some private landowners host prairie dog shooting contests, with prizes awarded to those who kill the most prairie dogs. These unregulated prairie dog hunts not only reduce prairie dog populations and alter their behavior, but other species may also be affected. Sylvatic Plague: Sylvatic plague, carried by fleas, was first introduced to the United States in 1905, and quickly moved across the country to the Great Plains. This disease has decimated prairie dog populations, which seem to have little immunity to the plague. When plague infects a colony, it typically kills the entire colony. South Dakota is the only state within the prairie dog’s range to have no reported plague outbreaks.
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