Association of black-tailed prairie dog colonies with cattle point attractants in the Northern Great Plains

Authors

Daniel S. Licht, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Dakota State Office, Bismark, North Dakota
Kenneth D. Sanchez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Dakota State Office, Bismark, North Dakota

Abstract

In October 1991 we recorded all black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies and cattle points in a 1248-km² study area in southwest North Dakota and southeast Montana. Cattle point attractants were defined as fabricated water tanks and long-term supplemental feed sites. We found that a significant number of prairie dog colonies encompassed or adjoined cattle point attractants (p < .001). Prairie dog colonies associated with cattle point attractants were a mean distance of 1.0 km from the next nearest town. The existence of cattle point attractants may encourage prairie dog colonization. Conversely, refraining from using long-term cattle point attractants can discourage prairie dog colonization.

Recommended Citation

Licht, Daniel S. and Sanchez, Kenneth D. (1993) "Association of black-tailed prairie dog colonies with cattle point attractants in the Northern Great Plains," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 53: No. 4, Article 9.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol53/iss4/9