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Since the early 2000s, scientists have been re-evaluating over a century of land practices that aimed to eradicate prairie dogs from U.S. grasslands. Generations of misinformation unjustly vilified this species, but emerging science is now shedding light on the truth. Prairie dogs are a keystone species, and the health of our soil and ecosystems in low grassland areas depend on them. Remarkably, even cattle ranchers and farmers are discovering that maintaining a population of prairie dogs on their land results in more nutrient-rich grasses for their cattle.

Below, you'll find articles written by scientists, cattlemen, farmers, and agricultural officials that highlight the growing recognition of the crucial role prairie dogs play in the Midwest plains.

Texas Monthly: More Reasons to Love the Black-Tailed Praire Dog

Prairie dogs nibble down the woody shrubs that could hide their predators and that often take over grasslands. This preserves prairie habitat for birds and animals such as pronghorn. Plus, the rodents’ digging mixes and aerates the soil, and their scat provides nutrients. “It’s not detrimental to have prairie dogs on your ranch,” says Bonnie Warnock, a soil scientist at the Borderlands Research Institute, at Sul Ross State University, in Alpine. “You can actually look at them as being positive for your cattle grazing.”

Modern Farmer: Why the West Needs Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs, said Kinka, are the “unsung heroes of a prairie ecosystem,” important to all the other species American Prairie is trying to foster. And as researchers have found, the woody plants that prairie dogs chew down to clear their line of sight tend to be replaced by nutritious grasses and wildflowers, suggesting that even cattle may benefit from their presence.

Protecting the Plains: Conserving prairie dogs will revitalize North America’s grasslands

The depletion of grasslands is attributed to the detrimental farming practices of the late 1800s, and as grasslands have suffered, so has the prairie dog ecosystem. The early 1990s saw a massive government-led campaign to eradicate the prairie dog, which can compete for forage with domestic livestock. Later, a non-native disease from Asia – the “plague” – contributed to the continual widespread declines in their populations. This loss has resulted in the cascading decline in species that rely on prairie dogs for survival.

Texas Standard: New research shows prairie dogs may be more friend than foe to Texas ranchers

New research challenges the idea that prairie dogs do more harm than good for livestock. Cullom Simpson, a wildlife biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, spoke with Texas Standard about an experiment he conducted with the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University.

Learning from Landowners: May Ranch: A Sustainable Way of Life

The Mays have developed a plan, and now work with conservation organizations like Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust and the Audubon Society’s Conservation Ranching Initiative to protect the land’s wildlife habitat and follow sustainability best practices.

Borderlands Research Institute: Project Spotlight: Prairie Dogs and Cattle

Movement data indicate that cattle graze within the prairie dog colonies during the growing seasons because of the highly nutritious regrowth promoted by prairie dogs’ foraging activity. This study provides evidence that landowners who seek to graze cattle on prairie dog colonies may see a mutually beneficial relationship in the form of positive vegetative feedback.

Long-Term Effects of Black-Tailed Praire Dogs on Livestock Grazing Distribution and Mass Gain

Based on the findings thus far, we've found that prairie dogs and cattle can coexist on the same pastures, with only minor declines in cattle weight gain when prairie dogs are abundant," said Augustine, a research ecologist with the Center's Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit. "Under conditions of average rainfall during the growing season in shortgrass steppe, prairie dog grazing reduces the amount but enhances the quality of the forage. After measuring the biomass of forage left behind on prairie dog colonies, we found that both protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility were enhanced. As a result, the cattle can still spend a considerable amount of their time grazing on prairie dog colonies."

GPRC: Prairie Dogs and Soil Impacts

Prairie dogs do more than just serve as prey, they also perform a valuable service for the prairie – they disturb it. In addition to digging up the soil, prairie dogs clip the vegetation around their burrows, enhancing nitrogen uptake by these plants. Natural disturbances are an important part of maintaining the prairie ecosystem.

USDA ARS : Truce Between Prairie Dogs and Livestock Farmers?

Under conditions of average rainfall during the growing season in shortgrass steppe, prairie dog grazing reduces the amount but enhances the quality of the forage. After measuring the biomass of forage left behind on prairie dog colonies, we found that both protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility were enhanced. As a result, the cattle can still spend a considerable amount of their time grazing on prairie dog colonies.