Follow this link to learn more. Over the past 100 years, much of the historic range of the black-tailed prairie dog was converted to food production for humans, mostly for cattle pasture and grain fields. Around the turn of the century the United States government sponsored prairie dog poisoning programs to reduce competition with livestock and farmers. This program, which continues today, peaked in Colorado in 1921 when approximately 80,000 acres were poisoned. The answer lies in the farmer and rancher's view of prairie dogs' impact to their livelihood.
Prairie dogs compete with livestock for forage.
They clip vegetation to maintain a view of their surroundings and eat the same grasses that would otherwise be available for cattle and horses. Over long periods of prairie dog activity grass species which ranchers find most desirable can disappear. They are often replaced with less palatable grass species with lower nutritional value. In farmed ground prairie dogs can decimate or destroy a crop of alfalfa, grains or hay. People also compete with prairie dogs for shelter.