In the 1900’s, prairie dogs were being exterminated as pests because they
were messing up farm fields in the midwestern section of the United States.
When they stopped the killing of prairie dogs, 98% of them were wiped out!
These small rodents have an important role in the midwest prairies. For
example, the Black Footed Ferret has also become an endangered species because
prairie dogs are their main food source. Black Footed Ferrets also need prairie
dogs because when one of their towns are abandoned, the ferrets can move into
them, but with no prairie dogs around they’re unable to do so. Recently,
conservationists have been capturing many endangered animals out west to raise
their populations.
Amazing fact
Did you know that the largest prairie dog town ever recorded in the U.S.
was 25,000 square miles and was the home
of about 400,000,000 prairie dogs!
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