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FEATURE STORIES:
Prairie Dog Coalition
by Faye Rapoport DesPres
Our Place to Paws spoke to Lindsey Sterling Krank of the Prairie Dog Coalition about the plight of some delightful creatures that are disappearing from the American landscape because of disease, habitat destruction and legalized killings. There’s a lot you can do to help! Read on.
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photo (c) Elaine Miller Bond
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OTPT: Tell us a little bit about prairie dogs, they're not really
dogs, are they?
LSK: Prairie dogs are herbivorous members of the squirrel family. Prairie dogs earned their name from settlers traveling west who thought their chirping alert calls sounded similar to dogs barking. There are five different species: the white-tailed, the Utah, the Gunnison, the Mexican and the black-tailed. All five of these species are now at a small fraction of their historical numbers. Currently, the Prairie Dog Coalition focuses on making scientific information available to advocates working to protect prairie dogs and providing general information to the media and general public for the four species of prairie dogs in the Western U.S.
OTPT: In what regions do prairie dogs live in the U.S. or internationally?
LSK: Prairie dogs live in Mexico, the United States and Canada, in the dry grassy areas of the western plains. The five species of prairie dogs prefer different habitats. The white-tailed, Gunnison's and Utah prairie dog prefer high deserts and mountain valleys. Both black-tailed prairie dogs and Mexican prairie dogs live in the low, dry grasslands and do not hibernate.
OTPT: Why are prairie dogs an important part of the ecosystem?
LSK: Nine different wildlife species depend on the prairie dog for survival. The prairie dog is a recognized keystone (or integral) species of the short -grass prairie ecosystem. They contribute to the lives of the other mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects of the prairie, by providing habitat and food. Abandoned burrows are frequently used as homes by burrowing owls, white-tailed rabbits, badgers, weasels, snakes and even foxes. Prairie dogs' churning activities aerate the soil to allow for more water penetration, while their nitrogen-rich dung improves the quality of the soil and surrounding vegetation. As a prey base, the prairie dog supports a wide variety of species. The swift fox, the coyote, weasels, snakes, hawks, eagles and the endangered black-footed ferret are just a few of the predators who rely on prairie dogs for food.
OTPT: Many people are under the impression that prairie dogs carry "the plague." Is this true?
LSK: In fact, prairie dogs do not pose a major risk for spreading plague to humans because when they are exposed to the disease they normally die too quickly to pass it on to us. If you see a healthy, vibrant prairie dog colony, chances are it does not have plague. The Colorado Department of Health has documented only 42 plague cases since 1957. Of those, just six are linked to prairie dogs. Other mammals, such as cats and dogs, who have some immunity, can carry the plague by hosting flees with the plague bacterium. Humans should take steps to avoid contracting the plague, but it is easily treatable with standard antibiotics.
OTPT: Can you briefly summarize the situation facing prairie dogs in Colorado and the U.S. today?
LSK: The prairie dog is one of the most ecologically important residents of the Great Plains. As a keystone species, prairie dogs support the entire ecosystems of which they are part. Despite the inherent value of these extraordinary creatures, we risk losing prairie dogs to extinction, in part due to:
Sylvatic plague, a disease first brought to North America in 1900 that has now affected numerous wildlife species including prairie dogs;
Legalized decimation by poisoning, shooting and bulldozing;
Habitat destruction from conversion of grasslands to cropland or urban development;
Prairie dogs are like a canary in the coal mine, what happens to them is happening to the rest of the prairie too.
OTPT: Are prairie dogs relocated from problem areas, and if so, where do they go?
LSK: Some prairie dogs get lucky and get to be relocated before their homes are destroyed. These few prairie dogs are usually relocated to shortgrass prairie preserves. Colorado makes it very difficult to create prairie dog preserves because of a law named SB-111. This prohibitive law requires that prairie dog only be relocated within the county they came from. Unfortunately, many private landowners that want prairie dog preserves on their land can not have them because of SB-111.
OTPT: How many prairie dogs are left?
LSK: Prairie dogs only have 2% of their original range left. Population declines continue today. Without protection on the Endangered Species Act, we risk losing the prairie dog and the host of other species that depend on them to extinction.
OPTP: Where can people learn more about prairie dogs, and what they can do to help?
LSK:
1. Contact the local wildlife advocacy group in your area and volunteer. Check out the Prairie Dog Coalition's website to find out more about the Coalition and our member groups.
2. Write a letter to your local newspaper or law makers and let them know you support prairie dogs and want non-lethal management in your hometown!
3. If you don't have time, to take action, you can simply donate and keep the prairie dog advocacy going. All donations are most appreciated! Visit the Prairie Dog Coalition online at: http://www.prairiedogcoalition.org/.
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