Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
Prairie dogs are burrowing rodents commonly found throughout the extensive rangelands of Wyoming. Of the five prairie dog species in North America, two occur in the state: the Black-tailed prairie dog and the White-tailed prairie dog. While both species can affect rangeland productivity, most conflicts with agriculture in Wyoming are associated with the black-tailed prairie dog, particularly in the central and eastern counties.
Prairie dogs live in highly organized colonies known as “towns,” where they construct extensive underground burrow systems used for shelter, raising young, and protection from predators. Each prairie dog may consume up to two pounds of forage per month, which can significantly reduce the amount of vegetation available for livestock and native wildlife when colonies become large or dense. In addition to forage loss, prairie dog burrowing activity can damage irrigation infrastructure, create hazards for livestock and equipment, and contribute to soil disturbance on heavily occupied sites.
Prairie dogs are also associated with Sylvatic plague, an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This bacterium is the same organism responsible for Bubonic plague and Pneumonic plague in humans. The disease is typically transmitted by fleas and can cause rapid die-offs within prairie dog colonies, although it also presents potential health risks to humans, pets, and other wildlife under certain conditions.
When environmental conditions are favorable—such as abundant forage and limited natural controls—prairie dog colonies may expand into nearby agricultural lands, increasing competition with livestock grazing and creating management challenges for landowners.
Prairie dogs were first recognized as a nuisance rodent in Wyoming by the 1886 Territorial Legislature. Later, the 1973 Wyoming Legislature designated prairie dogs as a state pest under the state’s weed and pest law. This designation allows local Wyoming Weed and Pest Council districts and county Weed and Pest Control Districts to work with landowners and land managers to develop management programs, which may include integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, monitoring, and cost-share agreements to help reduce prairie dog impacts on agriculture and rangeland resources.
