Since the turn of this century, prairie dog populations have declined
as much as 98% throughout North America, largely as a result of prairi
e dog eradication programs. The prairie dog is a keystone species that
plays an important role in maintaining the biotic integrity of the we
stern grasslands that stretch from southern Canada to northern Mexico.
The fragmentation of prairie dog distribution has degraded diversity
on those prairies, and several species depending on prairie dogs have
achieved listing status under the Endangered Species Act. We propose t
hat managing the prairie dog would provide an effective avenue from si
ngle-species management to management of a system. Because prairie dog
s have declined so profoundly, some form of legal protection will be r
equired. In addition, protected areas can preserve habitat and integra
te ecologically sound agricultural opportunities. Positive incentives
for ranchers to manage in the interests of both livestock and wildlife
will enhance the attitude change necessary for grassland conservation
. These management options hinge critically on an end to U.S. governme
nt subsidies for prairie dog eradication programs. The subsidies are f
inancially and ecologically unsound, and they only contribute to the p
revailing misconceptions about the role of the prairie dog on the gras
slands.