Abstract - Dispersal Activities of the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog of Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

Garrett, Monte and Franklin, William L. 1981. Dispersal Activities of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog of Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.

Abstract

The increase in the size and number of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies in Wind Cave National Park has been a chronic problem since periodic poisoning programs were discontinued in the mid-1960s. In 1967, there were an estimated 254 hectares of prairie dog colonies in the park (Lovaas 1972). Aerial photographs in 1978 indicated an excess of 500 hectares (Dalsted et al. 1981). This worsening condition is alarming to park managers because 1) the native prairie component of the park is shrinking every year due to encroachment of forest and modification by prairie dogs, 2) prairie dogs are believed to be competing for forage with other grazing wildlife (e.g., buffalo and elk), and 3) the park is being accused by local landowners of being a reservoir for prairie dogs infesting adjacent rangeland.

Investigation into the nature of prairie dog dispersal and colony expansion was conducted from 20 May to 20 October 1981, the final year of a 3-year study. The primary objectives were 1) to obtain basic information pertaining to prairie dog dispersal: when movements occur, sex and age of dispersing individuals, distance travelled, and relative success of dispersing individuals; and 2) to test the use of behaviorally based techniques to reduce dispersal and colony expansion.