Utah Prairie Dogs, Almost Lost Forever

Utah Prairie Dogs, Almost Lost Forever

By Charlie Duysen

Prairie dogs are unique in that they are only found in North America. They are closely related to rodents and in the same family as squirrels. There are actually five different species of prairie dogs found in North America, which include the Utah prairie dog, the white-tailed prairie dog, the black-tailed prairie dog, the Gunnison prairie dog, and the Mexican prairie dog.

One of these species of prairie dogs, the Utah Prairie Dog (Cynomys parvidens), was unfortunately listed on the Endangered Species act and later labeled as a Threatened Species. Primarily in southwest Utah, the Utah Prairie Dog can be found in a variety of landscapes, including arid grasslands, edges of Ponderosa pine stands, agricultural fields, and urban areas. The Utah Prairie Dog is considered a social animal, as it lives in coteries, which are essentially small family groups. In a typical coterie, one may find an adult male, one to three adult females, and their associated offspring. The Utah Prairie Dog is a relatively small mammal, roughly 12-14 inches in length and weighing about 1-3 pounds. Their fur varies in color, but generally is a combination of shades of brown and black. Mainly herbivores, these prairie dogs feed on grass, seeds, leaves, flowers, and the occasional insect, such as the cicada. As a burrowing animal, these prairie dogs use their extensive underground tunnel system to their advantage, offering protection from potential predators. Their burrows can be 5-10 meters long and 2-3 meters deep, with at least two entrances/exits.

In Utah in the 1920s, it is estimated there were 95,000 Utah Prairie Dogs. By 1972, that number dropped significantly to 3,300. Due to a multitude of factors, specifically disease, over-exploitation, predation, and habit destruction and modification, it was estimated in 1972 that the entire species would be extinct by 2000. On June 4^th, 1973, the Utah Prairie Dog was officially listed as an extinct species, in accordance with the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969.

However, the Utah Prairie Dog transitioned from an Endangered Species to a Threatened Species on May 29^th, 1984. The prairie dogs began to increase in population on private lands, slowly reestablishing stability as a species. In addition, one major contributing factor to the prairie dog’s resurgence occurred in 1972, when the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources enacted a program, relocating prairie dogs in private lands to public lands where they historically used to reside. The combination of prairie dogs reappearing on private lands, and the reestablishment of these mammals onto public lands was what enabled the transition from Endangered to Threatened. Now, as of 2014, it is estimated that there are around 22,000 Utah prairie dogs occupying habitat on both protected federal and non-federal lands, as well as non-protected lands in general.

           

            There’s no question that the prairie dogs thriving in Western America today can thank the Recovery Plan of 1991. The recovery plan for the Utah Prairie Dog was finalized in 1991 and revised in 2012. The recovery plan was multifaceted, but essentially focused on maintaining and protecting the current prairie dog habitats, as well as establishing additional colonies. An example of a portion of the plan was continuing the annual surveys and population monitoring of the Utah Prairie Dogs, improving their habitat on federal land by adding/treating certain vegetation, and improving relations with private landowners to increase conservation.

           

            All though it is estimated that the Utah Prairie Dog only occupies about 10% of its historic range, one may recall that they were predicted to go exist by 2000, so their mere existence today could be looked at as a victory. These Utah Prairie Dogs are still susceptible to plague, urban expansion, over-grazing, cultivated agriculture, vegetation community changes, invasive plants, climate change, energy resource exploration and development, fire management, poaching, and predation, so our effort to continue helping them is absolutely necessary. Personally, due to obvious restrictions, I am unable to physically play an influential role in helping out these mammals. However, I am perfectly capable of raising awareness about these animals and their current status of being a threatened species. If others hear of this problem, they will be more inclined to help out, whether it be donating money to the government or assisting me in raising awareness. Hopefully the laws and boundaries protecting these mammals continue to act as an effective preservation and conservation method, and we continue to see Utah Prairie Dog’s presence among us.

For more information please visit: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/1203012_UTPD_RevisedRecoveryPlan_Final.pdf

 Works Cited:

"Prairie Dog." AccessScience: Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. "Endangered Species: Mountain-Prairie Region: U.S. Fish and              Wildlife Service." Endangered Species: Mountain-Prairie Region: U.S. Fish and Wildlife                    Service. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. "Species Profile for Utah Prairie Dog (Cynomys            Parvidens)." Species Profile for Utah Prairie Dog (Cynomys Parvidens). Web. 29 Nov.                        2016.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Utah Prairie Dog Management Plan for Non-federal                    Lands: Web.