When an outbreak of sylvatic plague decimated black-tailed prairie dog numbers in the Thunder Basin National Grassland in 2017, researchers saw an opportunity to explore the impact of the rodents’ die-off on the plants and other wildlife in that area of northeast Wyoming. The results were astounding, showing how a keystone species plays a critical […]
Tag: Prairie Dog
Interesting Animals to Watch at the Zoo
Have you ever visited a zoo only to find that all the animals are sleeping or inside their shelters? Visiting early in the morning is a good way to help ensure the animals are active and awake, but nothing will guarantee active animals. However, no matter when you visit or what the weather is like, […]
America is exterminating its wolves. When will this stop?
Will Americans ever stop killing wolves? We stopped commercially hunting whales, and the mass slaughter of bison. We no longer clearcut old-growth redwoods, or use explosives on prairie dog towns, or build massive dams on wild salmon rivers. We no longer kill egrets and herons to adorn women’s hats with their feathers. So why shoot […]
Too many of our wildlife species are critically endangered and approaching extinction
Elephants, tigers, and rhinos may come to mind when you think about endangered species. While there are hundreds of species around the world that are on the verge of extinction and need our help, there are numerous animals in our own country which are experiencing population declines. Learning about these creatures is crucial to assisting […]
Every year in Virginia, barbaric “killing contests” take place, and they are nothing but tragic and frightening
While dogfighting and cockfighting are no longer legal in the United States, numerous animal species, such as bobcats, coyotes, crows, foxes, marmots, mountain lions, prairie dogs, rabbits, and raccoons, are nonetheless endangered. Every year, barbaric “Killing contests” take place, and they are nothing but tragic and distressing. They’re essentially competitions to see who can spill […]
A study finds that bison restoration on tribal lands has cultural, ecological, and economic benefits
Beginning in the early 1800s, the American bison, our national mammal, was hunted to near extinction, with fewer than a thousand remaining by the end of the century. Bison, America’s biggest land-dwelling mammal, helps in the balance and maintenance of a healthy ecosystem, as well as the creation of habitat for a variety of species, […]
Underfunded but passionate, Native American conservationists call for more support
In the prairies of the Lower Brulé Indian Reservation, the typically knee-high grass extends to the horizon. But in areas home to burrowing mammals, like prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), the grass shrinks to an inch in height as the animals feed their vigorous appetite. After sunset one September day, wildlife biologist Shaun Grassel drives through […]
Black-footed ferrets riding out COVID-19 with a vaccine and a lot of TLC
In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic took off in the United States just as the breeding season for the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) commenced. Disease is always at the forefront of the mind for the conservationists who work with this human-dependent species, but the pandemic kicked things into high gear. Suddenly, breeders at seven different […]