Black-tailed Prairie Dog

[Gloria]

This may, at first, seem to belong in the wildlife forum. But if you take a look at our history with this little creature you get a look at its importance to the biodiversity of the very habitat the prairie dog needs to thrive.


CEC - Biodiversity Conservation: Black-tailed Prairie Dog

This heavy-bodied squirrel is considered a keystone species since many animals
(such as burrowing owls, ferruginous hawks, rattlesnakes, swift foxes,black-footed ferret)
are dependant upon its survival.

http://www.cec.org/Storage/59/5161_N...aireDog_en.pdf

Prairie dog populations enhance soil structure, water filtration, and plant growth through digging and clipping of roots and foliage.
Burrows provide breeding and resting sites for a number of other animal species.
Conservation of prairie dog colonies is essential to the survival and re-establishment
of the endangered black-footed ferret (Oldemeyer et al 1993: Lockhart et al 2003)

YouTube - 2010 Black Tailed Prairie Dog Release.mov

YouTube - 2010 Black Tailed Prairie Dog Release.mov

Black-tailed Prairie Dog Background and Recovery - Defenders of Wildlife

Endangered Species of the Mountain-Prairie Region: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Black-tailed prairie dog conservation: a new approach for a 21st century challenge. (cases). - Endangered Species Update | HighBeam Research - FREE trial

[Gloria]

The Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team

The black-footed ferret is one of the most endangered mammals in the world.

Through eons of evolution, black-footed ferrets mastered the utilization of an abundant resource: prairie dogs and their burrow systems. They had it all figured out and lived without significant barriers to their well being until European settlers pulled several fast ones on them.