Humans turn native prairie into cultivated fields has destroyed much of the original grasslands occupied by prairie dogs. Prairie dogs occupied up to 700 acres of western grasslands in the early 1900's. Today, about 2 million acres remain. The Utah Prairie Dog plays an important role in their ecosystem by creating islands of unique habitat in a sea of grasslands. Studies have identified more than 140 species of wildlife associated with prairie towns.
Vacant burrows serve as homes for cottontail rabbits and several species of small rodents.
Deer, mice, and kangaroo rats are attracted by the annual plants that grow on the disturbed soils, while grasshopper mice feed on the beetles, grasshoppers, and other small rodents found in the abundance on prairie dog towns. University of Nebaska-Lincoln, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife 2.