Join us this week as we explore prairie dog ecology and conservation with Patrick McMillan, Clemson University naturalist. Patrick is the host of an educational TV program on wildlife and botany called “Expeditions.”
Prairie dogs are known as a keystone species for the role they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. First and foremost, they speed-up the recycling of soil by digging their burrows and bringing nutrients up to the surface. The additional churning of the soil creates a unique environment that allows wildflowers and other plants to thrive and can enhance forage for other animals like bison and pronghorn.
Prairie dogs are also diligent gardeners, trimming back any grasses or plants that grow taller than six to eight inches. This lawn maintenance is essential to maintaining a good line of sight between the mounds that mark the entrance of prairie dog burrows, where sentries look out for predators.
But prairie dogs are also a critical food source for many other species. Swift foxes, badgers, golden and bald eagles, and ferruginous hawks all prey upon prairie dog colonies. Others like burrowing owls and black-footed ferrets–one of the world’s most endangered mammals—use prairie dog burrows for raising their young and seeking protection from other predators. Where prairie dog populations have severely declined, these other critters quickly follow suit.
If you missed the first part of the series, click here to learn about prairie dog behavior.
Author
comments
