Standley Lake Prairie Dogs

About this site

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are a keystone species that affect ecosystems in ways that some consider novelty and others nuisance. Their burrowing activities enrich the habitat around them and a variety of prairie species benefit from this. Prairie dog burrows provide shelter or refuge from predators for most wildlife, and inadvertently offer feeding opportunities to predators. The black-footed ferret, a predator and one of the most critically endangered species in North America, is entirely dependent on prairie dog colonies for food, shelter, and raising young. In addition to being a keystone species, they also have a sophisticated language that can easily be heard from the trails. Their communication system is so advanced, not only do they have different warning calls for different predators, but can also describe what each predator looks like! Their towns and colonies are made up of a complex burrowing system that can typically have 30-50 burrowing entrances per acre. While digging habits help aerate the soil, their waste fertilizes and enriches it, which improves and diversifies vegetation. Their work improves the land around them. They are Standley Lake’s very own groundskeepers. Prairie Dogs are an integral part of a healthy prairie ecosystem. Thank you for taking time to participate and helping Standley Lake Regional Park and Wildlife Refuge monitor this prairie dog town!