Keystone of the Badlands: Blacktail Prairie Dog

By Bruce G. Marcot, Ecology Picture of the Week:

Once the scourge of prairie grazers, blacktail prairie dogs have come to be known as a "keystone" species in prairie and grassland ecosystems of inland western North America.  

Related to marmots, prairie dogs dig copious burrows and form colonies or "towns."  As shown in the above photo, sentinels take turns watching for danger and issue repeated 2-syllable barking calls to alert others.  

Their "keystone" role pertains to their burrow system, which provides hiding space and habitat for other species that depend on them.  Principle among secondary burrow-users is the highly endangered black-footed ferret, which historically used prairie dog burrows and tunnels in which to den and hide.  Prairie dogs also can change vegetation conditions from their feeding behavior, and their burrowing activities likely increase soil aeration and incorporation of organic matter into the top soil horizons.  

Viable, wild colonies persist in national parks and conservation areas in South Dakota,  Wyoming, Montana, and Texas.  But blacktail prairie dogs have been essentially decimated throughout their wide historic range from poisoning during the 20th century because they were perceived to compete with livestock for food and because their burrows caused injury to the wandering cattle. 

  --Bruce G. Marcot

Image and text © Bruce G. Marcot, Ph.D. Research Wildlife Ecologist,
who produces the Ecology Picture of the Week website.