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Hoogland, J. L., editor. 2006. Conservation of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog . Island Press, Washington, District of Columbia. In a Nutshell: Problem - The black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) is a colonial, keystone species of the grassland ecosystem of western North America. Myriad animals regularly visit colony-sites to feed on the grass there, to use the burrows for shelter or nesting, or to prey on the prairie dogs. Unfortunately, prairie dogs are disappearing, and the current number is only about 2% of the number encountered by Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s. How can we save the prairie dog from extinction? Strategy - With input from 29 other professional biologists, I have edited a book about the conservation and management of prairie dogs. Our target audience includes wildlife managers, politicians, curious naturalists, and environmentalists. Findings - Part I of Conservation of the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog summarizes ecology and social behavior for pivotal issues such as when prairie dogs breed, how far they disperse, how they affect other organisms, and how much they compete with livestock. Part II documents how loss of habitat, poisoning, plague, and recreational shooting have caused the precipitous decline of prairie dog populations over the last 200 years. Part III proposes practical solutions that can ensure the longterm survival of the prairie dog and its grassland ecosystem, and also are fair to private landowners . We cannot expect farmers and ranchers to bear all the costs of conservation while the rest of us enjoy all the benefits. |
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