Black-tailed prairie dogs gaining foothold in historical range of southern Arizona

Just two years after being reintroduced to the state after nearly a 50-year absence, black-tailed prairie dogs are showing positive signs of re-establishing themselves across part of their historical range in southern Arizona.

Monitoring studies indicate that the animals are breeding at both of the reintroduction sites, with at least 16 pups observed this spring. Now, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Bureau of Land Management furthered the effort to repopulate the species with the release on Oct. 7 of 119 prairie dogs at a third site in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area near Sonoita.

"Black-tailed prairie dogs are a critical keystone species in Arizona, meaning that they play an important role in maintaining the grassland habitat and balancing the ecosystem,” said Bill Van Pelt, the program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The effort to bring the species back to Arizona is part of a national and international conservation program aimed at reviving the black-tailed prairie dog enough that it does not end up on the endangered species list.”

As part of the latest release, the University of Arizona placed ear tags and fur dye on all of the animals as part of a study on survivorship.

“The Bureau of Land Management has been very pleased with the progress made in reintroducing black-tailed prairie dogs to southeastern Arizona,” says BLM Assistant Field Manger Cindy Alvarez. “The bureau’s goal for the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is to restore this ecosystem to its native grassland habitat, and establishing a healthy population of these prairie dogs will help us achieve this objective.”

The animals used to re-establish black-tailed prairie dogs in Arizona are chosen based on their similar genetics to the population that previously existed in the state.

Acclimation cages are used to prevent the animals from dispersing too quickly upon release and to allow them to adjust to their new environment. In time, the animals will burrow themselves out of the acclimation cages and be free to establish an underground network of tunnels.

The black-tailed prairie dog program is supported by the Heritage Fund, a voter-passed initiative that provides funding for wildlife conservation through Arizona Lottery revenue.

Black-tailed prairie dogs are one of Arizona's two native prairie dog species. The other species, which is found in northern Arizona, is the Gunnison’s prairie dog. Historically, the black-tailed prairie dog was the most widely distributed of the five prairie dog species and were commonly found in southeastern Arizona. Human-related factors, including poisoning and habitat fragmentation, greatly reduced their numbers range-wide over the last 150 years.

The species provides many benefits to the habitat where they live. Their burrows allow water to penetrate the ground and return to the watershed or aquifer. The animals’ foraging habits increase plant species diversity and the nutritional value of the plants for other foraging animals. Their colonies have also historically served as fire breaks.

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