Dispelling Myths

PRAIRIE DOG MYTHS

MYTH 1: PRAIRIE DOGS SPREAD PLAGUE. Prairie dogs do NOT spread plauge, they, in fact, easily die from it. They lack immunity to this killer whether it be sylvatic or bubonic. When plague bacterium spreads through a colony fatalities can be as high as 98%. Prairie dogs are so susceptible to plague that, once exposed they may die with in days, weeks or months. Plague is easily treatable with anitbiotics and prairie dogs do not spread plague to humans.

MYTH 2: PRAIRIE DOGS ARE EVERYWHERE. Sadly, there now exists less than 1% of the original prairie dog range/acreage. The small amount of acreage inhabited by prairie dogs is in fragmented colonies. This human imposed isolation has caused colonies to be unsubstainable. They are pinned in between mega-highways, malls and residential areas, this intrudes upon natural migration patterns. Threats such as cars, illegal shooting, poisoning, and habitat destruction is everywhere, prairie dogs are not everywhere.

MYTH 3: PRAIRIE DOGS MULTIPLY LIKE RABBITS OR RATS.Prairie dogs have an alarming low rate of reproduction. Unlike some small animal species they breed only once a year, and the average litter size is 3 pups. When subjected to small colonies, due to lack of space to expand, they may practice what is infancticide, this can kill off up to 50% of the babies born in one season. We humans have

a far greater impact upon the planet, causing destruction at an alarming rate.

MYTH 4: PRAIRIE DOGS AND LIVESTOCK CAN NOT CO-EXIST. Prairie dogs are natural aerators of the land this creates grasses rich in nitrogen and therefore benefits cows and horses. Both cattle and prairie dogs have demonstrated a preference for each others company, just as they did when the bison used to roam the plains and graze amongst the prairie dogs. Cattle have been over-grazed and destroyed much of the land they have been allowed to dominate, they are not a substitute for the natural ecosystem.

MYTH 5: NO ONE WILL MISS THE PRAIRIE DOGS WHEN THEY ARE GONE. Wrong! There are over 150 species of animals, including hawks, foxes, eagles and pronghorns that tell us otherwise. The black-footed ferret is one of the rarest mammals in the world, and the loss of prairie dogs is why. Prairie dogs are 90% of the ferrets diet, and they provide shelter for the ferrets as well. Burrowing owls depend upon the habitat created by prairie dogs for their shelter, and to raise their off-spring. The loss of this amazing eco-systems spells death for many species to magnificent to lose.