Mapping Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Distribution

The black-tailed prairie dog originally occupied the western two thirds of the state, with an estimated 2 million acres inhabited. Since the early 1900’s prairie dog populations have declined primarily as a result of habitat loss (conversion of grassland to cropland) and hunting.

Seen by some as a valuable component of grassland ecosystems, and by others as dangerous pests (disease and grazing competition), the KDWP has the complex mission of maintaining a biologically viable population while balancing economic, social, and political factors.

In 2001, an aerial survey was conducted to get an estimate of the range and abundance of prairie dogs in Kansas. The location and approximate acreage of each colony was recorded. From these observations (25 % sample), it was calculated that prairie dogs occupied an estimated 130,000 acres.

As part of the conservation strategy to maintain multiple breeding populations and genetic diversity, the goal is to maintain at least the current total acreage (130,000 acres) with one complex greater than 5,000 acres, and 10% of the complexes having greater than 1,000 acres. To assess these standards, the KARS program processed the point location data to calculate actual colony size, potential interacting colonies (complexes), the area covered by each of these colonies/complexes, and prairie dog density.

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Calculated Prairie Dog Density

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