Black-tailed Prairie Dog by Paul Carroll
The black-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus, is a resident of western Kansas as well as parts of Montana, the Dakotas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.
This means you will not find black-tailed prairie dogs in eastern Kansas where I live. But that’s not the prairie dog myth I’m talking about here.
While reading around the web about prairie dogs today I came across the following information at the NWF – National Wildlife Federation website: “They were nearly poisoned out in the early days of ranching because they eat a lot of grass and because cattle and horses can break a leg in their holes.” 1.
Interestingly, a read further into the NWF website brings up some surprising contradictions. “Around 1902, C.H. Merriam of the U.S. Biological Survey declared that prairie dogs diminished grassland productivity by a whopping 50 to 75 percent.” Well, you can see why a rancher might be concerned if this is true. But keep reading the page and you’ll discover “‘If you get rid of prairie dogs, how much forage do you gain?’ The answer was about four to seven percent.” 2.
So, while it’s true that prairie dogs eat a lot of grass. Apparently their effect on cattle grazing is nothing like the myth. Prairie Dog Myth #1 busted.
What about horses and cattle breaking a leg in prairie dog holes? From the exact same NWF article, “…that’s nonsense, says researcher Larry Rittenhouse of Colorado State University. ‘It would be almost impossible for a cow to break its leg on a prairie dog hole…’” Apparently it’s Prairie Dog Myth #2 busted!
Live on in peace little prairie dogs. You are a keystone species and I hope someone, somewhere will learn to appreciate that from reading this.
While NWF may want to correct their Ranger Rick entry on prairie dogs to reflect the information they already have to hand, I’m more concerned about unnecessary and harmful control of prairie dogs on rangeland. In 2006 the New York Times reported an instance where Logan County, Kansas commissioners were willing to force prairie dog control on ranchland against the wishes of the ranchers. 3.
I’m hoping that things have improved since 2006, but I’d not bet on it!
1. Prairie Dog Kids Animal Guides Homework Help section of Ranger Rick.
2. Learning to Live With Prairie Dogs - National Wildlife, Apr/May 2001, vol. 39 no. 2
3. Prairie Dogs Spur Debate – The New York Times, Saturday, November 11, 2006.
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We have a town not too far from us on an old military base. Kinda cool to watch!
Dana, that is cool that you have a prairie dog town near you. Maybe I’m a teensy bit jealous! I’m pretty sure they’re almost as fascinating as meerkats and I wish someone would film them the same way they did with Meerkat Manor. Why should we know more about an animal which lives in colonies in Africa than about an animal living in colonies here on our prairies?
I think prairie dogs are so neat! When I was pregnant with my second daughter, I took Boo to the MN zoo to see their prairie dog exhibit, because kids had ability to go in plastic tunnels that were right next to the dog’s tunnels! Super fun for them.
My stepdad always use to go prairie dog hunting and it just makes me sick, sick, sick!