Abstract - Frequency of Impacts on Prairie Dogs by Visitors in Wind Cave National Park

Bastian, Valerie. 1995. The Frequency of Impacts on Prairie Dogs by Visitors in Wind Cave National Park. M.S. Thesis. Black Hills State University. 46 p.

Abstract

Field observation through video taping was recorded on two different prairie dog towns in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. The purpose of the study was to compare prairie dog behavior between a town accessible to humans (at a highway junction) and a town not easily accessible. A second purpose was to observe the frequency in which the visitor stopped to view the animals, read the signs, walk into the prairie dog town, photograph the animals, feed, and touch the animals. Fifteen hours of observation was completed at each prairie dog town. The difference in prairie dog behavior between the two towns was significantly different. Prairie dogs in the inaccessible town, Rankin Ridge, had a fear of humans so strong that warning calls were issued when the researchers was still 500 feet from the village. The dogs would then remain in their burrows for more than two hours. Prairie dog behavior at the Norbeck village (junction of highway 87 and 385) showed a lack of fear. Prairie dogs actually sought out the visitor especially where food handouts were evident. Visitor impact was seen where 244 (38%) of the passing cars stopped and 39% of those got out of their car. Although feeding the animals was prohibited, 23% of those who stopped, fed the prairie dogs, however only 9% who read the "do not feed," sign continued to feed the prairie dogs. Four percent of the visitors actually touched the animals and 14% of the people walked in the prairie dog town. The results of this study show that prairie dogs are encouraged to interact with people who feed them but human behavior can be changed through signage.