Prairie Dog Pals' News

Calendar of Events:

Got Gophers? Check out the bottom of this page...

Bill to limit spread of black-tailed prairie dogs in Nebraska advances in Legislature

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS First Posted: January 25, 2012 - 12:25 pm

LINCOLN, Neb. — A bill designed to limit the spread of black-tailed prairie dogs in Nebraska has won first-round approval in the Legislature. Lawmakers voted 30-0 on Wednesday to advance the measure by Ellsworth Sen. LeRoy Louden. The proposal (LB473) would give counties the power to carry out a management program to help control the animals, which ranchers often view as pests. 

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/b7f975352f9c46f98dbcc6dd5f9357d6/NE-XGR--Prairie-Dog-Bill/

Prairie dog problem at airport could cost thousands

By Britny Mortensen The Salt Lake Tribune

Burrowing rodents in Southern Utah could cost the state $50,000. The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee heard presentations by The Utah Department of Natural Resources and The Utah Geological Survey Tuesday morning, where fiscal analyst Ivan Djambov recommended the state pay $50,000 to build a barrier around the Parowan airport to keep prairie dogs away. 

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53366222-90/prairie-50000-state-utah.html.csp

How Would a Prairie Dog Describe You? Thin? Short? Just Ask One Dr. Doolittle computers talking to prairie dogs and dolphins turn up astonishing complexity of thought – but is it like ours? Nature’s Edge Notebook #14 Observation, Analysis, Reflection, New Questions Computers able to detect and analyze micro-vibrations and tones that are out of reach to the human ear are beginning to reveal remarkably sophisticated “languages” in a range of animals… including the scrappy little American Prairie Dog. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/01/how-would-a-prairie-dog-describe-you-thin-short-just-ask-one/

Market approach to prairie dogs CEDAR CITY — Officials in southern Utah are unveiling a market-based program they say will protect the state's prairie dogs and make life easier for developers trying to work with the Endangered Species Act. The Panoramaland conservation council on last week introduced the Utah Prairie Dog Habitat Credit Exchange and Safe Harbor program, which allows property owners to purchase "credits" that permit them to develop land where prairie dogs live. The money will be used to buy and protect other plots of prairie dog habitat.  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700216114/Market-approach-to-prairie-dogs.html

Prairie dogs enjoying the mild winter

Jan 16, 2012 @ 05:00 PM The residents of the Sullys Hill National Game Preserve's prairie dog town were out enjoying the mild winter weather on Saturday, Jan. 14. Normally their burrows are covered at this time of year with one to two feet of snow and they do not come out until spring.  

http://www.devilslakejournal.com/photos/x255287635/Prairie-dogs-enjoying-the-mild-winter?foto=4

http://www.devilslakejournal.com/newsnow/x1674229389/A-sign-we-re-having-a-mild-winter

Nebraska Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Bill Set For Debate  

A bill designed to limit the spread of black-tailed prairie dogs in Nebraska is set for legislative debate. The measure by Ellsworth Sen. LeRoy Louden would give counties the power and duties to carry out a management program to help control the animals, which ranchers often view as pests. Debate on the bill could begin as early as Tuesday. ADVERTISEMENT The bill is designed to prevent black-tailed prairie dog colonies from expanding from one person's property to another. Counties would have the power to notify landowners that a colony is not being managed, and could require landowners to take action. Landowners would have to notify counties that they have moved to address the problem.

http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/Nebraska_Black-Tailed_Prairie_Dog_Bill_Set_For_Debate_137478878.html

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Ommmmmmmm There is a move in Tibettan Tai Chi called "Even the Tiger prays before he eats", I think the picture to the left might sum up the same for prairie dogs!

Dramatic Prairie Dog

It's quiz time, Urlbots! Today's subject: the classic "dramatic chipmunk" video. Question #1: What animal is featured in the video? Question #2: From what film is the music in the video taken? Question #3: What is the name of the Japanese morning show from which the clip is derived? Answers: (1) Prairie Dog, (2) 'Young Frankenstein,' (3) 'Hello! Morning.'   Want to see it? Click on Dramatic PD

Prairie dogs have played vital role in grasslands

In a recent article on prairie dogs, it is mentioned that their main purpose in the world is to feed other plains animals, provide homes for owls and plague the herds, fields and wallets of ranchers and farmers. While all of these functions are legitimate, it did not mention the main importance of prairie dogs.  To read the article click on Grasslands

From Time and Dr. Suess

or...in the words of Pogo: "We have met the enemy and he is us"!

Landscaping (landscraping?) with and without clearcutting!

John Prine:

And daddy won't you take me back to Mulenberg county

Down by the Green River, where Paradise lay

Well I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in askin'

Mr. Peabody's coal train has hauled it away  

Joni Mitchell

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you've got till it's gone

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum

And then they charged all the people twenty-five bucks just to see 'em

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you've got till it's gone

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

Hey farmer, farmer, put away your DDT now

Give me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees, please

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you've got till it's gone

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

...or how about some pictures of what happens due to over grazing!

Before and after, off road vehicles impact

Exploration and Drilling, anyone?

The picture to the left is pre-development, the one to the right depicts the proliferation of well-sites and roads.

Here's another viewpoint on land and conservation: "Too many owners abused land...it was property law that enabled them to do so. Governments might practice conservation on public lands, but wildlife couldn't thrive, nor could soil remain intact and fertile, on public lands alone. For the entire land community to become healthy, private owners everywhere had to practice conservation as a way of life." by Aldo Leopold.

Pocket Gophers:

We've gotten a lot of calls about "prairie dogs" that are actually gophers. Know your signs!

What you see in the above two pictures are pocket gophers. Their mounds look like this:

The two pictures above were taken along the walking path on Tramway. In the picture on the left you can see the fresh dirt piles. The picture on the right is of the lowest pile. You can still see the opening and some fresh digging. The hole is approximately 2" in diameter.

When the burrows collapse you might see a 1-2" hole. These are not prairie dogs. If you want to read more about pocket gophers please read our Pocket Gopher Protocol by clicking the following link: Pocket Gopher

I found a recent article about pocket gophers which contains some excellent pictures, one showing the "pockets". To read the article click on the following link: PG

GOPHERS: Fish Oil Emulsion May Make Gophers Move Out

By Richard Fagerlund
For the Journal
Q: We have small children and a cat, but we also have a gopher problem in our backyard. They've been digging up the new lawn we had put in. Is there a safe way to get rid of them? — C.M., Corrales Click on the following link to read the whole response: Bugman

Ground Squirrels:

Ground squirrels are frequently confused with prairie dogs as well...below is a spotted ground squirrel, a native of this region. This is a older mom and you can see she has spots, a longer tail, and recently given birth to a litter. The younger ones are not so easy to differentiate due to the close cropped ears and lack of spots.

These too are not prairie dogs!

However, never never never be taken in by this ruse...

The infamous squirrel massage! Now where is the Spanish Inquisition?

Rock Squirrels (Spermophilus variegatus)

Rock squirrels are frequently mistaken for prairie dogs as well. Generally a good look at the bushy tail or ears will suffice to identify the squirrel. The burrows, however, are a bit more difficult to differentiate as given the opportunity the squirrels frequently use prairie dog burrows. The burrows for rock squirrels tend to be shallow (3-5 feet) and consist of the burrow and living chamber. Following are some pictures of the burrows and a rock squirrel. Rock squirrels are active during the winter, although they can "sleep" for extended periods during cold or inclement weather.