Image Image Credit Heidi Pinkerton Prairie Dog Heidi Pinkerton Prairie dogs are considered a “keystone” species because their colonies create islands of habitat that benefit approximately 150 other species. They are also a food source for many animals, including mountain plover, burrowing owl, Ferruginous hawks, swift fox and endangered black-footed ferrets. Many species, like black-footed ferrets, use their burrows as homes. Prairie dogs even help aerate and fertilize the soil, allowing a greater diversity of plants to thrive. But the widespread destruction of prairie dog colonies and the arrival of the exotic disease plague in the 1900s reduced prairie dogs by more than 95 percent. Defenders' Impact Poisoning prairie dogs can be bad for the environment with impacts to native grassland birds, it is expensive, and rarely offers a long-term solution to conflicts with livestock operations. Defenders is working with national grasslands on nonlethal alternatives to poisoning. Because prairie dogs hesitate to make homes in or go through tall grass, creating tall-grass buffers between prairie dog colonies and adjacent private properties is one way to keep prairie dogs out of where they are not wanted without resorting to killing them. Growing tall grass is difficult in areas frequented by grazing livestock, so Defenders has purchased and installed several miles of solar-powered portable electric fencing along buffer areas to keep livestock out, allowing the grass to grow tall. Defenders also promotes relocation rather than poisoning of prairie dogs from conflict areas to core areas that are fully protected. We have helped move hundreds of prairie dogs out of harm’s way and we hand-dig starter burrows to promote new colonies. Threats & Status What You Can Do Facts Range & Population Behavior & Reproduction Threats Prairie dogs are threatened by human intolerance, disease, climate change and habitat loss. Protection Status Endangered Species Act IUCN Red List CITES Not Listed Least Concern Not Listed Image Image Credit Justin Morris ADOPT A PRAIRIE DOG Your adoption supports our work assisting Native American tribes, public land managers, and wildlife-friendly ranchers restore prairie dogs to their native lands. ADOPT NOW News Image DECEMBER 1, 2020 Ill-Conceived Change to Thunder Basin National Grassland Management Plan Quashes Hope for Successful Black-Footed Ferret Recovery The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) released a record of decision today on a management plan amendment for Thunder Basin National Grassland in Wyoming, finalizing a rollback of crucial protections for prairie dogs at the site. The end of these protections is a fatal blow to the prospective reintroduction of critically endangered black-footed ferrets to Thunder Basin, which has been managed as a future reintroduction site since 1988. VISIT THE NEWSROOM Prairie Dog Blog Posts Image APRIL 2, 2021 Burrowing into the Tale of the Black-Footed Ferret Image DECEMBER 31, 2020 Defending Wildlife Across the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains: A 2020 Recap Image JUNE 25, 2020 Summer Field Work Means Taking COVID-19 Precautions for Endangered Ferrets VISIT THE BLOG Image Publications Using Spatial Data to Improve Recovery Under the Endangered Species Act Related Regions Rocky Mountains and Great Plains Related Issues Protecting Habitat Promoting Coexistence Read More About the Prairie Dog Thunder Basin National Grassland Wildlife and Wild Places Image Great Plains Image Black-Footed Ferret Image Bison Image Tortoises Image Get Alerts & Updates facebook twitter instagram youtube medium pinterest Footer menu ABOUT US FAQ DEFENDERS MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS JOBS & INTERNSHIPS CONTACT US 1130 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 1-800-385-9712 © 2021 Defenders of Wildlife Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility Statement How Funds Are Used 97% 97% of our funds go towards program and support services, with only 3% going towards fundraising. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies. Cookie Policy. OK