Wildlife Watching in America's National Parks: A Seasonal Guide

3. May—Prairie Dogs of the Badlands

54 3 { May Prairie Dogs of the Badlands In the month of May the North American prairie comes alive. larks and other birds have returned and are singing from sunup to sundown. Wildflowers are in full bloom, with new species emerging every day. And the butterflies and other pollinators are busy doing their priceless work. Far below ground in the deep, dark, prairie dog burrows the newborn black-tailed prairie dogs are getting restless. For weeks they’ve huddled together in their nests of grass, relying only on their senses of touch and smell to take in the cramped quarters around them. But on one magical day in May they make that long, unsure walk up the dark burrow and into the light of day. Imagine what that must be like. In one step they are entering a whole new world, and their wonderment shows as they explore and frolic on the vibrant prairie. At Badlands National Park in western South Dakota the wildlife observer gets to be a part of it. What’s Remarkable about Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs? every ecosystem seems to have a single species around which it revolves. For example, in streams and ponds the beaver is the ecosystem engineer that can literally change the habitat, affecting many other species. In the vast oceans the incredible swarms of krill are the biomass upon which many other species depend. And in the Pacific Northwest’s rivers it’s the salmon, a species that literally brings with it the nutrients of the ocean to 55| The prairie dog and its family, with the frolicking, curious, and playful young, is one of the prairie’s most charismatic species. (Photo by Daniel S. Licht) Spring 56 | the uplands. In the North American prairie, the black-tailed prairie dog is at the center of the ecosystem and is the species upon which much of the prairie’s biological diversity depends. Black-tailed prairie dogs are critical to a healthy prairie landscape. They engineer habitat by digging burrows that often become homes for other animals. They are an abundant and reliable food source for coyotes, eagles, badgers, ferrets, and many other prairie species. And they consume vast amounts of vegetation, converting it into nutrient-rich fertilizer that they deposit above- and belowground. Their digging cultivates the soil so that seeds may germinate. So important is the black-tailed prairie dog in the health of a prairie ecosystem that the species may be the epitome of a “keystone species.” What is the most important species of the prairie ecosystem? There’s no easy answer to this question. One could argue that it’s the microscopic fungi and other soil organisms that plants depend on. Perhaps it’s the plants themselves as they are food, either directly or indirectly, for the animals. Or maybe it’s the pollinators that the plants depend on. regardless, what is undebatable is the importance of prairie dogs to the prairie ecosystem . Prairie dogs are what scientists call a “keystone” species. A keystone species is one whose presence influences a whole bunch of other species. Prairie dogs do that by providing prey for predators, excavating burrows that other animals use, recycling soil material and nutrients, changing vegetation structure and composition, and providing a variety of other ecosystem services. It’s not an overstatement to say that you can’t truly have a healthy prairie landscape without having a healthy prairie dog population. 57| May–Prairie Dogs of the Badlands Prairie Dog Behavior Prairie dogs are, of course, not actually dogs, but rather a kind of ground squirrel found only in North America. They were given the name of prairie “dog” by early Great Plains explorers in reference to their constant barking at the explorers or any other potential danger. Of all the adaptations that prairie dogs possess, their communal lifestyle is their key to survival. These social creatures live in “towns” that historically covered many, and sometimes hundreds, of square miles. The Great Plains—as are grasslands throughout the world—are conducive for social animals. The bountiful and nutritious forage allows animals to live in close proximity to one another, and the high visibility allows individuals A prairie dog giving the “yip” call, the primary use of which seems to be an “all clear” signal . Prairie dogs have complex societies , making them fascinating subjects for scientists and wildlife watchers. (Photo by Daniel S. Licht) [3.12.36...