Some dogs chase squirrels, and some “dogs” are squirrels.

The creature we call a black-tailed prairie dog is really a member of the squirrel family. Instead of trees, they live in large underground tunnel colonies. If you walk by a burrow, a prairie dog at the entrance will give a “jump-yip.” This warns the others that a potential threat is near.

Prairie dogs don’t just take care of each other. Their actions take care of the ecosystem around them, too. Their own grazing, plus the burrows and mounds they build, affect which plant communities can thrive in an area. In fact, some rare native plants are almost always found near prairie dog colonies. Some animals also use prairie dog burrows during key parts of their own life cycles. The burrowing owl, for example, uses the tunnels for resting and for nesting.

Prairie dogs are a keystone species: their presence affects other animals in their ecosystem. In the past, their huge populations made them the perfect prey to feed many predators. Swift foxes, prairie rattlesnakes and Swainson’s hawks all made them a big part of their diets. The black-footed ferret depended on them for both food and shelter. Unfortunately, there are far fewer prairie dogs today, and those predators are now at risk. Across North America, prairie dogs live in just two per cent of their original range. Much of the rest is now used for farming.

Canada’s small population of remaining prairie dogs live in the grasslands of southern Saskatchewan. They are threatened by habitat loss, disease, and droughts which have been made worse by climate change. If we help them recover, they will again help support lots of other wildlife. Protecting and restoring our grasslands is the first step.