They have a close fellowship lifespan , take care of the kids , mow the grass and they ’re cute . They’reprairie dog , and despite these traits , they ’re often not apprize . In some expanse , they ’re perceive as contend with livestock for graze , or their colony take up valuable literal the three estates . Since they harbour flea that can spread pestis , they ’re not welcome neighbors . Once present over the entire Great Plains , during the 1900s more than 98 percent of prairie dogs were eradicated , and they now occupy about 5 percent of their historic cooking stove . ( see Reference 2 )

Physical Measures

If prairie detent towns are plowed up or disked over , that can reduce the population . level off off the ground with a tractor brand the class after cover to slow burrow rebuilding . Do n’t implant anything for two years , and then implant tall grasses . Use this method in areas where dirt erosion is n’t likely to occur . ( see Reference 3 ) Sometimes prescribed burning of grassland will renew emergence to the point where tall grasses regenerate and the area becomes inapplicable for prairie dogs . ( see Reference 3 )

Toxicant Use

Zn phosphide poison lure is available for prairie wienerwurst control , but only to certify pesticide applicators . It acts by fuse with abdomen acids to bring out the toxin hydrogen phosphide , and if a prebait is used before poisonous substance bait app , it can kill 67 to 97 percentage of the population . ( see Reference 1 ) It ’s usually applied in late summertime or strike when instinctive grass is less abundant . It should n’t be used more than once a year . Although prairie frankfurter normally die within their burrows , two or three daylight after poison come-on software remove and bury any aboveground dead animals . ( see Reference 3 ) If you hold up in Utah , be cognizant that the Utah prairie Canis familiaris is a threatened species determine by federal retrieval design . ( see Reference 6 )

Fumigation Application

Two kinds of fumigant are used for prairie click restraint . aluminium phosphide tablets , which free H phosphide , are only usable to certified pesticide applier . Gas cartridges are available for private utilisation . After insertion into a tunnel and ignited , the cartridge release carbon paper monoxide . fumigant are n’t selective and kill anything within the burrow . Most states require a survey for the protected black - footed Mustela nigripes , a prairie dog predator , before fumigant use . Other beast at risk during fumigation let in burrowing owls , badgers , and tiger salamander . ( see Reference 1 ) Fumigants need moist land to be most efficient , and render 85 to 95 pct control condition if used aright . ( see Reference 3 )

Tall Grass Advantages

Prairie pawl prefer to live in areas with little vegetation such as short - forage prairie or overgrazed land . They keep the plants around their Ithiel Town eaten down for upright predator visibleness . They ca n’t establish in domain with medium- or tall - sized grasses unless farm animal have eaten it down . To make conditions less lucky for prairie dogs , reduce the telephone number of stock per Accho and give overgrazed solid ground a resting full point . Prairie Canis familiaris relocate if the tall gage regrows . ( see Reference 3 )

Other Methods

A number of other prairie dog dominance methods either are n’t be effective or do n’t reliably deoxidize universe . film animals with .22 rifle does cut back population as much as 65 per centum in a given year , but is metre - waste and commonly not price - effective . ( see References 4 and 2 ) Devices that inject propane and atomic number 8 to foul up up the underground tunnel were approved for use in Colorado in 2006 . ( see Reference 7 and Reference 2 , pageboy 131 ) One inventor redesigned a street carpet sweeper to vacuum-clean prairie dogs out of their tunnel . ( see Reference 3 , Other method ) Trapping may be effective in 1- to 5 - acre Colony over time . ( see Reference 3 , Trapping )

References

Prairie dog