Species Spotlight – Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs

Have you ever visited Grasslands National Park’s west block, and wondered what those little yipping sounds were? Chances are you were hearing the calls of some black-tailed prairie dogs. These members of the ground squirrel family live in colonies in the park and have a variety of different calls they use to warn other members about potential dangers. They are also a crucial element of the grassland ecosystem and so there are specific conservation efforts put towards their survival and success.

The importance of black-tailed prairie dogs

Black-tailed prairie dogs are a species at risk, which means they are in danger of disappearing from the wild. They are also considered a keystone species. That means they have an impact on many other species. The colonies built by black-tailed prairie dogs make an ideal place for other animals and insects to rest, nest and eat. Underground, the system of chambers and tunnels they build, make the perfect place for smaller animals to take shelter. Prairie dogs keep the grasses and plants around the colony clipped short with their constant nibbling. The short grasses make it easier for some birds that nest on the ground to notice approaching threats, and grazers like bison and pronghorn are drawn to the nutritious new growth. Predators find prairie dog colonies to be an abundant food source year-round. In meeting their own needs for survival, prairie dogs play a vital role in a healthy prairie ecosystem. As such, the park has an action plan to help monitor and manage the population living within the park boundaries.

Protecting the species

Park staff conduct population counts, do colony and habitat mapping, restore the grassland habitat, monitor for disease, provide mitigations, and participate in research collaborations.

Sylvatic plague and drought are the primary threats to the black-tailed prairie dog, both of which are expected to occur with increasing frequency and severity with current climatic trends. Sylvatic plague is carried by fleas and was first recorded in Grasslands National Park in 2010. Though there is currently no supplemental feeding program for black-tailed prairie dogs, Park staff provide sylvatic plague vaccine-infused bait pellets to prairie dogs on some of the colonies as part of the management program. The vaccine program is expected to help prairie dog populations develop immunity to plague, reducing the risk of colony die-offs in the case of disease outbreak. Grasslands National Park is also testing the effectiveness of an oral flea control for prairie dogs, which may replace vaccines in the future. Due to the risks associated with Sylvatic plague carried by fleas, the park requests that visitors always keep their dogs on leash, and to avoid prairie dog colonies with their canine friends.

Where to find them

The best place to view black-tailed prairie dogs is while walking the Top Dogtown Trail along Eco Tour Road in the West Block of Grasslands National Park. Keep your eye out for all the other species that benefit from the unique landscape that the prairie dogs provide!